California Career and Technical Education Standards

• HSMT.FS.5.1 Apply appropriate problem-solving strategies and critical thinking skills to wor...
• HSMT.FS.5.3 Use critical thinking skills to make informed decisions and solve problems.

California Academic Content Standards (Reinforced)

• ELA.9-10.R.SFIM.2.1 Analyze the structure and format of functional workplace documents, including th...32

• Beat The Clock - Hooks / Set

  Changing the layout of the classroom is an easy way to peak the students curiosity.  When your students arrive they will find that the classroom has been arranged in three separate areas and a timer is set in the center.

  This is a carrousel activity with a time limit.  Each group will have (ten minutes) to solve their respective problem before rotating to the next area.  The group who has the most answers at the end of the activity could win a prize (pizza for lunch, no homework for one night?)  Emphasize how important time may be in the lives of some of their future patients (emergency medicine or anaphylatic emergencies).

  • Resource list.doc [ Download ] Preparation for activity
• I am out of my blue pills... - Group Work

  Group 1 will have ten minutes to try to discover as many names of medications as they can.

  Provide this group with approximately ten photos of pills (I use pictures from the PDR) with a brief description of the action, usage, recommended dosage and side effects of each.  The students may use PDR or computers to try to discover the names of the medications while familiarizing themselves to the common classifications and actions of these medications.

  After ten minutes the groups will rotate to the next area.
• What does this say? - Group Work

  Group 2 will have ten minutes to decipher as many prescriptions as they can.  (I have collected many copies of prescriptions from students, friends and coworkers over the years names have been deleted).

  This exercise gives the students practice with medical and prescription abbreviations as well as deciphering a variety of physicians writing.

  After ten minutes the groups will rotate to the next area.
• That DOES compute - Group Work

  Group 3 will have ten minutes to calculate dosage using empty medication containers.  I have collected container and empty injection vials from various clinics.  Place these containers on the table with an index card under them indicating the doctors order.

  After ten minutes the groups will rotate to the next area.
• Times up - Closure

  When all three groups have finished their rotation regroup to review the answers, have individual students share their results with the class.  Determine which group had the most number of CORRECT answers to win the prize.

  If students where unable to solve some of the problems review the answers with the class either at the end of the discussion or the next class meeting.