Theme: Eating Disorders
Grade Level: 9-12 (adaptable for grades 7-8 with teacher discretion)
Subject: Health / Language Arts
Time: 3-4 class periods
Original connection: The source connected the topic with Nell's Quilt and included writing, research, dramatic, artistic, musical, and scientific activities. This revision keeps the literary and health-education purpose while removing activities that could encourage students to measure their bodies, calculate body-fat percentages, experiment with calories or diets, or dramatize an eating disorder.
Learning Objectives
- Explain what eating disorders are and understand that they are serious illnesses, not choices or character flaws.
- Identify general warning signs that should prompt a student to seek help from a trusted adult or health professional.
- Explain why classmates should not diagnose one another.
- Identify healthy ways to respond when concerned about a friend or family member.
- Analyze a literary character's experiences without assuming that fiction provides a medical diagnosis.
- Locate trustworthy health information.
NIMH describes eating disorders as serious illnesses involving severe disturbances in eating behavior and notes that they can affect people of different body weights and backgrounds. Early detection and treatment are important, and treatment can include medical care, nutritional counseling, psychotherapy, and family involvement. citeturn0search0turn0search6
Materials
- Nell's Quilt, if the school has selected it for the course
- Teacher-selected, age-appropriate health information
- Student source-analysis organizer
- Paper or word processor
Important Teacher Preparation
Tell students in advance that this is a health lesson and that they will not be asked to disclose personal eating, weight, exercise, or body-image information. Do not conduct weigh-ins, body measurements, calorie calculations, dieting experiments, or public discussions of students' bodies.
Procedure
1. Establish Ground Rules. Explain that eating disorders are medical and mental-health conditions. Students should use respectful language and should not make jokes about weight, food, or appearance. Personal disclosures are not required.
2. Build Accurate Background. Introduce the general concept of eating disorders. Explain that a person's appearance alone cannot tell you whether that person has an eating disorder. NIMH notes that people with eating disorders can be underweight, average weight, or overweight. citeturn0search6
3. Literature Connection. If using Nell's Quilt, students examine how the quilt functions in the story. They may write about symbolism, character development, setting, conflict, or changes in the character's understanding. Students should distinguish literary interpretation from medical diagnosis.
4. Health Information Activity. In small groups, students review teacher-selected information from reputable health sources. Each group creates a “What We Know / What We Should Not Assume” chart. Examples of appropriate questions include: What are eating disorders? What are some general warning signs? Why is professional help important? Why should classmates not attempt to diagnose someone?
5. Helping a Friend. Students work through fictional scenarios. A student notices that a friend seems to be struggling with food or body image. Students practice a response such as expressing concern, listening without judgment, and involving a trusted adult. Emphasize that students are not responsible for treating a friend themselves.
6. Writing Option. Students write a short informational article for a school health newsletter: “How to Get Help When You Are Concerned About Eating or Body Image.” Require sources and a clear distinction between general information and professional diagnosis.
Assessment
- Student accurately defines the topic in general terms.
- Student identifies appropriate reasons to seek adult or professional help.
- Student avoids diagnostic claims about classmates.
- Written work uses reliable sources and communicates health information accurately.
Differentiation
- Provide teacher-selected sources at different reading levels.
- Allow students to complete written or oral responses.
- Provide private rather than public opportunities for questions.
Teacher Notes and Safety
This lesson should not be used as a screening test. If a student discloses a personal concern, follow the school's established student-support and safeguarding procedures and involve the appropriate parent/guardian and qualified health professional according to school policy. NIMH recommends talking with a health-care provider when there are concerns about eating behavior or mental health. citeturn0search0
The original activities involving body measurements, percentages of body fat, calorie/diet experiments, and dramatization of key scenes have been intentionally removed. Those activities are not necessary to meet the learning objectives and could be harmful or unnecessarily personal for students.