A group of seniors from Lambert headed down to Riverwatch Middle School to participate in
the first collaboration between the two schools. The project was titled “Code Blue”, and was
carried out by seventh graders taking advanced life science. The seniors had completed the
healthcare pathway and they are currently involved in internships at various medical practices.
The project had been assigned to Riverwatch students in January, upon return from winter
break. The students were divided into groups of six, and assigned a specific medical scenario.
The given scenario included a review of symptoms, past medical history, current medications,
and the results of a physical exam and lab orders. From this information the students began
research in to diagnose the patient.
The project incorporated more than just regurgitating learned information. It stimulated
problem-solving skills, rational thought, and creativity. Each group created a distinguished
hospital with a distinguished name, logo, and mission statement. During the presentation, each
student was dressed in professional attire and took on individual roles as a specialized doctor.
Contained in the slideshow presentations was the final diagnosis alongside a detailed course of
treatment.
The interns from Lambert were given rubrics and carefully graded the project. After each
presentation, the interns would inquire about the project in connection to the larger world of
medicine. Common questions included, “What is the average blood pressure for an adult?” or
“What is the human body temperature in fahrenheit and celsius?” Several students were able to
answer with impressive accuracy, while sometimes the questions were challenging, and it was
not expected of the students to know the answer.
A simple question was “What is the normal respiratory rate?” One student
answered with “80,” and another student answered with “100.” “Think about that for a second,
there are 60 seconds in a minute, and that would be hyperventilating. The normal respiration
rate is 12-20 breaths per minute,” explained Aline Castro, an intern at a Physician’s office. The
questions were apt for building a baseline of medical knowledge.
Projects presented by the much younger students were not void of new knowledge for the
interns. In one case, the determined diagnosis was Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disease which
was unknown to many of the interns.
Once eighth grade arrives for students, which AP classes and career pathways to take at Lambert become important discussions. Mrs. Melodi Shanks and Ms. Sarah Stream kept the idea that many students had shown an inclination toward the healthcare pathway and taking advanced science and math classes in mind when designing this project.
“They have exceeded our expectations. They learned how all the body systems work together to
keep the body functioning. And on top of that, whether they want to pursue a career in the
medical field or not. This is definitely something we will continue with next year.” said Mrs.
