Lesson Plan One
Lecture and discussion: The Different Types of Pathogens
Goal
To provide the student with background information about the different types of pathogens that causes diseases.
Objectives:
The students will able to:
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1 Identify the different types of pathogens.
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2 Describe the types of diseases that each of pathogens caused.
Teacher Material
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- PowerPoint presentation
Student Material
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- Pen or pen, and notebook
Lesson Plan Two
This activity simulates the spread of a disease. The students will exchange a clear liquid from numbered cups.
Goal
The students will understand how infectious diseases can spread.
Objective
The student will be able to determine the pathway of transmission for a hypothetical disease.
Teacher Materials (see appendix B)
Student Materials
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- Disposable cup of unknown liquid
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- Eyedropper
Procedure
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1. Choose any cup and eyedropper from the distribution table. On a piece of paper, record the number on your cup. Each cup and its contents represent a person that might or might not have a disease.
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2. Slowly walk around the room and occasionally stop to talk to someone at the meeting. Spend no more than five seconds talking to each person.
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3. When the council president (your teacher) says "Exchange!" squirt four eyedroppers full of your liquid into the cup of the person you are talking with. Have that person do the same to your cup. Stir your mixture gently with the eyedropper.
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4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 twice. Record the other person's cup number for each exchange. Do not exchange with the same person again.
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5. After the third exchange, take your seat. The council president will add a drop of indicator to your cup. If you are infected, the clear liquid will change to pink or red.
Closure
Compare and contrast the results of this activity to the transmission of a real disease
Lesson Plan Three: Introduction to Antibiotics
Stumbling into the doctor's office, the patient demands some antibiotics, but is that what is really needed? In this exercise students are briefly introduced to the idea of antibiotic resistance as a way to focus on antibiotics and the mechanisms by which they work. Students decide whether antibiotics are the right prescription or not. Working as a group, students review multiple illnesses and make decisions.
Objectives:
Students will be able:
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- Describe the impact of antibiotics on disease
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- Describe what infections antibiotics are useful for
Materials (see Appendix B)
Lesson Plan Four: Exploring Vaccines
Previously students have been introduced to antibiotics which are used to treat various infections; but how do you treat infections that aren't caused by bacteria? Students review the historical background and focus on one vaccine to explore how vaccines work, then share their findings with the class. The class then comes up with a general description of how a vaccine works and articulates the differences between vaccination and immunization.
Objectives:
Students will be able:
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1 Explain in a written format how vaccination works and how it draws upon the natural immunity.
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2 Differentiate between vaccinations and immunizations.
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3 Identify a number of illnesses that can be prevented by the use of immunization.
Materials (see Appendix B)
Lesson Plan Five
Create a persuasive pamphlet in support of or in opposition of vaccination.
Goal
At the end of this lesson the students will assess the risk and benefits of vaccination of children.
Objectives
The students will be able to:
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1. Read, interpret and examine the credibility and validity of scientific claims in different sources of information.
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2. Articulate conclusions and explanations based on research data, and assess results based on the design of an investigation.
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3. Communicate about science in different formats, using relevant science vocabulary, supporting evidence and clear logic.
Teacher Materials (see appendix B)
Student Materials
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- Pen or pencil
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- Notebook
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- Pamphlet template
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- Description of the task
Procedure
The students will:
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1. View a PowerPoint presentation about vaccines and how vaccines work to protect against infections.
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2. Pick a position on vaccination of children; whether they support it or opposite it.
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3. Research their position.
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4. Create a persuasive pamphlet of their position on vaccination using several sources to support their position.
Closure
The students will orally present their pamphlet.