Question

Beginning:

Scene at School:

Teacher:
“Maya, you seem a little distracted today. Are you feeling okay?”

Maya: “I’m just really tired, and my head hurts.”


Teacher: “Hmm. Did you eat lunch today?”


Maya: “Yeah… I had a cheeseburger with my friends.”


Teacher: "Could that have made you sick?" "Do you normally eat cheeseburgers?"


Maya: "No I dont normally eat cheeseburgers but they looked really good today. I was hungry..."


Teacher: "Okay Maya, let me write you a pass to go to the nurse."


Another student: "Maya, whats wrong with you?


Maya: "I dont feel good."


Another student: "Do you need to go to the bathroom?"


Maya: "Noooo, I ate something I wasnt supposed to eat."


Another student: "Oh, I thought you needed to poop."


Teacher: "Okay, that is enough bathroom talk, Maya here is your pass go to the nurse." "Everyone, back to work" *Clapping Hands*


Scene at Home:


Student (Maya):
“Mom, my stomach hurts again. And I feel really tired.”


Mom: “Maya, you’ve been following your special diet, right? No meat or dairy?”


Maya: “I ate a cheeseburger at lunch yesterday… I didn’t think one bite would matter.”


Dad: “Sweetheart, remember what the doctor said. Your body can’t break down certain amino acids. Even small amounts of the wrong food can make you sick.”


Mom: "Ok, Maya, let's go to the doctor first thing in the morning."





Beginning:

Scene at School:

Teacher:
“Jordan, you’re pale and your hands are shaking. Are you alright?”
Jordan: “I don’t know… I feel dizzy.”Teacher: “Did you check your blood sugar before class?
Jordan: “No, I thought I’d be fine. I just had a soda after practice.”
Teacher: “Okay, let’s pause. I think your blood sugar might be too low or too high. Do you have your meter with you?”
Jordan: “Yes, it’s in my backpack.”
Teacher: “Go ahead and check. I’ll let the class work quietly while you do that.
Classmate (Nina): “Why does he have to check his blood sugar?”
Jordan: "Why are you so nosy?"
Classmate (Nina): My bad, I was trying to be helpful..*rolls eyes*
Teacher: "Alright, guys, that's enough. Jordan, let's get you to the nurse so she can check up on you and make sure that you're okay. "
Scene at home:



Dialogue at Home

Student (Jordan): “Mom, I feel shaky and sweaty. My hands won’t stop trembling.”


Mom: “Did you check your blood sugar?”


Jordan: “I forgot before basketball practice. I just drank a soda instead.”


Dad: “Jordan, you know your body doesn’t make insulin. You can’t just drink soda. You need to balance your insulin and food.”


Dad: "Let's go ahead to the doctor and see what they say."

Compare and Contrast: (7-10 Sentences Required)



Compare Maya's day at school to Jordan's day at school.

How were their days similar?

What were their symptoms?

Looking back over the articles we read yesterday, what do you think could be wrong with Maya? What do you think could be wrong with Jordan?

Answer 1

Both Maya and Jordan were noticed by their teachers as looking unwell at school, classmates asked questions, and each was sent to the nurse. Their days were similar in that the symptoms showed up during the school day and seemed related to something they had recently eaten or didn’t manage: both students felt unwell enough to worry others and need medical attention. Maya’s symptoms were fatigue, headache, and stomach pain after eating a cheeseburger she usually avoids; Jordan was pale, dizzy, shaky, sweaty, and trembling. Based on the articles we read, Maya’s story fits a metabolic disorder like phenylketonuria (PKU) — her body can’t break down certain amino acids, so even a small amount of the wrong food can cause symptoms. Jordan’s presentation and his dad’s comment that his body “doesn’t make insulin” point to type 1 diabetes, and his shaking and sweating are typical of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), though high blood sugar can also cause problems if not managed. In short, Maya likely had a diet-triggered metabolic reaction (PKU-related), while Jordan likely had a blood‑sugar crisis related to type 1 diabetes; their causes and day‑to‑day management needs (strict dietary avoidance vs. insulin and glucose monitoring) are quite different.