Legacy Project

The Blue Zones Legacy Project has two significant components. First, it provides the opportunity for kids to interact with someone from a different generation to learn more about the meaning and importance of legacy—both on an individual level and generational level. Second, it provides the opportunity for kids to be involved with real scientific research by sharing their findings through this Web site with scientists at the National Institute on Aging.

The Legacy Project empowers students to identify and interview "super seniors" in their communities, much the same way the Blue Zones team is interviewing centenarians. This project will help students discover the behavioral practices that contribute to healthier and longer lives. We expect that the seniors will pass on wisdom to the younger generation to follow and emulate.

To assist with this Project, we've chosen to utilize the Big6™ Information Problem-Solving Skills. With this approach, students will identify healthy people 75 years of age or older who have retained their vitality– perhaps a neighbor, a relative, or a family friend. Students will interview these "super seniors" and record relevant information.

While students gather useful data, they are indirectly gaining an appreciation of elders and of aging successfully. This project will positively influence students' views towards the aging process and will show students that living a healthy, active life is a valuable and attainable goal for all people.

Getting Started

The Legacy Project is an interdisciplinary study, incorporating various subject areas—science, health, social studies, geography, history, and language arts. The project also allows students to gain interviewing, problem solving, and critical thinking skills.

While students gather useful data, they are indirectly gaining an appreciation of elders and aging successfully. This project will positively impact children’s views towards the aging process and to show that living a healthy, active life to advanced ages is a valuable and attainable goal for all people.

Directions

To complete the project, please participate in Lessons 1–6. At the end of the project, mail your completed Legacy Project student packets to:

Blue Zones
724 North First Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Lessons

The Legacy Project empowers children to identify and interview “successful seniors” in their communities, much the same way the Blue Zones team interviews the longest-lived people.

To assist with this Project, we’ve chosen to utilize the Big6™ Information Problem Solving Skills. This teaching approach incorporates six stages that correlate directly with each of the Legacy Project Lessons.

Lesson 1

Define the information problem
Identify the information needed

PDFs:

Task Definition (46 KB)
My Current Lifestyle (50 KB)
Who Might Be a Super Senior and How to Find One (38 KB)

Lesson 2

Determine the range of possible sources
Eavluate the different possible sources

PDFs:

Info Seeking (34 KB)

Lesson 3

Locate sources intellectually and physically
Find information within sources

PDFs:

Location & Access (34 KB)
Interviewing Tips (38 KB)

Survey

A significant part of this Project is the Survey that the students complete with a “Super Senior”. That survey is comprised of three parts: Part A, the Interview; Part B, the Finger Tapping Exercise; and Part C, the Trails A and B Exercise.

PDFs: