BioEd Online

Teacher Background

The Science

COVID-19 is frightening. It has changed the way we live and work, not only in our own communities but in countries all over the world. In addition to health concerns, the CDC notes that public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and increase feelings of sadness, stress, and anxiety.

Talking about and naming our feelings, asking questions about things we don’t understand, and hearing that others have the same concerns can help alleviate some fears that we all have. Even during a pandemic, people can reach out to one another and care for their mental health. Be sure that students know that they can reach out to their parents, a teacher, or school nurse, for example if they have feelings of sadness or stress that feel overwhelming.

It is recommended to stay socially connected with friends and family who don’t live in your home by calling, using online video applications, or staying connected through social media. Remember, if meeting with others in person, it should be in a small group, outdoors, while wearing masks and staying at least 6 feet from one another.

For students of all ages, drawing, writing, or other creative activities can become an outlet for the expression of emotions generated by the pandemic.

 

Objectives and Standards

Students will create a diagram or drawing (a “Page in History”) of things that identify them at this moment of time, validating their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

Science/Health/Math Skills

Expressing emotions

Communicating health concerns

Defining stress

Managing anxiety
 

NGSS Science & Engineering Practices

Asking questions and defining problems
 

Time

Setup:5 minutes

Activity: two 30-minute classes

 

Materials and Setup

Paper

Pencils or drawing media (crayons, markers, etc.) OR access to drawing or presentation software on a computer or tablet.

 

Setup and Teaching Tips

This activity may be introduced in class as a discussion, followed by an in-class assignment or homework.

 

Procedure and Extensions

Engage

1. Ask students to look silently around their environment (home or classroom). Ask, What do you see that is different now than before COVID-19? Allow time for responses. Students in the classroom may notice different spacing of furniture, plastic shields in public areas, etc. Students at home may notice that everyone is at home, rather than at work or school, or that not much has changed inside their house. Accept all comments.

2. Explain that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our personal lives, the community and the world. Share something that has changed for you (the teacher) and how you feel about that change. Examples might include working from home, caring for someone who is sick at home, wearing a mask, stocking up on hand soap, etc.

 

Explore

3. Ask, Does anyone want to share what they have noticed or how they feel about the changes around us? Accept all responses.

4. Ask students to think about the changes they mentioned. Can they share one change they like and one they dislike? Examples might be they miss playing with their friends, but they like that they are spending more time with their family.

5. Some students may have trouble describing their feelings or emotions. Ask, What would your feelings look like if you could act them out? (for example, yelling, jumping, running)

 

Explain

6. Reinforce to students that everyone, including their own parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, neighbors and teachers, is feeling emotions or has questions that sometimes are hard to talk about. Explain that sharing our thoughts can make things less scary and overwhelming.

7. Remind students that COVID-19 is affecting people around the entire globe. We are not the only ones going through this disease! Also, as serious as the pandemic is, we all are part of history for going through this challenging time. In fact, this is not the first pandemic faced by humanity—we will get through this challenge together.

 

Extend

8. Ask, If you had a page in a history book that described you NOW, during the COVID-19 pandemic, what would you have on your page? Instruct them to think of the things that are part of their lives right now, in this moment. Ask, Have you taken up a new hobby or learned something new? What are you doing to protect yourself from COVID-19? Are you doing more things outdoors, like bicycling or walking?

9. Tell students they will create their own Page in History. Offer the following two options for doing this.

1. Draw items on a sheet of paper that represent you during COVID (like a bicycle, a book, a mask, etc.) Tell them they can draw as many items as they want! Alternately, students may want to create electronic drawings, using a computer or tablet.

2. If students prefer, they may write their names in the middle of the paper or page and find a creative way to use words or short phrases only to describe themselves now.

 

Evaluate

10. Assign a completion time for each student’s Page in History and allow time for discussion and sharing.

Handouts and Downloads