High School Supplemental Curriculum on Sleep

24-12. Reduce the proportion of vehicular crashes caused by persons with excessive sleepiness.

Prevent Problem Sleepiness

Through population and clinical approaches, increase the percentage of children and adults who obtain adequate sleep in order to prevent problem sleepiness and its negative health consequences.

To develop and disseminate a supplemental curriculum on the biology of sleep and its relationship to health for high school students and teachers.

This project is intended to reach high school students with information about the biology of sleep and its relationship to health, as well as the importance of obtaining adequate sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation.

In 1997, the development of K-12 curriculum supplements was designated as the major trans-NIH science education initiative. The program, coordinated by the Office of Science Education (OSE), is designed to expand the science learning opportunities for students by teaching them about the relationship between biology and human health. NHLBI was selected as one of the Institutes to participate in the OSE’s program beginning in fiscal year 1999 with release of materials in 2001. These materials will target high school students, and the content will cover the biology of sleep and its relationship to health. A panel of sleep scientists has been convened to serve as advisors for the curriculum supplement. OSE has developed a statement of work and has awarded a contract to design, develop, field test, and print the materials. Materials were drafted, reviewed, and field tested in Spring, 2001. Revisions based on field test are underway. Final materials will be produced in the Spring of 2002. After that, teacher training, marketing and dissemination efforts will be implemented for anticipated application of the materials in 2002.