OPERATION SMILE THE BEAUTY OF BEING UNIQUE

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INTRODUCING OPERATION SMILE TO STUDENTS THE BEAUTY OF BEING UNIQUE Lesson Audience

• Upper Elementary School • Middle School • High School

Objectives The student will:

• Recognize the importance of a smile. • Value different types of beauty. • Understand the mission of Operation Smile. • Develop an affective connection to a child who needs cleft surgery.

Materials & Vocabulary Materials:

• The Beauty of Being Unique PowerPoint Presentation • Video of a patient’s story (retrievable at www.OperationSmile.org) • Smile Ticket reflection sheet

Vocabulary: • Symmetrical • Asymmetrical • Facial Deformity • Cleft Lip • Cleft Palate • Psychology • Malnutrition • Vitamin Deficiency • Folic Acid

National Standards of Learning Language Arts

• NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills Students adjust their use of spoken language to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

• NL-ENG.K-12.9 Multicultural Understanding Students develop and understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.

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• NL-ENG.k-12.11 Participating in Society Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.

• NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills Students use spoken language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Health

• NPH-H.K-4.7; NPH-H.5-8.7; NPH-H.9-12.7 Health Advocacy Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.

Mathematics:

• Geometry Standard PreK-2; 3-5; 6-8 Students will use symmetry to analyze mathematical situations.

Introduction

1. Ask students the following questions: • When you do not know someone very well, how do you act toward him or her? • When you first meet a person, do you notice his or her differences? Based on those

differences, do you first tend to judge people by their physical appearance or their inward character? Why?

2. Instruct students to turn to a neighbor and describe a time when they judged someone based on physical appearance, were judge by their own physical appearance, or saw someone being judged by his or her physical appearance. Describe the impact that judgment had on the person being critiqued.

Procedure

3. Students should arrange their chairs in a circle to simulate the appropriate environment for a Socratic Seminar.

4. Use the Beauty of Being Unique PowerPoint presentation to show students pictures of “beautiful” people. Ask them what makes these people attractive. Brainstorm ideas, allowing students to freely express themselves.

5. Continue using the PowerPoint by presenting students with a few pictures of shapes or simple objects that have symmetry. Ask students what the items have in common, and lead them to understand that each item is symmetrical. Ask for a volunteer to come to the screen and use his or her finger to draw a line of symmetry on one of the objects.

To reinforce the concept of symmetry for younger students, play I Spy Something Symmetrical. Model the game by saying, for example, “I spy something symmetrical; I spy something symmetrical and with one line of symmetry; I spy something symmetrical,

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with one line of symmetry that is brown; I spy something symmetrical, with one line of symmetry, that is brown, and hard,” etc. until students guess that you spy the trapezoid-shaped table. Next ask for a couple of volunteers to lead the game with the class.

6. Use the next slides in the PowerPoint Presentation to examine a couple more pictures of

symmetrical faces, and again ask students if they have any more ideas about what makes these people beautiful, leading them to understand that beauty is often perceived based on symmetrical features in one’s face.

7. Explain that according to research, beauty is often judged by facial symmetry. Studies have

shown that even babies spend more time staring at pictures of people with symmetrical faces. Psychological studies have also shown that people with symmetrical faces are typically in better mental and physical health compared to those with asymmetrical faces.

8. Having said this, further explain that beauty still goes beyond symmetry; that is just one theory.

For instance, in his research completed in 1999, John Manning from the University of Liverpool in England reminds us that beauty differs across cultures. In China, small feet were considered beautiful and women bound their feet to keep them tiny; and in England during Shakespeare’s time, ankles were examined as a mark of beauty. Ask whether anyone knows of other ways beauty is judged in different cultures.

