http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/flu-epidemics-vaccines-science.shtmlAt
certain points in history, many people have become infected with a
particular illness. For example, the Black Death ravaged Europe from the
year 1347 to the early 1350s, killing almost one-third of the
continent’s population.
When a large number of people become seriously ill due to the same bacteria or virus, it is called an epidemic—or, if the disease spreads globally, a pandemic. Help students put modern influenza outbreaks into perspective by comparing them with other epidemics and pandemics. Then, discuss how vaccines and other precautions work to reduce the likelihood of illness.
Begin with some basic terms and explanation:
1. Bacteria and viruses
Bacteria are microscopic one-celled organisms. Thousands of types of bacteria live almost everywhere. Bacteria can reproduce themselves (multiply). Some bacteria are helpful, while others can make us sick.
Viruses, another major cause of illness, are smaller than bacteria and may have a spiny outside layer. Viruses can’t reproduce on their own, so they infect cells and take them over in order to multiply.
Here is a basic exploration of the concepts of bacteria and viruses. Older students can check out a detailed example using this image of the flu virus.
Check Student Understanding:
2. Epidemic vs. pandemic
While disease has affected humans since the beginning of time, it wasn’t until people began gathering in larger populations that infections began to reach epidemic levels. An epidemic happens when an infection (caused by a bacteria or virus) affects a large number of people within a given population, such as a city or geographic area. If it affects even greater numbers and a wider area, these outbreaks become pandemics.
The video below discusses how pandemics spread:
- See more at: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/flu-epidemics-vaccines-science.shtml#sthash.pihQzTKF.dpuf
When a large number of people become seriously ill due to the same bacteria or virus, it is called an epidemic—or, if the disease spreads globally, a pandemic. Help students put modern influenza outbreaks into perspective by comparing them with other epidemics and pandemics. Then, discuss how vaccines and other precautions work to reduce the likelihood of illness.
Begin with some basic terms and explanation:
1. Bacteria and viruses
Bacteria are microscopic one-celled organisms. Thousands of types of bacteria live almost everywhere. Bacteria can reproduce themselves (multiply). Some bacteria are helpful, while others can make us sick.
Viruses, another major cause of illness, are smaller than bacteria and may have a spiny outside layer. Viruses can’t reproduce on their own, so they infect cells and take them over in order to multiply.
Here is a basic exploration of the concepts of bacteria and viruses. Older students can check out a detailed example using this image of the flu virus.
Check Student Understanding:
- What are bacteria?
- What are viruses?
- What are some differences between bacteria and viruses?
- Describe some of the flu virus’ internal structures.
2. Epidemic vs. pandemic
While disease has affected humans since the beginning of time, it wasn’t until people began gathering in larger populations that infections began to reach epidemic levels. An epidemic happens when an infection (caused by a bacteria or virus) affects a large number of people within a given population, such as a city or geographic area. If it affects even greater numbers and a wider area, these outbreaks become pandemics.
The video below discusses how pandemics spread:
- See more at: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/flu-epidemics-vaccines-science.shtml#sthash.pihQzTKF.dpuf
Younger students can use this worksheet to stimulate thinking about contagious illnesses in schools and what can be done to prevent their spread.
Older students can access information on both vaccines and health precautions on the CDC site’s 2013 flu information page. In subsequent years, the information can be found on the CDC site.
Use the EducationWorld lesson News for You: Kids Can Lower Their Flu Risk to build media skills and teach about prevention.
Check Student Understanding:
- What is the flu?
- What causes the flu?
- Describe flu symptoms.
- How does the flu spread?
- How is this year’s flu similar to, or different from, the flu of years past?
- How can the flu be prevented?
Assessment
Evaluate students using the 17 “Check Student Understanding” questions that appear throughout this lesson.
Submitted By
Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
- See more at: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/flu-epidemics-vaccines-science.shtml#sthash.pihQzTKF.dpuf
Other health precautions include limiting contact with sick people, hand washing, using hand sanitizer, covering coughs and sneezes and taking antiviral medications.
Younger students can use this worksheet to stimulate thinking about contagious illnesses in schools and what can be done to prevent their spread.
Older students can access information on both vaccines and health precautions on the CDC site’s 2013 flu information page. In subsequent years, the information can be found on the CDC site.
Use the EducationWorld lesson News for You: Kids Can Lower Their Flu Risk to build media skills and teach about prevention.
Check Student Understanding:
- What is the flu?
- What causes the flu?
- Describe flu symptoms.
- How does the flu spread?
- How is this year’s flu similar to, or different from, the flu of years past?
- How can the flu be prevented?
Assessment
Evaluate students using the 17 “Check Student Understanding” questions that appear throughout this lesson.
Submitted By
Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
- See more at: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/flu-epidemics-vaccines-science.shtml#sthash.pihQzTKF.dpuf
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