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In Young AmeriTowne, Students work together to treat a patient in the Children’s Hospital Colorado Medical Center.
In Young AmeriTowne, students get their first taste of what being an adult is like. The Medical Center is no exception, and thanks to Children’s Hospital Colorado, students working in Young AmeriTowne Denver and AmeriTowne On the Road gain real-world experience in the medical field!
Young AmeriTowne lessons begin in the classroom, where students work together in business teams to create a shop name, logo, and slogan. For example, eight students from Frontier Valley Elementary in Parker invented a new name: Ciave Hospital. “We decided to use an initial from each of our employees,” said Matthew*, a Doctor. “That way we all could have a say in the name.” Through this process, students learn how to cooperate and compromise. They also think about what kind of marketing strategies will work best to promote their shop.
When they arrive at Young AmeriTowne, the learning continues. Kaitlyn*, a Health Technician is busy recording a patient’s name, age, temperature, weight, and height. Meanwhile, Emily, a Doctor, researches the patient’s symptoms on the computer. “Pale skin, dehydration, and a rash,” she says. “It doesn’t look good!” As the students work together to treat the patient and send her on her way, they gain real-life lessons in customer service and teamwork, and they receive an introduction to a career in medicine.
After the patient leaves, the shop is quiet for only a moment. Abby*, the Manager grabs a bin of glow-in-the-dark sticky skeletons to advertise. Weston*, a Doctor sitting nearby, has a big smile on his face. “I’m really enjoying my job,” he says. “I want to be a paramedic when I grow up!” Whether or not Frontier Valley Elementary students end up working in the medical field when they are adults, Children’s Hospital Colorado provides the perfect space for kids to explore what it’s like to be an adult. Thank you, Children’s Hospital Colorado, for making this experience possible!
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of students, who are minors.