9. Use the PowerPoint Presentation to show pictures of children from around the world who have

cleft lips and/or cleft palates. Tell students they will now examine photographs of children with asymmetrical faces. Let students have a substantial amount of time to examine all of the pictures, then ask the students the following questions, using the Socratic Seminar model for discourse: Opening Questions:

• What is the most important point to remember about beauty? • What do you assume about the quality of life of the people you saw with symmetrical

faces? • What do you assume about the quality of life of the children you saw with asymmetrical

faces? Core Questions:

• Why do you think we do not see many children that look like the ones with asymmetrical faces in our country?

• What is the purpose of looking at people with symmetrical and asymmetrical faces? • The mother of a child with an asymmetrical face similar to the ones you saw in the

presentation said, “I want my son to be handsome.” Can you support a mother who speaks about her child’s physical appearance as so important? Why?

Closing Questions: • What do you think of when you see the children with asymmetrical faces? • What do you believe people in their country think when they meet these children? • What might school or social experiences be like for them? How may this compare to

your school or social experiences? • Do you have any characteristics that make you different?

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• How do people treat you because of your differences, and how do you want people to treat you?

10. Make sure students understand that a symmetrical face does not mean someone is superior.

Ask them to express other qualities people may have that make them great. Lead them to answers such as kindness, altruism/selflessness, empathy, the ability to love, etc.

11. Explain to the students that they were looking at pictures of children who were born with cleft

lips and cleft palates. Inquire whether anyone can explain what a cleft lip and cleft palate is. Then, ask students to examine the lips of a classmate. Have volunteers describe the shape of their peer’s lips. Continue to explain that people who have cleft lips have a gap in their lips and gums. Further explain that a cleft palate is different from a cleft lip. Ask students to touch their tongues to the roof of their mouths. Have volunteers describe what they feel when they rub their tongues over this area. Explain to students that people with cleft palates have a hole in the roof of their mouth. The exact causes of cleft lips and cleft palates are unknown, but scientists believe when the mother is pregnant malnutrition, maternal illness, vitamin deficiency, smoking, drinking, lack of folic acid, and genetics may contribute.

12. Next explain that Operation Smile is a charity organization that travels around the world to

perform free corrective surgery on children with facial deformities such as cleft lips and cleft palates. Since Dr. William Magee and his wife Kathy founded Operation Smile in 1982, the organization has provided free surgery to over 135,000 patients. Operation Smile has over 4000 medical volunteers, and a presence in over 51 countries around the globe. During an international medical mission, 35 to 40 medical professionals from around the world volunteer for a two-week period. On the first couple days of a mission, all children go through screening, where they are given a free medical examination; and for some this is the first time they have ever seen a doctor. After every child is screened, the team of volunteers determines which children are the best candidates for surgery. Because there is not enough time or money to provide surgery to every patient, many must be turned away. It takes as little as 45 minutes and $240 to give a child cleft lip surgery, which will change his or her life forever.

13. Show students a video of a patient’s story. To access videos, go to the Operation Smile

homepage, www.OperationSmile.org. Click the top tab, “Living Proof” then click “Video Stories.” Prior to showing students, view the video to ensure it is appropriate for the grade level you are teaching. The videos include brief snippets of a surgery in the operating room; suggest that students who do not like watching such occurrences turn their heads at that time.

14. After watching the video, pose the following questions: • What do you think these children and their families dream about? • Why don’t all children born with clefts receive corrective surgery soon after birth, like they

do in developed countries? Examples include: there are not enough qualified doctors in the country; families cannot afford the surgery.

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References Psychological Research on “beauty”: • The Beauty of Symmetry, by Elizabeth Snead

http://www.usaweekend.com/03_issues/030601/030601symmetry.html • Looking Good: The Psychology and Biology of Beauty

http://sugarcubes.blogsome.com/2005/11/22/looking-good-the-psychology-and-biology-of-beauty/

• What is beauty http://www.viewzone.com/faces33.html

Extension Activity 1. Ask students, “How can you help Operation Smile change the lives of children?” See the

attached sheet on service opportunities for additional ideas. 2. Have students determine a service project to complete individually, as a class, or as a school.

