International Baccalaureate Program

Educating for Excellence

 

Rigor + Relevance + Relationships = Educational Excellence

MYP in the Classroom

Northside Blodgett Middle School

MYP Unit Diabetes Awareness

Instructors Darell Dening

According to Northside-Blodgett (NSB) Physical Education teacher Darrell Dening, the IB Middle Years Program (MYP), has enhanced his teaching experience and what he brings to his students. “The MYP allows teachers to expand the students’ learning outside the realm of their own discipline,” said Mr. Dening. “The program helps students make the connection between having a physically active and healthy lifestyle and the units that we teach.”

Since 2005, NSB Physical Education instructors offer an integrated instructional unit on Diabetes that includes traditional classroom activities along with student participation in the American Diabetes Association’s “School Walk for Diabetes.” All NSB students participate in the walk during their gym classes over a two-day period in the fall. In past years, they have raised close to $30,000 for the American Diabetes Association.

Inside the classroom, the Physical Education unit is structured around a set of “Guiding Questions” that includes: What is Diabetes? What can we do as a community in order to help people with this disease? Students are required to research and answer these and other questions to familiarize themselves with the disease. Specifically, they are expected to learn about the two types of Diabetes and their causes, and to understand what lifestyle choices they can make to prevent Type 2 Diabetes, as well as how those with Type 1 Diabetes can structure their lives to manage their health.

Health teacher Laurie Lewis collaborates with the Physical Education teachers on this unit teaching the students about Diabetes and emphasizing the nutritional aspects of the disease and how diet and exercise can be affected. The students write reflective papers on how they felt after learning about the disease and explain why it is a good idea for students to be involved in community service and volunteer their time for such a worthy cause. Technology is included in the assignment as students use computers to research and write their papers.