The Science Experiment
Age Level: Middle
Props Needed:
 Clear plastic tube
 White poms = white blood cells
 Pink poms = red blood cells
 Small multi poms = platelets
 Large paper one dollar bill
 Hero poster
 9 Prizes (t-shirts)
Assembly Outline
 Teacher/Principal introduce LLS
 LLS staff introduces self and the Society
 Intro to Pennies for Patients
 The Science Experiment
 Reminder of Pennies, incentives,
making “change” and helping others
 Q&A
Science Experiment Presentation
Good Morning! As
said, my name is
. I am from The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and I’m going to talk to you to today about Pennies
for Patients. To begin, does anybody know what leukemia is?
Choose one at a time, to try and secure the word cancer. Throw a t-shirt to the kid
that gets the correct answer.
That’s right; leukemia is a type of cancer that we’ll be talking about today. Does
anybody know what type of cancer it is?
Throw a t-shirt to the kid that gets the correct answer. Give hints if they can’t come
up with blood or lymphatic system.
That’s right. Leukemia is a blood cancer. Today with your help, I’m going to show you
what leukemia is and how your school will help kids who have a blood cancer, like
leukemia or lymphoma, feel better. …hold up HERO poster…These are some of the
kids in Ohio that you will be helping!
The way that your school will help is through our Pennies for Patients Program! Over
the next three weeks, each one of you has the opportunity to make a CHANGE in
lives of kids, like our Ohio heroes, and kids across the country who battling cancer.
Before we talk about your Pennies campaign, I’d like to talk a little about cancer and
in particular, blood cancers. If you have ever known someone with a blood cancer,
like leukemia, lymphoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, or myeloma could you please
stand up? OK, we have a few of you. Now, stand up if you’ve had ANY type of
cancer affect someone you know. Wow! Who would have thought that all of you
standing had this in common? I wish no one had to stand up, but the truth is cancer
affects a lot of us in one way or another, and that is why I am here today to ask you
for your help in fighting cancer. (Direct students to sit down)
In order to understand blood cancers we need to have a general understanding
about blood. All cancers, including leukemia, begin in cells, which make up blood
and other tissues. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body
needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.
Let’s talk a little more about healthy cells and how they work in the body.
Ask a student to come and assist you (you can arrange this ahead of time with the
coordinator if you’d like.) This student will hold the tube and assist you in putting in the
poms.
There are three types of cells in our blood: Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells and
Platelets. Can anyone tell me what a red blood cell does?
Students that answer correctly get a t-shirt
Red Blood Cells The red blood cell’s job is to carry oxygen through the blood stream.
Kind of like a running back carries a football down the field. This helps us to feel
energized and not tired or run down all the time. As you are describing this, you or
your helper should put the red poms into the tube.
White Blood Cells The white blood cell is responsible for fighting off infections and
other “bad stuff” in our bodies. They’re like little boxers in our bodies because they
fight off infection and help us keep a healthy immune system. As you are describing
this, you or your helper should put HALF of the white poms into the tube.
Platelets The platelets are the one that we can actually see doing their job!! Platelets
are responsible for making our blood clot so that when we get cut, we stop bleeding
and form a scab. As you are describing this, you or your helper should put the multicolored poms into the tube and show the audience how freely the “blood cells”
move.
In people with leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. The
abnormal cells are leukemia cells. At first, leukemia cells function almost normally,
but in time, they begin to crowd out normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and
platelets. This makes it hard for blood to do its work. As you are describing this, you or
your helper should put the rest of the white poms into the tube and show how
crowded the “bloodstream” is. Hint: DO NOT TRY TO PUT THE END CAP BACK ON –
JUST HOLD YOUR HAND OVER THE END.
Thank the volunteers, give him/her a t-shirt and have them take a seat!
When the cells in a cancer patient can’t do their job, they have to undergo treatment
to help them become well again. There are generally 3 types of treatment for blood
cancer patients. Can anyone name one of them?
Chemotherapy is the word for strong drugs that are given intravenously or orally and
are designed to eliminate the cancer cells.
Radiation uses a certain type of energy to shrink tumors or kill cancer cells.
Bone Marrow Transplant is a procedure that transplants healthy bone marrow into a
patient whose bone marrow is not working properly
Many of these treatments have some pretty unpleasant side effects; such as nausea
and loss of hair. And the treatments can take a long time to work; the treatment for
childhood leukemia can last for 3 years! The good news is that when the treatment
works, hair will grow back and that kids like our HEROES can go back to school and
feel normal again.
This is a good time to invite your HERO or parent to share their experience.
Over the next few weeks you’ll be joining thousands of kids all over the U.S. to help
people like our HEROES. You will be collecting spare change, pennies, nickels,
dimes, quarters, and other money to donate to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
One of the best things about Pennies is that it’s a team effort. It doesn’t matter if you
bring in five cents or five dollars – it all adds up! Make sure that your Mom or Dad
gets the letter that will tell them more about Pennies for Patients.
So (Name of Coordinator) thinks your school can raise $$$
time). Do you think you can? That’s what I thought!
(discuss goal ahead of
Now, how many of you like pizza? That’s what I thought. In fact, one of the ways that
we would like to thank you is by giving the classroom that collects the most money a
pizza party!
Then hold up the giant one hundred dollar bill.
Everyone knows what this is, right? Can you guess how many dollars kids across the
country raised last year through Pennies for Patients?” Pick a few kids until they guess
higher and higher Those were great guesses, but I’m going to tell you this one. Last
year kids all across the country raised 18 million dollars to help kids with cancer! That
is how powerful you all are and how big of a change you can make! Can you give
yourselves a hand for doing such an amazing job and helping so many people.
Wish them luck with Pennies, remind dates, etc. Q&A