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🏥 Weeks 25-28: Health Technology

Unit Overview
Grade Level Grades 5-6
Duration 4 sessions (45 min each)
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus S (Science), T (Technology), E (Engineering), R (Religion)

Weeks 25-28: Health Technology

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Understand how technology improves healthcare 2. Identify health challenges suitable for innovation 3. Design assistive or health technology 4. Consider accessibility in design

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. See healthcare as service to human dignity 2. Apply Catholic ethics to medical technology 3. Design with compassion

Weeks 25-28: Health Technology

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Human Dignity in Healthcare — Every person deserves care and healing. Medical technology should serve human dignity, especially for the vulnerable. Catholic healthcare is the largest private health system in the US!

Scripture Connection

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." — Psalm 147:3

Saint Connection

St. Gianna Beretta Molla — Modern saint (1922-1962) who was a pediatrician. She combined medical science with deep faith, treating the whole person. She sacrificed her life for her unborn child, showing the sanctity of all life.

📚 Materials Needed

Week 25

  • Health technology examples

  • Medical innovation videos

  • Research materials

  • Ethics case studies

Week 26-27

  • Design materials

  • Prototyping supplies

  • 3D design software (optional)

  • Sensors and electronics (optional)

Week 28

  • Presentation materials

  • Testing supplies

  • Feedback forms

  • Display materials

📝 Week 25 Procedure: Health Technology Overview (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Healing Lord, You cared for the sick and suffering! Help us learn to use technology for healing. St. Gianna, doctor and saint, pray for us as we explore medicine and technology. Amen."

Health Technology Revolution (12 min)

How technology transforms healthcare:

Categories of health tech:

  • Diagnostics — Finding problems (imaging, tests)

  • Treatment — Fixing problems (surgery robots, medicines)

  • Monitoring — Tracking health (wearables, sensors)

  • Assistive — Helping function (prosthetics, wheelchairs)

  • Communication — Connecting people (telemedicine)

Amazing examples:

  • 3D printed organs and prosthetics

  • AI that diagnoses diseases

  • Apps that track mental health

  • Exoskeletons that help people walk

  • Cochlear implants that restore hearing

St. Gianna's approach:

  • Treated whole person, not just symptoms

  • Combined science with compassion

  • Saw Christ in every patient

  • "Medicine is a mission, not just a profession"

Health Challenges (10 min)

Problems worth solving:

Brainstorm health challenges:

  • Diabetes management

  • Medication reminders

  • Physical rehabilitation

  • Mental health support

  • Accessibility barriers

  • Chronic pain management

  • Elder care

  • Vision/hearing impairment

For each challenge:

  • Who is affected?

  • What makes it hard?

  • What technology exists?

  • What's still needed?

Catholic Healthcare Ethics (12 min)

Principles for health technology:

Key principles:

  • Dignity of every person — All life sacred

  • Care for the whole person — Body, mind, spirit

  • Preferential option for vulnerable — Serve those most in need

  • Do no harm — Technology shouldn't hurt

  • Informed consent — People choose their care

  • Access for all — Not just wealthy

Case study discussion:

Case: AI Diagnosis

  • AI can diagnose some diseases better than doctors

  • Should AI replace doctors?

  • What's gained? What's lost?

  • Catholic perspective?

Case: Expensive Technology

  • New treatments often cost millions

  • Who gets access?

  • How should limited resources be shared?

  • What does Catholic teaching say?

Challenge Introduction (8 min)

Design Challenge:

Create health technology that:

  • Addresses a real health challenge

  • Improves quality of life

  • Respects human dignity

  • Is accessible to those who need it

Process over next 3 weeks:

  • Week 26: Research and design

  • Week 27: Build prototype

  • Week 28: Present and demonstrate

Homework:

  • Identify health challenge to address

  • Research existing solutions

  • Interview someone affected (if possible)

Closing (1 min)

Closing Prayer: "Healing Jesus, help us use technology to bring Your healing to others. St. Gianna, inspire us to see medicine as mission. Amen."

📝 Week 26 Procedure: Research & Design (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, guide our research and design. Help us create technology that truly helps. Amen."

Research Sharing (8 min)

Share findings:

  • What challenge did you choose?

  • Who is affected?

  • What solutions exist?

  • What gaps remain?

User-Centered Research (12 min)

Deep understanding of needs:

User empathy map:

  • What do they SAY about their challenge?

