Fourth Graders Turn Into ER Doctors; Learn to Diagnose Health Ailments

Fourth graders are currently engaged in their health unit in science. “The students started the year exploring electricity and magnetism,” says teacher David Starfas. “They were then introduced to the concept of circuits and systems. Using this background knowledge of electrical systems, we moved into studying the systems of the body.” As they prepare for their Health Fair on Thursday, March 2, fourth graders welcomed special guest (and Brandeis parent) Mary Fox, an ER physician, to give the students a taste of what an ER doctor does. Parents posed as “patients” needing neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, or extremity exams. The students—or in this case, “doctors”—were tasked with formulating diagnoses by ordering some basic tests: CAT scan of the brain, EKG, chest X-ray, and X-ray of the extremities.

 

Adds Mr. Starfas, “Mary gave us a great introduction to what she does in the emergency room and how to diagnose a patient.” MORE PHOTOS