Before class, write the names of the following waterborne diseases on pieces of recycled paper: Guinea worm disease, Helminths (intestinal worms), Schistosomiasis, Trachoma, Typhoid, and Cholera. Allow each student to randomly select a piece of paper – this will determine the groups the students will work in.
Have the following waterborne disease facts posted on the blackboard:
More than 5 million people die each year from diseases caused by unsafe drinking water, lack of sanitation and insufficient water for hygiene. In fact, over 2 million deaths occur each year from water-related diarrhoea alone.
In developing countries, 80% of illnesses are water-related.
1.1 billion people, about 20% of the world’s population, remain without access to safe drinking water.
Read the facts out loud to the class. Ask the students for their reactions to the statements they just heard. Were they surprised? How did hearing these facts make them feel?
Have resources on hand in the classroom, or have the computer lab booked for the students to use. Have the Common Water Diseases handout available to get the students started. Explain to the students that the disease they picked divides them into groups. Once in their groups, they will have 45 minutes to gather as much information as possible on the disease that they have been assigned and discuss their class presentation, which need only be 5 minutes long, and they have the freedom to present their information in any appropriate way they like. Tell them to be creative. (Options for presentation include: play, public service announcement, radio announcement, etc).
In the next class, inform students they will have 15 minutes to finalize their presentation and then ask the groups to make their presentations.
Extension:
Have the students create a disease occurrence map or chart in excel.