Lesson Evaluation 1. Provide students with the Smile Ticket reflection sheet to complete.

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Name: ______________________

Date: ______________________

Smile Ticket

1. What excited you most about Operation Smile? Why?

2. What surprised you about what you learned?

3. Do you think you can help Operation Smile change the lives of children? Why or why not?

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TEACHING METHOD SOCRATIC SEMINAR

In the spirit of the Greek philosopher, Socrates, the Socratic Seminar method urges students to think divergently by participating in discussions with one another, without seeking one finite answer to a question. Dialogues, devoid of prejudice and bias, begin after students reflect on a rich reading, artwork, movie, or music. During discussions, participants sit in a circle, and refrain from raising their hands throughout conversations.

The seminar facilitator should prepare three types of open ended questions prior to beginning the discourse: Opening Questions, Core Questions, and Closing Questions.

• Opening Questions: o Questions that touch on major themes, ideas, or topics of the text.

What would be a better title for this piece? Do you agree or disagree that the author would say…? What is the most important idea/theme/topic in this selection? Why?

• Core Questions: o Questions to facilitate a deeper interpretation of the text. o Questions often refer to specific passages, quotes, or ideas of the text.

What does the author/main character mean when (s)he says…? What is the meaning of the passage/quote…? Can you elaborate on what you mean?

• Closing Questions: o Questions that allow students to make personal connections to the text.

How does this text relate to your life? What are the future consequences? How have your opinions changed?

Depending on the direction students take the discussion, the facilitator may not pose all prepared questions. During the discussion, seminar participants should develop meaningful, respectful, and reflective questions and conversations. Participants should refer to each other by name, and maintain eye contact with the speaker.

Resources:

• Studyguide.org: http://www.studyguide.org/socratic_seminar.htm • Going Socratic: http://www.hightechhigh.org/unboxed/issue3/going_socratic/ • AVID: Socratic Seminar:

http://savanna.enschool.org/ourpages/auto/2009/2/19/43664135/Socratic%20Seminars.pdf

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OPERATION SMILE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES You Can Help Youths of all ages can help change the lives of a child forever! The following are a few ways students may want to support Operation Smile’s mission. Tell your students about OS CENTRAL, Operation Smile’s online student community, where they can connect with other students involved in Operation Smile around the world, post blogs, discussions, videos, and much more! Access this community at www.OSCENTRAL.org. Start a STUDENT ASSOCIATION at your school. Use the attached club application form; or find the most updated information on OS Central (www.OSCENTRAL.org). Simply click “Find Club/Group,” scroll down to “Start an Operation Smile Student Club,” and follow the instructions. Create SMILE BAGS filled with small sized personal care items that every child receives after surgery. The bags are 12 inches wide by 14 inches deep, and have a drawstring. Operation Smile has a volunteer team that fills the Smile Bags and ensures that each child on the same mission receives equivalent items. Please stay in the parameters of our requests, because we do not have room to take additional items on missions. Smile Bags include the following items:

• .85 to 1.4 oz shampoo (screw on top only) • Small comb (no rat tails) • New wash cloth • Child size toothbrush (single pack) • 8 pack box of crayons • Thin 8 ½ x 11 coloring book • Small stuffed animal (beanie baby size) • Small square mirror (approximately 3’’x3’’) • Sample size toothpaste (not expired) • Hotel size bar of soap

Make QUILTS, BLANKETS, or AFGHANS for children to stay warm and comfortable at the hospital and home. These items need to be child-sized (45’’x45’’, 54’’x54’’, or 45’’x54’’). Preferred materials include cotton or light fleece, and quilts should have light batting. Create GET WELL cards for our patients.

