Science project
Epilepsy
Grade Level: 9th; Type: Neurosciences/Biology
Objective:
To learn about Epilepsy, its causes, symptoms, treatments and the ongoing research to prevent modify and hopefully eliminate and or minimize its occurrence.
Research Questions:
- What is epilepsy?
- What causes epilepsy?
- What is a seizure?
- What is a grand mal?
- What is the difference between a seizure and epilepsy? Or are they the same?
- Are there a variety of seizures? If so what are they?
- Where do partial seizures start?
- What are the different types of seizures?
- What is an atomic seizure/
- What is amyoclonic seizure?
- What causes a febrile seizure?
- How dangerous is a status epilepticus seizure?
- What are the treatments for epilepsy?
- How prevalent is it?
- Is there a possible cure for epilepsy/
- How has modern technology assisted us in learning more about this disease?
- What can we the public do to assist the victims of epilepsy?
The student is asked to picture the following scenario and play a part in it. The scenario reads as follows: Students at the local high school had an unusual experience of witnessing an epileptic seizure as one of their classmate’s fell to the floor in the lunchroom. The staff at the Health Center which is housed at the school and the principal decided it would be appropriate to prepare and disseminate a pamphlet on Epilepsy since very few of the students were familiar with the disease and numerous questions were raised following this unfortunate episode. You, the student have been asked by the principal to work with the staff of the Health Center and prepare a pamphlet to be distributed to the student body on pertinent facts about Epilepsy. The title of the Pamphlet is Epilepsy! Questions and Answers! No, Not Contagious! As a result of this project, the student will have acquired basic knowledge by responding to the questions listed under Research Questions provided below as well as from other sources such as interviews with patients having epilepsy, internet sources and resources as well as books and studies available from professional neuroscience and medical magazines.
Experimental Procedure:
- Welcome aboard! Use the series of research questions as an outline for your pamphlet.
- Use the sources listed in the bibliography provided below and the resources listed under Internet resources to obtain additional information
- You may want to contact local medical staff who may serve as resources.
- If possible, there may be patients who suffer from epilepsy who are willing to share their experiences with you.
- Be sure to include the various agencies who serve to assist epilepsy patients.
- Put your pamphlet together. Have a friend or parent edit it .It is difficult to edit one`s own work.
- Give the pamphlet a dry run. Try it out on a friend and obtain some feedback.
- Enter it into the Science Fair. Make certain to include a bibliography of all of your resources.
- You may want to share it with the principal of your school as well as the local Health Department. Great Job! Good Luck!
Terms/Concepts: Epilepsy; Excitation;Inhibition;Grand mal; Simple partial;Complex partial; Atonic; Myoclonic; Tonic-clonic; Febrile seizures; Status epilepticus; Epileptologist
References:
- Abelson, Butz, E., Snyder, S., Neuroscience, The American Association fortheAdvancement of Science, 1985
- Hawkins, J & Blakeslee, S., Times Books, 2004
- Pinker, S How the Mind Works, WWW Norton &Co, New York, 1997
- Smith, A. The Mind, the Viking Press, 1984
- Restack, R., the Brain, Bantam Books, New York, 1984
- www.Epilepsy.com
- www.St.FrancisHeartCenter.com
- HealthToolsAAARP.com
- PhoenixChildren.com
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