Grade 9, Clarifying Objective:

Summarizepreventable risks for preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies, including induced abortion, smoking, alcohol consumption, the use of illicit drugs, and inadequate prenatal care.

Materials

Appendix 1, Memory Matching Game

Computer, projector, internet access for Focus Step

PPT, Planning for Health Babies

Appendix 2, Planning for Healthy Babies Guided Note-taking

Appendix 3, Preventable Risk Factors Research conducted by NC Division of Public Health

Appendix 4, Planning for Healthy Babies Double Puzzle

Appendix 5, Planning for Healthy Babies Double Puzzle Master

Appendix 6, Healthy Baby Fact Sheet Template

Appendix 7, Healthy Baby Fact Sheet Rubric

Review

8.ICR.3.1: Explain the health, legal, financial, and social consequences of adolescent and unintended pregnancy and the advantages of delaying parenthood.

Divide students into small groups (three or four) as well as a set of cards (Appendix 1) for each group.

Last year you learned about some of the challenges of adolescent pregnancy and parenting. Today we will review that information, along with the benefits of delaying parenthood, by playing a Memory Game. There are a total of 28 cards that must be matched into pairs. Upon making a match, you must share with your group whether the issue falls within the health, legal, financial, or social category. If you make a match, you get a second turn. If you do not make a match, the person to your left will take his or her turn.

Focus

Share the following with your students (from the March of Dimes):

  • In the United States, 1 in 8 babies is born prematurely.
  • Worldwide, 13 million babies are born too soon each year.

Go to the link for the March of Dimes website ( and play either Coming Home (:30) or the Surgeon General PSA (:60).

Ask students how they feel about premature births and what they think can be done to reduce the likelihood of preterm births in the US.

Statement of Objectives

According to the CDC, Nearly a half million babies in the United States are born premature each year. Pre-term babies have more health risks than babies who are carried to term. Today we will discuss the preventable risks for a preterm birth and how to have healthier babies.

Teacher Input

Distribute the Guided note-taking for the PowerPoint, Planning for Healthy Babies (Appendix 2). Use the attached Power Point to cover the following sub-objectives:

  • Define preterm/premature birth
  • Review the possible negative consequences of preterm birth
  • List preventable risk behaviors for preterm birth

Notes are includes on the notes section of PPT and there is background information on the Preventable Risk Factors research conducted by NC Division of Public Health (Appendix 3).

To process the information, have students utilize Think, Pair, Share. Have students list 2-3 strategies one could employ to reduce the risk of preterm babies. Afterwards, have students find a partner and share their ideas. Finally, have two pairs partner and review each suggestion. Allow students to volunteer their ideas to the entire class.

Guided Practice

Distribute the Planning for Healthy Babies Double Puzzle (Appendix 4).

To help you recall what you have learned about preterm births and babies, I want you to complete the double puzzle. Here are the instructions: Unscramble each of the clue words then copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number. Remember that both the clue words and cells are related to healthy babies.

After students have completed the puzzle, use the Master (Appendix 5) to go over correct answers. Ask for any questions.

Independent Practice

To assess that students have met the sub-objectives listed in the Teacher Input Step, they will each create a Healthy Baby Fact Sheet for potential/future parents. Using the template (Appendix 6), have students use their guided note-taking handout (or web resources listed on the PPT and handout) and fill in the required sections on the Fact Sheet. Provide the Rubric (Appendix 7) and review it so students understand how their work will be scored.

Closure

In today’s class we defined preterm or premature birth and discussed some of the potential consequences. We also reviewed some of the behavioral factors that can be prevented. Your fact sheets were well done and serve to educate others on how to have healthy babies.

Memory Matching Game

Premature Birth
/ Premature Birth

Low Birth Weight
/ Low Birth Weight

Anemia
/ Anemia
High Blood Pressure
/ High Blood Pressure

Age of Consent / Age of Consent
Child Support
/ Child Support
Child Custody
/ Child Custody
Diapers
/ Diapers

Baby Formula and Food
/ Baby Formula and Food

Medical Care
/ Medical Care

Drop out of School
/ Drop out of School

Time with Friends
/ Time with Friends

Sports and Other Activities
/ Sports and Other Activities

Unable to attend Prom, Dances, Graduation
/ Unable to attend Prom, Dances, Graduation

Planning for Healthy Babies

Guided Note-taking

Objectives

  • Define preterm/premature birth
  • Review the possible negative consequences of preterm birth
  • List possible preventable risk behaviors for preterm birth

Preterm/Premature Birth

According to the March of Dimes, a preterm or premature baby is one born before______.

Potential Problems due to Preterm Birth, Short Term (first few weeks of life)

  1. ______problems
  2. ______problems
  3. ______problems
  4. ______control problems
  5. ______problems
  6. ______problems
  7. ______problems
  8. ______system problems

Potential Problems due to Preterm Birth

Long Term

  1. ______(disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture)
  2. ______, like Learning Disabilities
  3. ______Problems
  4. ______Problems
  5. ______Problems
  6. ______Problems
  7. ______Health Issues

Preventable Risks of Preterm Delivery

  • Alcohol and ______
  • Being ______or ______before getting pregnant
  • Smoking
  • Poor ______as well as high ______.
  • Certain ______
  • Some Types of ______
  • Starting ______late or not going to prenatal appointments as recommended.
  • Having babies ______.

Possible Preventable Risks of Preterm Delivery

  • ______

Think, Pair, Share

  1. Think of two or three ways people could reduce their risks for pre-term births. Write Below.
  1. Find a partner, each share your ideas. Add to your list.
  1. Each pair partner with another pair, share your ideas. Add to your list.

Good Sources of Information on Preterm Babies

•Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

•March of Dimes

•Mayo Clinic

•National Institutes of Health

Planning for Healthy Babies Double Puzzle

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

Instructions: Unscramble each of the clue words.
Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number. All are related to babies and preterm birth.

Planning for Healthy Babies Double Puzzle

Master

IMMUNE SYSTEM

BREATHING PROBLEMS

CEREBRAL PALSY

ALCOHOL

SMOKING

HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

INFECTIONS

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

UNDERWEIGHT OR OVERWEIGHT

PRENATAL CARE

MARCH OF DIMES

TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT PRETERM BABIES.

Healthy Baby Fact Sheet


Healthy Baby Fact Sheet Rubric

Student Name: ______
CATEGORY / 3 / 2 / 1
Required Elements / The fact sheet includes all required elements. / All required elements are included on the fact sheet. / Some of the required elements are included on the fact sheet.
Content - Accuracy / At least 20 accurate facts are displayed on the fact sheet. / 15 - 19 accurate facts are displayed on the fact sheet. / 14 or fewer accurate facts are displayed on the fact sheet.
Grammar / There are no grammatical mistakes on the fact sheet. / There is 1 grammatical mistake on the fact sheet. / There are 2 or more grammatical mistakes on the fact sheet.
Use of Class Time / Used time well during each class period. Focused on getting the project done. Never distracted others. / Used some of the time well during each class period. There was some focus on getting the project done but occasionally distracted others. / Did not use class time to focus on the project OR often distracted others.