From Idea to Impact
Mission: BE FAST began with a simple question: How can we help more people recognize the signs of stroke before it's too late? After learning how quickly stroke treatment must occur and how few educational resources exist for children, our team set out to create a stroke awareness program specifically designed for elementary students.
How we built Mission: BE FAST
1. Research & Planning
The Challenge: Most stroke awareness campaigns are designed for adults, leaving children with few opportunities to learn these life-saving skills.
What We Did
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Researched stroke symptoms, treatment, and emergency response
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Studied how elementary students learn and retain information
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Reviewed medical sources including the CDC and Mayo Clinic
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Identified a gap in stroke education for children
Key Takeaway
We discovered that children can play an important role during emergencies but are rarely taught how to recognize a stroke.
To ensure Mission: BE FAST was medically accurate and classroom-ready, we worked with healthcare professionals throughout development.
Our Advisors
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Neurologist Donald Bright
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Nurse Carrie Crow
Their Role
✔ Fact-checking content
✔ Reviewing educational materials
✔ Providing medical expertise
✔ Ensuring age-appropriate explanations
Outcome
Every lesson and activity was reviewed to make sure students received reliable, evidence-based information.
2. Video Creation
After completing our initial research, we began creating the centerpiece of Mission: BE FAST: an educational video designed specifically for upper-elementary students.
The Development Process
Scriptwriting & Storyboarding >> Filming Live-Action Scenes >> Hand-Drawn Animation >> Voice Recording >> Sound Design & Editing
To make the content relatable, the characters were intentionally designed to be similar in age to the target audience. The video combines storytelling, animation, and direct instruction to teach the BE FAST acronym in a memorable way.
Key Design Decisions
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Evidence-Based Information
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Under 5 Minutes to Maintain Attention
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Storytelling to Build Emotional Connections
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Animation to Increase Engagement
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Focus on Long-Term Retention
The animation portion alone required approximately 10 hours of production and was created using digital animation software. Throughout development, medical professionals reviewed the content to ensure accuracy and age-appropriate messaging.
While the video was being developed, our team simultaneously created a complete classroom curriculum that would allow teachers to easily implement Mission: BE FAST in their classrooms. Rather than relying on a single lesson, we designed a flexible three-session program that uses multiple learning strategies to improve student engagement and retention.
Curriculum Components
3. Creating the Curriculum
Built on Learning Science
Each activity was intentionally selected based on educational research.
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Active Recall → Jeopardy & Kahoot
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Creative Processing → Coloring Activities
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Social Learning → Class Discussions
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Active Listening → Video Guide Worksheet
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Assessment & Reflection → Pre/Post Tests
Flexible Classroom Design
The final curriculum was organized into three modules that teachers could adapt to fit their schedules.
Throughout development, teachers reviewed the materials and provided feedback on classroom feasibility, engagement, and age appropriateness. Their suggestions helped refine the lesson structure and ensure the curriculum was practical for real-world classroom use.
4. Pilot Testing
Before full implementation, we tested the curriculum in a pilot classroom and gathered feedback from teachers and students. Based on this feedback, we improved activities, corrected errors, and refined the lesson structure.
5. Community Implementation
The final version of Mission: BE FAST is now ready to be implemented! We have been working hard to contact teachers from all across our area.
Where We're Going Next
We are expanding our reach to more schools and districts. Our next milestone is launching a Spanish-language version of our curriculum using the acronym RAPIDO. We are committed to making evidence-based stroke education accessible to every child in Washington and beyond.