CPR Project Promotes Real-World Problem Solving
If more people knew how to do CPR, the chances of someone dying from cardiac arrest are way lower, says Arin Calhoun, a 5th grader at PEP Greenview. He, along with several of his classmates in 5th through 7th grade, participated in a special project to raise awareness about the importance of learning CPR. The CPR project was conducted in partnership with the Korda Institute for Teaching, a nonprofit that works with schools throughout the United States promoting real-world learning in the classroom.
Planning for the project began last school year with meetings between Korda and PEP. To prepare to lead their students through the project, teachers participated in training over the summer.
For Korda projects, students work with a business to identify a real-world problem it is facing. They research the problem, identify solutions and present their findings at the conclusion of the project.
PEP Greenview Chooses a CPR Project
The students at PEP partnered with Terrance Myers of Med-Cert Training Center, a local organization that provides medical training, including CPR. The problem they identified was that 70 percent of Americans don’t know how to administer CPR, and as a result some victims of cardiac arrest end up dying in situations where it could have been prevented. Once the students learned that fact, they knew they wanted to raise awareness about CPR.
After weeks for research and preparations and A LOT of practice, students presented their findings in the school auditorium to classmates, teachers, parents, PEP staff from its central office and Terrance Myers of Med-Cert. They wanted to their presentation to be factual but also engaging, so they prepared a fact-based PowerPoint presentation and a skit demonstrating the importance of CPR.
Practice Makes Perfect
“We practiced many, many times and we kept getting it wrong. But we tried and we got better at it. And then, the best we did was on show day,” said Calhoun, proudly.
Christopher Henry, an instructional coach at PEP Greenview says this project was a great fit for PEP. “One of the things we focus on a lot at PEP is the importance of community. It’s one of the principles of our Re-ED philosophy. Knowing their focus was on helping others allowed students to regulate. It helped them reason and understand ‘this is bigger than us.’”
In addition to Christopher Henry, the educators involved in the project included Sydnei Burley, Antonio Lester and Marvin Smith.
Student Video
Arin Calhoun, one of the students participating in the project, sat down to talk about the CPR project on behalf of his class. “I am not the only person who did all the research,” he explained. “All of us contributed to this project.”
Learn More
To learn more about the PEP Greenview CPR project or what is happening at PEP’s other Day Treatment Centers visit PEP’s website. Contact Nicole Molnar, clinical coordinator, at 216-361-7760 ext. 110 or via email to see if a student in your district may be a good fit.
*Please note, referrals are made through school districts. Interested parents or caregivers should contact their school administrator.*