Washington State Education Science Learning Standards Alignment

What Teachers are saying about Youth Take Heart

www.youthtakeheart.org

Contact: Chris Wieland, Director of Education

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 425-456-8741

Youth Take Heart is a program designed to educate middle-school aged youth and the general public about cardiovascular disease, including how to prevent heart disease and live a heart healthy life.

It is a cutting edge science education program for 21st century classrooms, created by the Hope Heart Institute through a collaborative effort with The University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials (UWEB), a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center, and MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement).

What is Youth Take Heart?

Youth Take Heart has developed a curriculum to promote health among middle school-aged youth. The curriculum includes:

• Guy Simplant, an Internet-based/CD-ROM program (originally developed by UWEB) which focuses on exploring ways to repair or replace a heart.
• An educational program kit addressing the connections between cardiovascular health and other body systems.
• Career opportunities in science and medicine, and cardiovascular disease risk reduction in youth.
• Special focus is placed on reaching underrepresented minority and low-income youth who are at very high risk for cardiovascular diseases.
  
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Youth Take Heart Curriculum

Developed by teachers and scientists, the 2-week comprehensive science curriculum teaches about:

• The structure and function of the heart.
• The role of diet and lifestyle factors on heart health.
• The role of science and technology on treating heart and vessel diseases.
• Science and technology careers.
• All lessons align with Washington State Essential Learning Requirements in Science, Math, and Health.
  
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Why Youth Take Heart?

• 11% of children are obese today compared to 5% in the 1970's.
• In 2000 only 25% of kids are physically active compared to 45% in 1991.
• Health care costs attributed to cardiovascular health factors increased by 228% percent in 2000.
• Childhood is the optimal time to teach healthy habits that can prevent heart disease and stroke later in life. Youth Take Heart does just that.