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Collect supplies for our MEDICAL RECORDS volunteers. Operation Smile sets up a complete office at each hospital site during missions. Most facilities cannot provide items necessary to run the office successfully, so we bring our own supplies. The following items are always needed:

• Flashlights and D Cell Batteries • Bulk file folders (colored) • Staplers (Bostitch or Swingline) • Staple removers • Large rubber bands • 2 hole punch • Clipboards • Colored markers (10-12 packs) • Highlighters (yellow, green, pink) • 1’’ masking tape • Blue and black ink pens • Sandwich-size Ziploc bags • Staples • Scissors • Scotch tape and dispensers • Glue sticks • White-out (correction pen/exactliner) • Black Sharpie markers • 55 gallon trash bags • Pencil sharpeners

Receive DONATIONS from families, friends, or religious congregations by giving speeches about the importance of Operation Smile, having a lemon-“aid” stand, or asking for donations instead of gifts on holidays and Birthdays. Have a donation jar in the cafeteria where students can put their EXTRA CHANGE in order to help a child. Put on a Talent Show FUNDRAISER, or comparable function, that benefits Operation Smile. Display STUDENTS’ ARTWORK and allow parents to attain their child’s creation by donating money to Operation Smile. Create and sign artwork to hang in the PATIENTS’ PLAYROOM at hospitals around the world.

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CONTACT OPERATION SMILE

• Curriculum Questions Suzanne Unger Director of Curriculum, Operation Smile (757) 321-7787 suzanne.unger@operationsmile.org

• Operation Smile Headquarters Operation Smile 6435 Tidewater Drive Norfolk, VA 23509 1-888-OPSMILE (888-677-6453) 1-757-321-SMILE (757-321-7645) www.OperationSmile.org

• Supplies and Donations Operation Smile accepts supply donations throughout the year. Make copies of the blank inventory form included in this section of the lesson, and include one completed inventory sheet per box. Place the inventory sheet on TOP of the box. Inventory sheets should include the name, address, and telephone number of the school or club designated to receive the letter of acknowledgment/receipt. Shipments of multiple boxes should be numbered (ex: 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3). Please send supplies along with an inventory sheet to:

Operation Smile ATTN: Warehouse 6435 Tidewater Drive Norfolk, VA 23509

6435 Tidewater Drive ■ Norfolk, VA 23509 ■ 757.321.SMILE (7645) ■ Fax 757.321.7660 www.operationsmile.org

Revised 6/09

Registration and Contact Verification Form Operation Smile Student Programs

Please provide the following information in order for us to register your Student Club and/or to update our records to keep you more efficiently informed of Student Programs events and offerings. Name of school/organization: _______________________________________________ Address of school/organization:______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Phone number of school/organization: _______________________________________ Grade levels: ____________What year did you start your Student Club: ___________________ Name of Student Club Advisor: ________________________________________ Phone number: _____________________ Email: __________________________________ The best way to contact you is by: __________ E-mail __________ Regular Mail __________ Telephone Name of Student Club President: ________________________________________ Phone number: _____________________ Email: _______________________________ The best way to contact you is by: __________ E-mail __________ Regular Mail __________ Telephone Please list some of your past fundraisers and any creative ideas you may have: _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ What are your goals for this year? ___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Suggestions or comments:__________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Mail the completed form to:

Operation Smile Student Programs/CV 6435 Tidewater Drive Norfolk, VA 23509

6435 Tidewater Drive ■ Norfolk, VA 23509 ■ PHONE 757.321.SMILE (7645) ■ FAX 757.321.7660www.operationsmile.org

Supply Donation Inventory Sheet / Packing List(Please include this sheet with each shipment)

Please complete the following information:

*******************************************************************Contact person & title: ______________________________________________________Business, School or Club name:________________________________________________Address: _________________________________________________________City, state, zip: _________________________________________________________Phone:___________________________ Alternate phone: _________________________Email: _____________________________________________________________________

Item Quantity Item Quantity

Total Estimated Dollar Value ofDonation:

Thank you!Your involvement with Operation Smile is greatly appreciated!Thank you for your generous heart to heal children’s smiles and

transform lives across the globe!