  • What do they THINK (worries, concerns)?

  • What do they FEEL (emotions)?

  • What do they DO (current behaviors)?

  • What do they NEED?

If possible, interview or survey:

  • Someone with the health challenge

  • Healthcare worker

  • Family member/caregiver

Key insight: "Design WITH people, not FOR people. The user is the expert on their own life."

Design Phase (18 min)

Create your health technology design:

Design document:

1. Problem Statement

  • Clear description of challenge

  • Who faces it

  • Current solutions and gaps

2. Our Solution

  • What we're creating

  • How it helps

  • Why it's better/different

3. User Interaction

  • How people use it

  • Step-by-step process

  • Accessibility considerations

4. Technical Design

  • How it works

  • Materials/components

  • Technology involved

5. Catholic Ethics Check

  • Respects dignity? ✓

  • Accessible? ✓

  • Does no harm? ✓

  • Serves vulnerable? ✓

Sketch multiple views:

  • Overall appearance

  • User interaction points

  • Key components

Closing (5 min)

Design review:

  • Partner feedback on designs

  • Refinements

Materials planning:

  • What do you need to build?

  • What's available?

  • Bring any special items

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for good ideas, Lord! Help us turn them into reality. Amen."

📝 Week 27 Procedure: Prototype Building (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Creative God, guide our hands as we build. Help us create something truly helpful. Amen."

Build Phase (35 min)

Create your prototype:

Prototype options:

  • Physical model (cardboard, 3D print, found materials)

  • Digital mockup (app screens, website)

  • Working prototype (with electronics if available)

  • Video demonstration concept

Building tips:

  • Start with basic function

  • Add details as time allows

  • Test as you build

  • Get feedback early

Quality standards:

  • Clearly shows how it works

  • Could be understood by users

  • Demonstrates key features

  • Reflects dignity and care

Teacher circulation:

  • Help with technical challenges

  • Ask design questions

  • Connect back to user needs

  • Encourage iteration

Testing & Feedback (6 min)

Peer testing:

  • Have partner use your prototype

  • Don't explain — watch them figure it out

  • Note confusion points

  • Get honest feedback

Feedback to collect:

  • What's clear?

  • What's confusing?

  • What would help the user?

  • What would you improve?

Closing (2 min)

Final preparations:

  • What needs finishing?

  • Prepare presentation

  • Practice demonstration

Closing Prayer: "Thank You for progress! Help us finish well and present clearly. Amen."

📝 Week 28 Procedure: Health Tech Showcase (45 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Lord, bless our presentations. May our work honor You and serve those in need. St. Gianna, celebrate with us! Amen."

Final Polish (5 min)

Last preparations:

  • Finish any details

  • Set up presentation

  • Prepare demonstration

  • Practice pitch

Health Technology Showcase (30 min)

Present your innovations:

Presentation format (5-6 min each): 1. Health challenge addressed 2. User needs and empathy 3. Your solution 4. Demo/show prototype 5. Catholic ethics connection 6. Impact and next steps 7. Q&A

Audience:

  • Ask questions

  • Consider: Would this help?

  • Note innovation and compassion

  • Provide constructive feedback

Evaluation & Awards (5 min)

Recognition:

  • Most Innovative Solution

  • Best User Research

  • Greatest Accessibility

  • Strongest Ethics Integration

  • Most Feasible

  • Best Presentation

Discussion:

  • "What did this unit teach you about healthcare?"

  • "How can technology serve human dignity?"

  • "What surprised you about health challenges?"

Reflection (3 min)

Looking forward:

  • Could your design become real?

  • What further development needed?

  • How might you pursue this interest?

Connection to future:

  • Healthcare careers

  • Biomedical engineering

  • Medical mission work

  • Health policy

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for the gift of medicine and technology! Thank You for teaching us to care for the sick and suffering. St. Gianna, inspire us to see healthcare as sacred service. Help us always use technology to serve human dignity. May our work bring healing and hope to those who need it most. Bless all who work in healthcare! Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We completed a Health Technology unit! Ask your child: 'What health challenge did you address?' 'What did you create?' 'How does Catholic ethics apply to healthcare?' Discuss healthcare in your family — what technologies have helped? How do faith and medicine connect?"

✅ Assessment

  • Researched health challenge thoroughly

  • Applied user-centered design

  • Created functional prototype

  • Demonstrated Catholic ethics integration

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **