Global Health in Puerto RicAn ClassROOMS

Curriculum Toolkit 2021

This toolkit is a collection of work completed by K-12 teachers in Puerto Rico in collaboration with staff and students at the University of Michigan as part of the University of Michigan and University of Puerto Rico annual symposium. In 2021, the theme was Global Health in Puerto Rican Classrooms and was conducted entirely virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The projects you will find here are not complete curricular examples, but instead showcase a wide range of the work completed, representing regional diversity in their research (Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, and Africa).

Detailed Overview of Contents

Introductory Presentations

Alana Rodriguez, Latin American Studies, Epidemiology; Dr. Darin Stockdill, Instructional and Program Design Coordinator, CEDER

Two slide decks imparted during the symposium to serve as guidance for teachers throughout their curriculum design experience.


Reproductive Rights: El Salvador, Pakistan, Kenya

7th/8th Grade History lesson created by: Amanda Silva Acosta, The School of San Juan; Arina Vlasova, Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies; Areli Balderrama, Health Behavior and Health Education; Alana Rodriguez, Latin American Studies, Epidemiology; Ayleen Correa, Anthropology & History; Dr. Darin Stockdill, Instructional and Program Design Coordinator, CEDER

This presentation contains an overview of the materials used, guiding questions focused on gender and reproductive justice (with an emphasis on abortion rights) in Spanish and English, as well as a court case from each country of interest. You can also find group activities here.

This lesson plan guide accompanies the slide presentation, outlining the goals of each slide and the recommended context to know before imparting this information. You will also find ideas on how to assess how you have achieved your goal with students.

Resources in both Spanish and English that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on the case study of Manuela v. El Salvador.

  • Impact of El Salvador’s Criminalization of Abortion (English and Spanish)

  • Factsheets on cases (English and Spanish)

  • Court Documentation (English and Spanish)

Resource that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on the case study of Kenya V. Attorney General.

  • FIDA Kenya V. Attorney General

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on the case study of Syed & Others V. Sindh.

  • Overview of Reproductive Laws

  • Factsheet

  • Court Documentation


Nutritional Challenges for School Communities During COVID-19 Global Case Studies: Philippines, Colombia, U.S. Virgin Islands

Middle/High School Lesson created by Awilda Rosa, Escuela Secundaria de la Universidad de Puerto Rico; Emma Willoughby, Health Management and Policy; Paloma Contreras, Anthropology; Areli Balderrama, Health Behavior and Health Education; Alana Rodriguez, Latin American Studies, Epidemiology; Ayleen Correa, Anthropology & History; Dr. Darin Stockdill, Instructional and Program Design Coordinator, CEDER

This presentation contains an overview of the materials used, guiding questions focused on children and food security, as well as a dive into each country of interest. You can also find group activities here.

This lesson plan guide accompanies the slide presentation, outlining the goals of each slide and the recommended context to know before imparting this information. You will also find ideas on how to assess how you have achieved your goal with students.

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on nutritional challenges worldwide.

  • State of School Feeding Worldwide 2020

    • Key Takeaways

  • The State of Global Education Crisis: A Path to Recovery - A Joint UNESCO, UNICEF, and World Bank Report (2021)

Resources in both Spanish and English that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on Colombia as a case study for food access.

  • Factsheet

  • Including Gastronomy in the School Feeding Programme

  • Programa de Alimentation Escolar

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students in the Philippines as a case study for food access.

  • Implementation lessons for school food policies and marketing restrictions in the Philippines: a qualitative policy analysis

  • School-based Feeding Program for Undernourished Children in the Philippines

Resources in both Spanish and English that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students in the U.S. Virgin Islands as a case study.

