A sampler for kids

Introduction | Internet Activities | Conclusion | Dictionary

Introduction 

Welcome to this band-aide sampler. Think of it as a box of chocolates. I've selected seven of the pages on the website, Band-Aides and Blackboards, to give you a taste of what the site is all about. I hope that you like my choices, and that you will decide to stay and visit some more of the stories and activities. The links come from the pages of Band-Aides...though you may want to travel to other sites on the World Wide Web to get more information. Each of the links will take you to a story or song or other activity that will help you learn about kids with medical problems and the lives that they lead. You may complete the activities alone or by working in a group. If you get stumped on a word that you come across, check it out in the dictionary.

Good luck and have fun!

1. What about Christophe reminds you of yourself?
2. If you had Christophe's medical problem, how do you think you'd deal with it?
3. Why do you think kids at school teased him about his appearance?
4. When you get teased, how does it make you feel?
5. How do you handle it?
6. What do you think Christophe should say to people who tell him that his face is dirty?
7. Can you think of a fun game to play with Christophe after the sun sets?
8. What do many people do when they visit Mauritius Island?
9. If you grew up on Mauritius Island, what sorts of foods do you think you'd like to eat?  (If you don't know why people visit the island or what foods grow on it, do a search to find out)
10. If you'd like to, send Christophe a note and tell him a little about yourself.

1. Have you ever been in the hospital? If you have, what was it like?
2. Go visit Julia so she can teach you about IVs. Why do kids need them sometimes?
3. Why is Jackie blowing up those balls? How do they help her lungs?
4. Whyever would a clown go to a hospital?
5. How come Chris is wearing that strange gown?
6. What was special about Rufus the dog that surprised Jeremy?
7. What does a Child Life Specialist do in the hospital?
8. Visit at least two other pages on the hospital tour. Choose your favorite page and          explain why you chose it.

Yarden and his imagination

Activity:

1. Have you ever used your imagination to help yourself?
2. Yarden has an interesting way of relaxing when he needs to.
3. What does he do to relax? Try it yourself and write down what it was like.
4. What's your favorite way of relaxing?
5. How does Yarden use his imagination?
6. Why does he like snakes?
7. Write down your very favorite place to be.
8. Explain how your imagination could take you there.
9. What sorts of situations would be easier to deal with if you used your            imagination this way?

Trudy's story

Activity:

1. Do you have any medical problems that you've decided to keep a secret? If you answered yes, how come? If you answered no, why do you think Trudy decided not to tell people about hers?
2. Write down five or six things that you think are most important about Trudy.
3. What sorts of things did you learn about operations from her story? (Hint: She teaches you about them from a link at the bottom of her story.)
4. If you had medical problems like Trudy's, how do you think you'd deal with them?
5. Trudy tells you about a play she was in. What was the point of the play? Why do you think she decided to play the role of Stacey?
6. Why would Trudy be a good friend to have?
7. Write a letter to Trudy telling her about yourself. Ask her any questions that you have.

The game of life

1. Think of a song title that describes a piece of your life and write why you chose it.
2. What's the mission? Turn the theme song, "Mission Impossible" into a poem or rap,        "Mission Possible".
3. List at least four ways that you can be a friend to someone else.
4. The "Field of Dreams" music suggests what it is that makes kids popular. Practice the    lessons and write about how they worked for you.
5. What did you learn from the song "Wings"? How do you respond to people who have "forgotten the rules"? Write down two other good ways of responding when you're teased in a hurtful way.
6. I chose the music "Top Gun" to describe a special kind of present. What is it and how are you planning on using it for yourself?

Sally Goes to School

1. Most kids are nervous and excited at the same time when they start school. What goes on in your head the very first day of school each year?
2. What if you learned that you had a medical problem over the summer...what would you be feeling? How would you behave when you came into the classroom?
3. After you read the story, "Sally Goes to School", write a paragraph explaining what the nurse's great idea was all about.
4. If you were the principal of your school, what would you do to make the school a kinder place for kids with any type of difference?
5. How would you suggest Sally behave if she gets teased any more? You might want to take a look at this page for some suggestions.

Activity:

1. What sorts of special needs do you have in school? Think hard, we all have at least one or two.
2. Do you know anyone in your school who has 'special needs' in order to stay in the classroom and stay healthy? If you do, describe the needs.
3. What are some of the other things about that person that people often miss because they pay so much attention to the special needs?
4. If you had special needs, like for wheelchair or a breathing tube or a special person to help you during the day, how do you think you'd be able to manage them?
5. How would you like your classmates to treat you if you had those needs?
6. List four other things about you that you'd like other people to know about besides the needs you've just written about.
7. Why do kids with special needs often get teased and excluded from activities?
8. How could you be the sort of friend that a classmate with special needs would like to have?

Conclusion

So what do you think? You've had an opportunity to visit some interesting kids who have some medical problems that you probably had never heard of, and you've learned that these children have some incredible ways of dealing with their lives. Isn't it amazing that they can find a lot to smile and be happy about? I hope that you've learned through them and through the kids on the hospital tour that kids are kids, and that when they have scary things like medical problems happen in their lives, they usually learn some good ways of dealing with them. If you'd like to send a list to me of things that you've learned on this very first Band-Aide...sampler, I'll make a new page with your comments. What a way to become famous, with your words out there for the whole wide world to see! To get an even better understanding of illness and childhood, come back soon and visit some more pages.