Lesson 11: Survival Strategies

Grade Level: K-6
Suggested Time: 60 mins
Overview
Students will imagine what it would be like without access to modern medicine and sanitation. They will split up in teams and forage outdoors and in the classroom for materials that can be used to aid in hygiene and medicine. They will be tasked with finding solutions to specific ailments or hygiene issues and present to the rest of the class about what they invented.
Objectives
Required Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
The Lesson
Part 1: Stranded!
  1. Inform the class that they are all stranded in the same location. Everyone is of different ages and backgrounds, with a variety of skill sets. Everyone can contribute in a meaningful way,and cooperation is necessary for survival. You’ve traveled far, and a few people have sustained injuries. These injuries must be treated to enable healing and prevent infection.And of course, everyone is dirty. People need ways to clean their teeth and bodies without the amenities they are used to, like bottled toothpaste.
Part 2: Survival Teams
  1. Separate the class in two teams. One team will handle medical ailments; the other will take care of sanitation and hygiene for the group.
  2. Allow the students to have some fun with storytelling. What are some of the things that have happened to them? Have the medical team come up with a list of ailments. Have the sanitation team come up with a list of sanitary problems that need to be solved and soaps that need to be made.
  3. Review the lists that the groups came up with. Strike off any unrealistic items and guide them as needed.
  4. A list for medical might include: fever, infection, large cut, broken bone, head cold, blisters;examples of sanitary needs or issues include: toothpaste, soap, disinfectant, wet shoes and socks, moldy or soiled clothes, shampoo.
Part 3: Medical Expedition
  1. Send the groups out into the world. Tell them that their weary band of travelers has just happened upon a shelter that has been raided before, but still has some items in it. Have them do an inventory of the objects available in the room(s) or yard. They should write a list and potential uses for each item.
  2. Have students experiment with the objects. In some cases, they will be able to build what they need. In others, they will need to make a plan of action. For example, they are not going to extract aspirin from willow bark. Instead, have them note the willow tree and discuss its possible value. Another example is thinking of ways to heat up water. If you put a plastic bottle in a sunny area—especially if it’s dark plastic—it will heat up. Where students are unable to find a use for an object, address the object during discussion later.
  3. The group that solves the most problems wins!
Part 4: Discussion
  1. Discuss any items that the students couldn’t find a way to use, and any problems that were left unsolved. Can the other group think of what to do?
  2. Discuss the assigned reading with the class. African Black Soap is made with natural,organic ingredients without the use of any harsh chemicals. Can they think of local plants and substances that have similar properties?
Accommodations 
Modifications