Here's to Your Health

Grades: 5-12

Here’s to Your Health

Students will research a health issue, write an essay, and transform their argument into a public service announcement.

Engage

Share examples of a range of public service announcements — like the ones created by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption or National Institute on Drug Abuse. Work as a class to identify techniques of persuasion used in the sample PSAs, asking questions like:

Which ones make the most compelling arguments? Why?
Which ones are the best? Why?
What makes them effective?

As you watch, review of techniques of persuasive writing and effective arguments.

Have students choose an important health issue so they can develop a PSA to inform and raise awareness.

As they conduct research, assign the fact vs. opinion organizer to help students determine what information about the issue is fact and what is opinion.

Acknowledging opposing information and arguments demonstrates an awareness of both sides of the issue. Assign the t-chart organizer to help students identify research information that supports their argument and which information contradicts it so they can work to refute opposing arguments.

Students should organize ideas and write a first draft using facts and vivid language, trying to get all of their ideas down in logical order.

Encourage them to begin with a hook to get the reader's interest and close with a powerful and motivating statement. The body of the essay should contain paragraphs that support their argument as well as information that can be used to defeat arguments against their thesis.

Use a peer review process throughout the pre-planning, outlining, and draft process to help students improve their message.

Create

Group students together based on shared topics and issues. Have each member present their argument to the group.

Most public service announcements are between 10 and 60 seconds long. Teams should identify the strongest arguments and brainstorm how to convey them in a brief PSA.

Student teams should choose a target audience, define a debatable statement, and begin collecting concepts from their essays and brainstorming new ideas for writing. Have teams develop a storyboard to identify how they will share their ideas.

Have students start a new blank project and share it with the students on their team.

Students can can use Wixie's paint tools and image options to develop illustrations and visuals. They can record narration and add background music to set the tone.

When they finish, have each team export the project as a video they can share in a presentation or online.

Have students present their work to the rest of the class. Upload student PSAs to your class or school web site. Share them during morning video announcements at your school. Reach out to organizations students used to find information and share student PSAs with them.

Standards for English Language Arts - Grade 5-12

Writing Standards

Text Types and Purposes

1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence

National Health Education Standards

1. Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
8. Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.