Activity: 20 Million Objective: Students will analyze the causes, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms and treatment and prevention of STDs. Students will also determine lifestyle factors which place the student at risk for disease. Common Core Tie-In: • Lifetime Wellness (9-12): Course Standards #1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 6.6, 6.8 • Health Education (6-8): Course Standard #3.2, 7.3, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 Supplies Needed: •
Fuzzy Pom Poms (20 of one color, 20 of another color for each group)
*Note: You may use whatever small items you wish. Instead of pom poms, you might use Legos, pennies, etc. Directions: Distribute 20 pom poms of the same color to each group. Say: According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are nearly 20 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases that occur in the United States every year. Each of these poms represents one million of those new cases. Distribute 20 pom poms of the different color to each group. Say: We have learned that anyone who engages in sexually activity can contract an STD. With these new pom poms, I want you all to try and guess how many of those 20 million new cases happen to people ages 15-24. For each one million STD cases you think happen to 15-24 year olds, I want you to replace one of the old pom poms with one of the new pom poms. So, if you think 2 million of these new STD cases belong to 15-24 year olds, you will replace two pom poms of the old color with two pom poms of the new color. Give each group a few minutes to rearrange their pom poms. At the end: Say: The correct answer is 10 million! Over half of all the new STD cases in the United States occur in people ages 15-24. This means that young people are overwhelming affected by STDs.