  • Map

  • Factsheet of Fruit and Vegetable Program (Spanish and English)

  • Factsheet of the School Breakfast Program (Spanish and English)

  • Factsheet of the School Lunch Program (Spanish and English)

  • Analysis on Hurricane Maria


History of Epidemics in the Caribbean, Iran and Kenya

11th/12th Grade History Lesson created by Cesamil Irizarry Vélez, The School of San Juan; Colin Garon, Anthropology & History; Linda Camaj Deda, Medicine; Areli Balderrama, Health Behavior and Health Education; Alana Rodriguez, Latin American Studies, Epidemiology; Ayleen Correa, Anthropology & History; Dr. Darin Stockdill, Instructional and Program Design Coordinator, CEDER

This presentation contains an overview of the materials used, learning objectives, guiding questions focused on colonialism and health, as well as a dive into each country of interest. You can also find group activities here.

This lesson plan guide accompanies the slide presentation, outlining the goals of each slide and the recommended context to know before imparting this information. You will also find ideas on how to assess how you have achieved your goal with students.

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on nutritional challenges worldwide.

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on the Caribbean region as a case study for public health.

  • Optimism as Cuba set to test its own COVID vaccine - BBC (2021)

  • The Caribbean Islands poisoned by a Carcinogenic Pesticide - BBC (2020)

  • Trump disputes Puerto Rico hurricane death toll - BBC (2018)

  • UN Admits role in Haiti's deadly cholera outbreak - BBC (2016)

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on Iran as a case study for public health.

  • Fuchsia Hart (2021) “Religious Rituals and Cholera in the Shrine Cities of 19th Century Iran” in the Epidemic Urbanism: Contagious Diseases in Global Cities, edited by Mohammad Gharipour, and Caitlin DeClercq, Intellect Books Ltd.

  • MH Azizi, F Azizi (2010) “History of Cholera Outbreaks in Iran during the 19th and 20th Centuries,” Middle East Journal of Digestive Diseases, 2(1), pp. 51-55

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on Kenya as a case study for public health.

  • Overview of the Health System in Kenya

  • Catherine Odari (2021) “Colonialism, Racism, and the Government Response to Bubonic Plague in Nairobi, Kenya, 1895–1910” in the Epidemic Urbanism: Contagious Diseases in Global Cities, edited by Mohammad Gharipour, and Caitlin DeClercq, Intellect Books Ltd.

  • Factsheet

  • J. Isgaer Roberts (1936) “Plague Conditions in an Urban Area of Kenya”, The Journal of Hygiene, 36(4), pp. 467-484


Global Cardiovascular Disease Disparities

9th/10th Grade Science Lesson by Charlotte Cabello Rivera, Grand Rapids Public Schools; Andrea Elmore, Social Work; Lilia Popova, Medicine, Epidemiology; Alana Rodriguez, Latin American Studies, Epidemiology; Ayleen Correa, Anthropology & History; Dr. Darin Stockdill, Instructional and Program Design Coordinator, CEDER

This presentation contains driving questions and multiple activities to help students understand and discuss Cardiovascular disease globally.

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on Cardiovascular disease disparities worldwide.


Spirituality and Traditional Healing Methods

9th & 10th Grade World History Lesson created by Wilmarie Rivera Pérez, Escuela Especializada en Matemáticas, Ciencias y Tecnología; Daniel Iddrisu, African Studies; Alana Rodriguez, Latin American Studies, Epidemiology; Ayleen Correa, Anthropology & History; Dr. Darin Stockdill, Instructional and Program Design Coordinator, CEDER

This presentation is a lesson designed for World History high school students with guiding questions and activities on spirituality and non-Western healing methods.

This lesson plan guide outlines the goals for a class focused on Mary and is titled "Something About Mary: Examining religious syncretism through global representations of Mary." You will also find ideas on how to assess how you have achieved your goal with students.

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on the Caribbean region as a case study for spirituality and healing methodologies.

