During this unit of study you will explore the importance of nutrition, good life choices and exercise in living a long and healthy life. As a part of this unit, it is your task to research a disease. Below is an outline of what you must accomplish in the next few weeks.

1. You must begin by selecting one of the following topics to research: cancer, diabetes, mental illness, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and/or heart disease.

Once you have selected a topic you must narrow your search. For example, if you choose cancer you must narrow your topic to a specific cancer, like skin cancer.

2. Next you will research three main categories of the disease: scientific theory, prevention/treatment and advocacy/ involvement.

You must be able to answer the following questions under each category using the web quest and/or the expert interview.

a. Scientific theory

• What is the disease you are researching?
• What causes it?
• What are symptoms of the disease?
• What body systems does it effect?
• How is it diagnosed?
• Is this disease hereditary?
• Who is most likely to get this disease?
• What are the statistics related to this disease?

b. Prevention/Treatment

• Are there ways to prevent this disease? If so, how? (Example: change diet).
• Once you have the disease, how is it treated?
• Are there any side effects to the treatment?
• Can this disease be cured? If so, how?
• What happens to the patient if the disease goes untreated?

c. Advocacy/Involvement

• What types of supports exist to help patients and their families?
• What do these support people/groups do for patients and families?
• Are there ways that we, the public, can help? (Example: A walk-a-thon to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association).

3. Now you must use your research to create a fact sheet or pamphlet to inform the public about this disease. Your information must be organized, typed and include the three categories you explored. See rubric for details.

4. In addition to the fact sheet you and two other people (who researched the same topic) must create two visual pieces and a five minute oral presentation to go with your fact sheets. Your visual pieces may be in the form of a poster, and/or power point or hyper studio presentation and include at least one three-dimensional artifact. Other ideas need teacher approval first.

If you have a unique topic you will be expected to do number four on your own.

Vermont Standards 7.14 bb, cc 3.5 cc 5.14 e 1.8 c,e	Above Standard	Meets Standard	Nearly Meets Standard	Below Standard
Content Information is accurate, detailed and written in logical order	Level of detail exceeds expectations and information presented goes beyond answering questions in web quest accurately.	Good level of detail. Information presented answers questions outlined in web quest accurately.	Some detail, however information presented only answers some (12-15) of the questions outlined in web quest accurately.	Few details and information presented answers few question (less than 12) outlined in web quest.
Grammar Usage Mechanics	The fact sheet is well organized. There are fewer than two errors in: spelling, sentence structure, capitalization and punctuation.	The fact sheet is well organized. There are fewer than four errors in: spelling, sentence structure, capitalization and punctuation.	The fact sheet is partially organized. There are fewer than six errors in: spelling, sentence structure, capitalization and punctuation.	The fact sheet not organized. There are seven or more errors in: spelling, sentence structure, capitalization and punctuation.
References	References used are sited in a clear and accurate manner all of the time.	References used are sited in a clear and accurate manner most of the time.	References used are sited in a clear and accurate manner some of the time.	References used are not sited in a clear and accurate manner.

Cancer 

Diabetes

ALS--Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-(Lou Gehrig's Disease)

Heart Disease

Mental Illness

Health and Nutrition