Introduction
Accidents can happen everyday. Six million people break a bone each year!
Injuries occur to us everyday. We have learned about different fractures; oblique, spiral, transverse and compound just to name a few. We can also injure our joints. A dislocation is when the bone slips out of a joint. At that time we can injure the tendon or ligament. Painful injuries that involve a tear to the tendon or ligament may require surgery to reattach it to the bone or to a muscle. Some of us have encountered a slipped disc. This painful injury occurs when one of the discs between your vertebrae protrudes and presses on a nerve leaving the spinal cord. Sprains, pulls and overstretching a muscle are very painful also. A sprain is when we stretch or tear a ligament. A muscle pull involves tearing a muscle or tendon. All of these injuries can be minimized by stretching. We need to stretch before and after exercise or we will continue to hurt ourselves.
Diseases can also affect the musculoskeletal system. Rickets is a disease that affects the bones due to not enough of something such as calcium and nutritional foods. The bones become very soft and bend due to lack of calcium. Another disease that is caused by too much meat and fat products is gout. This is when the body does not get rid of the waste and the body gets very big or obese. There are other diseases and conditions that affect our bones. Arthritis is a very painful disease of the joints. There is wear and tear on the joints and this restricts movement.
There are many more that affect the development of bones and each one more painful than the other. The students may want to share some of their injuries, how they exercise, and the types of protection (helmet) they use to keep their system healthy and strong.
Project: An Unfortunate Accident
Objective: Students will utilize x-rays depicting various injuries and/or diseases and write a fictional story about how the injury occurred.
Materials: Paper, pencil, x-ray
Procedure: Note- Due to the HIPPA laws, x-rays may not be available. An alternate activity is to go on www.google.com and search images for fractures. Once it is in print form, put pictures on transparency paper and place on an overhead projector. Some veterinarians provide animal injuries.
Display x-rays of various injuries for students to view. Allow students to choice the injury that they would like to write about. Discuss the narrative prompt or expository prompt with the class. Allow time for the students to share their ideas with a peer, draft an outline and provide them feedback.
Prompt: Imagine a fun day playing with friends. All of a sudden you are very hurt. Pick one of the x-rays and write about your injury, pain and how you are going to heal. Give all the details! Even if it is GROSS!
An Unfortunate Accident Score/Rubric
6
Student has an engaging beginning, complete sentences that are organized, include elaboration and fluency. The story is clear and follows a well defined prompt with a beginning, middle and end.
5
Student has included a somewhat engaging beginning, sentences are generally
well constructed and organized. Elaboration and fluency are evident.
4
Student has a beginning but descriptive inconsistencies throughout the story are
evident in organization, elaboration and fluency.
3
Student has a simple begging middle and end with minimal description. Very
general elaborations. Some evidence of fluency.
2
Student has not included one of the following: beginning, middle, and end. Unorganized and difficult to understand due to lack of fluency.
1
No story is conveyed, very difficult to understand.