Each subunit includes suggested activities and teaching suggestions, as listed above. Below, I have included a more in-depth lesson idea for each section.
Subunit 1 Activity: Bacteria research project.
Students can take class time to research different bacteria structures, morphology, and arrangement. Students can be assigned a bacterial pathogen or they can choose one that interests them. Students should research morphology and arrangement, Gram-reaction, natural reservoir, transmission, symptoms, methods to kill the bacterium, and any other important information they see fit. Students can either present their research in a slide show or fill out a teacher generated template to create a classroom book on bacteria.
Subunit 2 Activity: Transmission Lab.
This laboratory experiment also exposes students to the inherent problems of identifying patient zero. Each student has a numbered cup containing either distilled water or a cup of sodium hydroxide. Students 'exchange fluids with a classmate by pouring all of the liquid into one of the cups and then splitting the amount equally again, keeping a log of who they exchanged with. After exchanging twice, phenolphthalein can be used to identify which cups are "infected" with the sodium carbonate. Using their logs, students can try to trace back to patient zero.
Subunit 3 Activity: Public Outreach.
Students should research one emerging or re-emerging infectious disease and write a paper, create a presentation, or develop a poster and handouts that inform the New Haven community about the causative agents and risks of that disease. Students should also provide methods for staying safe and reducing the risk of infection.
Subunit 4 Activity: Antibiotic Disk Sensitivity Lab.
Large petri dishes should be seeded with a lawn of different types of bacteria. Students will carefully place antibiotic disks on the lawn, making sure that they are not too close to the edge or each other. Students should allow the disks to incubate for 24 hours. After, measure the zone of inhibition (the clear area) around the disks and compare with a sensitivity table to determine if the bacteria are sensitive, intermediately sensitive, or resistant to that antibiotic.
Subunit 4 Activity: Debate. Are vaccines helpful or harmful?
Divide students into two groups and have them research the pros and the cons of vaccination. Using proper debate format, have students discuss vaccine controversies. After, students can write short position paper stating their own opinion about the subject.
Subunit 5 Activity: Analysis of Media Broadcasts.
Using a graphic organizer, students can watch and read several news broadcasts about different emerging infectious diseases. Students can then try their hand at creating their own broadcasts or reports about a current emerging infectious disease. After, students can peer-review the articles on their accuracy and professionalism.