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WebMD: Understanding Back Pain

Details

Author:
Susan Gaer Modified June 6
Main Website:

Activity Description

Back Pain
Source: Flickr by Pain Pix (License: Creative Commons 4.0)
 

WebMD has an extensive library of information on diseases and diagnoses. It is written at a 6th to 10th grade level. An individual or group project to research a particular disease can lead to learning new medical vocabulary that will be helpful when talking to the doctor.

Preparation

  1. Review the WebMD site and decide what topic(s) to focus your lesson on. This example will focus on back pain, but there are many possibilities on this site.
  2. You may want to prepare a vocabulary list in advance, like the one shown above as an Example Document, or you can have the students create the list.
  3. In order to assess the final oral or written presentation, you will need a rubric. Here is one rubric ideas or Google rubrics for writing, presentations, oral reports to find one that will work best for your class. Note you will need to create an account to create the rubric.

How-To

  1. Project the main site (see Web Site link below) in order to introduce it to the students.
  2. First, demonstrate how to identify an ad. Some say (in very fine print) Advertisement. On the bottom of the home page there is also a list of topics "from our sponsors." Explain that sponsors are also advertisers.
  3. Demonstrate choosing a topic from the menu on the left. Choose Back Pain.
  4. Review the topics under Back Pain Guide (left menu)
  5. Choose Symptoms and Types.
  6. Choose Upper, Middle and Low Back Pain Symptoms.
  7. Have students read the article and write down the words they do not know.
  8. As a group, compile a list of new words.
  9. Assign someone to look up each word and report back. (Vocabulary may include chronic, strenuous, localized, strains, etc.)
  10. Ask comprehension questions to ensure that students understand the article.
  11. Assign groups of two or three to either read about another aspect of back pain, or research another topic (be specific as to which information to gather).
  12. Group reports can be either oral or written.
  13. Share rubric with students, and have them evaluate each other's work.

Teacher Tips

This site has many ads, so before turning students loose to do research, be sure to show some of the ads and explain not to click on those.

More Ways

  • There are many current news articles on this site as well as information on specific diseases and symptoms. Choose a current article to have students read, discuss, and write about.
  • Students may also search for information on any illness or health issue, such as arthritis, cancer, heart disease, COPD, etc.

Program Areas

  • ESL: English as a Second Language
  • ABE: Adult Basic Education
  • CTE: Career Technical Education

Levels

  • Intermediate High
  • Advanced

Lesson Plan

Warm-up
Engagement Extension

http://tpack.otan.us/Resource/GetDocument/928Objective: Engage students and activate prior knowledge.

Activity: Pair discussion Have students discuss in pairs if they or someone they know has experienced back pain.
Questions to consider: What kind of pain was it (sharp, dull, etc.)?
How long did it last?
What activities made it better or worse?

Introduction
Engagement Enhancement

Introduce the article from Web MD on Back Pain. For vocabulary reinforcement, you can have students skim the article and make a list of new vocabulary or use the.vocabulary that has been created. If your students' reading level is too hard for the original website, please feel free to use the graded readers located here.

Presentation
Engagement Enhancement

1. Have the students read the article silently.

2. If you are using the differentiated readings, group the students based on reading level and have them first read silently.

3. Give students the vocabulary list and ask them to copy the sentence where they find the word.

3. Have students read the article aloud in groups.

4. Give students

Practice
Engagement Enhancement Extension

Have students create a vocabulary list in small groups and answer the following questions about the reading.

Comprehension Questions:

What are common causes of back pain mentioned in the article?
How can you differentiate between different types of back pain?
What are some suggested treatments for back pain?
Answers:

Common causes include muscle strain, herniated discs, and injuries.
Different types of pain (e.g., sharp vs. dull) and their locations (localized vs. radiating) help differentiate.
Treatments include rest, physical therapy, and medications.

Evaluation
Enhancement Extension

There are a variety of quizzes for you to use with the students:

  1. Matching Quiz
  2. Multiple Choice Quiz
  3. Fill in the Blank Quiz
  4. Discussion/Writing Questions

All of these quizzes have answer keys.

Application
Extension

Have students create a dialogue of a medical assistant asking a patient about back pain.

Documents

CTE Sectors

  • Health Science and Medical Technology

CTE Anchor Standards

  • Anchor Standard 1: Academics - Analyze and apply appropriate academic standards required for successful industry sector pathway completion leading to postsecondary education and employment. Refer to the industry sector alignment matrix for identification of standards.
  • Anchor Standard 2: Communications - Language Standard: Acquire and accurately use general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the (career and college) readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
  • Anchor Standard 4: Technology - Writing Standard: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments and information.
  • Anchor Standard 5: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking - Writing Standard: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem, narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate, and synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
  • Anchor Standard 6: Health and Safety - Reading Standards for Science and Technical Subjects: Determine the meaning of symbols, key words, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context.

Tags

reading, health, health information, health problem, medical, pain, research, Understanding Back Pain, WebMD, WebMD: Understanding Back Pain, back pain, diagnosis, disease

AI Reference

Used Chat GPT to modify this lesson
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OTAN activities are funded by contract CN220124 from the Adult Education Office, in the Career & College Transition Division, California Department of Education, with funds provided through Federal P.L., 105-220, Section 223. However, OTAN content does not necessarily reflect the position of that department or the U.S. Department of Education.