Health Honors Option

Mr. Nguyen

The Honors option in Health is designed for those students who are able to do excellent work in the regular class and have the time and interest to do additional and more difficult assignments. Unless a student is a very strong health student, it is probably wiser not to attempt the option. The extra challenge of the Honors Option will not affect the student’s grade, but it will be indicated on the transcript. Also, an Honors option in Health can be counted as one of the required semester courses for an Honors Diploma.

Assignment to the student:

  1. You must complete a minimum of four extra assignments.
  2. Each assignment must be selected from a different topic.
  3. This work will not be counted as extra credit for you regular grade. However, your school record will show that you did Honors level work.
  4. This class can be counted as one of the classes for an Honors diploma.
  5. Two assignments must be completed each quarter; four total in the semester.

Units of Study:

  1. Interpersonal Health and Wellness (Physical, Mental, Social)
  1. “Do for Somebody” assignment. You are to visit with someone who is less capable of everyday activities. Their Health must be affected either physically, socially, or emotionally. You are to spend some time with this person and then write about your observations, and feelings regarding your conversation with them. Mr. Nguyen will provide more details for this assignment.
  1. Choose one form of cancer which you wish to learn more about. Do a library research about the disease and then contact a person who suffers from the disease or a medical person who works with cancer patients. Come up with at least 10 questions for interview (be sure to clear them with Mr. Nguyen first). Then write a minimum of three pages typed about what you have learned through research and interview.
  1. Choose a Health occupation such as Physical therapy, Massage Therapy, Dentistry, Nursing, Laboratory Technology, Personal Training, Dietetics, Etc… Do research on that occupation and interview a person in that occupation and do a three page report using these questions as a base for your research. What do you do on the job? Where do you work? What is the level of education required? Is there any special training? What is the employment outlook for the future? What is the salary? Make sure the occupation is something you are interested in.
  1. Death and Dying
  1. Study the issue of adolescent depression and suicide. Learn about the patterns and indications for each. Investigate emergency hotlines and agencies available to teens in Rochester. Write a three page report of what Rochester has done about this problem, and what you have found from your research to be an ideal program. Tell about programs developed in other communities. Make recommendations for Rochester.
  1. Do a minimum of ten hours of volunteer work at the Northland House, Seasons Hospice, or other similar agencies of your desire. Write a three page paper about your experiences.
  1. Chemical Dependency
  1. Arrange with someone you know who is recovering from chemical dependency to be a guest speaker for Health class to discuss the disease of addiction and the process of recovery.
  1. Visit with three professionals working in the field of chemical dependency to discuss their opinions of what works best to combat drug use. Write a three page report summarizing their views.
  1. Work with the Mayo Clinic “Most” program and do presentations about drugs and alcohol to elementary school aged kids in the district. Mr. Nguyen can set this up for you and tell you what is needed.
  1. Sexuality
  1. Contact the Rochester Aids Volunteer Project to see if they need a minimum of ten hours of volunteer help. If not, ask for information which will assist you in writing a position paper on mandatory AIDS testing, or on the use of experimental drugs before full Federal Drug Agency approval has been granted.
  1. Research the position of the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life abortion advocates. Using facts as well as opinions, write a position paper on your point of view.
  1. Learn about teen pregnancy issues in Rochester by talking with people in Social Services, the Continuing Education Program in the RochesterPublic Schools, and Planned Parenthood. In writing, identify the three or four issues you see confronting this community on the topic.
  1. Call Planned Parenthood to see if you could volunteer a minimum of ten clock hours to learn what they do, and about some of the programs that they provide for teens and the community. And write a three page paper on your experience and what you have learned.
  1. CPR
  1. Interview someone who has performed CPR or other life threatening services (First Aid, Mouth to mouth, etc…) and write a short paper on what they did, how they felt, and what you learned from their experiences.
  1. Do a minimum of 10 clock hours of volunteer work at the American Rd Cross and write a short paper on your experiences.
  1. Nutrition/Fitness
  1. Pick three Fast Foods restaurants and do a Research/Comparison about their “Healthy Choice” foods. Which restaurant offer the most Healthy choices, and if they are actually healthy for you.
  1. Do a research on any 3 Vitamins or Minerals on how they benefit the body, what food can we find these vitamins or minerals in and how much is needed for optimal health.
  1. Think of a Fitness goal that you want to achieve/accomplish and set a plan with Mr. Nguyen on how you can accomplish it.

*** If you have any other ideas or volunteer places to go to (Church activities, Hospitals, etc..) that could be consider for Honors Option, talk to Mr. Nguyen.