  • The AAR Religion in the Schools Task Force (2010) "Guidelines for Teaching about Religion in K-12 Public Schools in the United States," American Academy of Religion

  • George Brandon (1991) "The Uses of Plants in Healing in an Afro-Cuban Religion, Santeria," Journal of Black Studies, 22(1), African Aesthetics in Nigeria and the Diaspora, pp. 55-76

  • Solimar Otero (2018) "In the Water with Inle: Santería's Siren Songs in the CircumCaribbean," The Southern Quarterly, 55(4) pp. 143-161

  • Martin Tsang (2020) "The Art of Sweeping Sickness and Catching Death: Babalú Aye, Materiality, and Mortality in Lukumí Religious Practice," Journal of Africana Religions, 8(2), pp. 292-316

  • Map of Arican Traditions to the Americas

  • Yoruba Map

  • Serie Orishas Babalu

  • World History Lesson focused case study, proposed by Wilmarie Rivera Perez

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on India as a case study for spirituality and healing methodologies.

  • Bhuvi Gupta & Jacob Copeman (2019) "Awakening Hindu nationalism through yoga: Swami Ramdev and the Bharat Swabhiman movement," Contemporary South Asia, 27:3, 313-329

  • Federick Smith & Dagmar Wujastyk (2008) Introduction to Modern and Global Ayurveda: Pluralism and Paradigms

  • Uma Ganesan (2010) “Medicine and Modernity: The Ayurvedic Revival Movement in India, 1885-1947”, Studies on Asia, pp. 108-131

  • World History Lesson focused case study, proposed by Wilmarie Rivera Perez

Resources that informed the presentation research and can provide further information for students on West Africa as a regional case study for spirituality and healing methodologies.

  • Jon P. Kirby (1993) "The Islamic Dialogue with African Traditional Religion: Divination and Health Care," Social Science Medicine, 36(3), pp. 231-241

  • Kenneth Ae-Ngibise, Sara Cooper, Edward Adiibokah, Bright Akpalu, Crick Lund, Victor Doku & The MHaPP Research Programme Consortium (2010) "'Whether you like it or not people with mental problems are going to go to them’: A qualitative exploration into the widespread use of traditional and faith healers in the provision of mental health care in Ghana," International Review of Psychiatry, 22:6, 558-567

  • Jill B. Hamilton (2020) "Religion and Spirituality: Distinguishing Rlated and Overlapping Concepts from an African American Perpsective," Cancer Nursing, 43 (4), pp. 338-339

  • Stephen K. Bonsi (1980) "Modernization of Native Healers: Implications for Health Care Delivery in Ghana," Journal of the National Medical Association, 72(11), pp. 1057-1063

  • Boakye MK, Pietersen DW, Kotzé A, Dalton D-L, Jansen R (2015) "Knowledge and Uses of African Pangolins as a Source of Traditional Medicine in Ghana," PLoS ONE, 10(1).

  • Peter White (2015) "The concept of diseases and health care in African traditional religion in Ghana", HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 71(3), Art. #2762, 7 pages


Crisis de Salud Pública en el Caribe: Comparativa de países en la región caribeña

Middle/High School Social Studies/World History Lesson created by Yolymar Ortiz Villegas, Escuela Adela Brenes Texidor; Sheng Zou, Chinese Studies, Communication; Marie Montas, Global Health Management and Policy; Sidney Fine, Epidemiology; Alana Rodriguez, Latin American Studies, Epidemiology; Ayleen Correa, Anthropology & History; Dr. Darin Stockdill, Instructional and Program Design Coordinator, CEDER

This presentation outlines a multi-day lesson plan on the crisis of public health in the Caribbean through a comparative lens, leading to a final research project.

This lesson plan guide accompanies the slide presentation, outlining important questions, the goals of each slide, and the recommended context to know before imparting this information. You will also find a guided research project for students. Please note that this lesson plan is entirely in Spanish.


La Influenza de 1918 en América Latina y el Caribe

8th Grade History Lesson created by Zuan Suarez Santiago, Escuela del Deporte de San Juan; Luis Zavala Arciniega, Epidemiology; Amílcar Matos-Moreno, Epidemiology; Alana Rodriguez, Latin American Studies, Epidemiology; Ayleen Correa, Anthropology & History; Dr. Darin Stockdill, Instructional and Program Design Coordinator, CEDER

This lesson plan looks at the impact of the 1918 Influenza pandemic, highlighting resources and activities teachers may use to impart a lesson on this topic. Please note that this lesson plan is entirely in Spanish.