The Jackson Laboratory

TtGG Health Disparities in Cancer Module

Students analyze cancer statistics from SEER*Explorer and health survey data from the All of Us Research Program to examine the impact of social determinants on health disparities.

Module Description

In this module, students explore cancer data from the National Cancer Institute SEER*Explorer and survey data from the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program to illustrate the connection between social determinants of health and health disparities. Through the activities, students interpret data in both graphical and tabular formats and perform basic calculations. Students then use the data to construct explanations about the association between social determinants of health and cancer outcomes across populations, with a focus on the distinction between correlation and causation. This module does not include any statistical analysis, in order to introduce these topics in an approachable way to students without prior knowledge of statistics. 

We gratefully acknowledge All of Us participants for their contributions. We also thank the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) for making available the data utilized in this module. 

 

Learning Objectives

  1. Interpret cancer-related statistics, including incidence rate, mortality rate, and relative survival.
  2. Interpret graphical representations of cancer statistics. 
  3. Enter data into a table and analyze data presented in a table. 
  4. Discuss how social determinants of health could contribute to observed differences in cancer statistics among various populations. 

NGSS Alignments

Disciplinary Core Ideas
  • LS1.A Structure and Function

  • LS1.B Growth and Development of Organisms
Cross Cutting Concepts
  • Cause and Effect
  • Stability and Change
Science & Engineering Practices
  • Asking Questions and Defining Problems
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data
  • Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
  • Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
  • Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Teacher Resources

Lesson Plan
Teacher Guide

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Lesson Plan
Health Disparities Teacher Slides

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Teacher Feedback Form

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Student Activities

Digital Download
Primer: Social Determinants of Health

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Digital Download
Primer: Cancer

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Primer: Correlation and Causation

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Digital Download
Cancer Disparities Data Analysis

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Supplemental Resources

What are DNA Variants?

Minute to Understanding: What are DNA variants?

Explore DNA variants and discover how mutations during DNA replication make each organism unique. Learn about their role in genetic variation and their potential impact on life.

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What is Cancer?

Minute to Understanding: What is cancer?

How does cancer arise and why is it so complex?

Learn more

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