11-22
Flash card games
Sets of flash cards can be used to play games that help students learn about
particular health problems. For example, for games about the different problems
that cause diarrhea, students can make a set of flash cards like these:
CAUSES
PROBLEMS
SIGNS
TREATMENTS PROTECTIONS
The cards shown here are only a beginning. Add more according to the common
diarrheal diseases in your area.
Health workers can play several games with these cards. Make the games lively
by having people announce or act out what is on each card they play.
GAME 1: What and why? First, hand each person some cards of each kind
(CAUSES, SIGNS, TREATMENTS, etc.). One student holds up a card with a sign of
an illness and asks, “What other signs might I have?” Other students hold up more
signs, one by one, forming a description of a particular problem. They ask, “What
problem do I have?” Then the student who has the card naming that problem holds
it up. If no one challenges the diagnosis, that student asks, “Why did I get sick?”
Now each person who has a card with a possible cause of the problem holds it up.
The group discusses how the illness is spread.
GAME 2: What to do? Following GAME 1, a similar game can be played to
review the treatment and prevention of different kinds of diarrhea. Encourage
the students to look in their books and to add information and suggestions not
included on the cards.
More games: Students can divide into small groups to think of new games
using the cards. Or have them design new cards about other health problems,
or cards without words to use with children or people who do not read. This
way students use their imaginations to create learning games for people in their
communities.