6-12
© 2006-2011 Patrick McKenzie. Bingo cards feature the names of viruses. Teachers call out the names of viruses, or, for more challenge, a clue to the virus.
Activity Duration: 15-30 min
Cost: free trial
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Kids love "games"! Use an incentive like a piece of candy or pencil, etc. and you'll double the attention level. Rating: Recommended
High school teacher: The game can be modified by the instructor by giving clues, causes, symptoms, etc. to make the game more challenging. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
Perhaps a good activity for younger (elementary school) students. Very simplistic. Rating: Acceptable
5-8
© 2004-2011 Baylor College of Medicine. Through a series of inquiry-based lessons, students explore the world of microorganisms. They learn that microbes can be bacteria, fungi, protists, or viruses, and they create scale models to compare microbes’ relative sizes. Using evidence to determine whether a patient has a cold, flu, or strep infection, students discover the differences between bacterial and viral infections; they explore modes of transmission for infamous diseases, and they are introduced to the human immune system.
Activity Duration: 30-60 min each
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: This is a nice resource because it's a complete lesson: pre-assessment, lab activity, and post-assessment. Students should leave this activity being able to say what they learned. The concept map might be a little difficult for students on their own, but could be a good post-discussion activity. NOTE: There are some materials that need to be purchased (Glo kit). Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
Great emphasis on critical thinking for diagnosis and importance of distinguishing viral from bacterial infections (e.g., antibiotic over-prescription). Rating: Highly recommended
7-12
© 2009 Andrea Liatis, Emory University and Amanda Lockhart, Decatur High School. Creating Active Student Engagement in the Sciences (CASES Online), Emory University. After reading short scenes aloud, students discuss their observations about bacterial and viral infections and the role of antibiotics in fighting disease. They research the structures and functions of viruses and bacteria as well as the modes of transmission, and they present their findings to the class. Used with permission.
Activity Duration: 1-2 hr
Cost: free
Standards:
Very accessible lessons for high school students. Peer review of others' work is a good motivator for students and great for generating discussions to follow. I'm not sure of the utility of "Design a Virus," but it may be a fun in-class activity. Rating: Highly recommendedTeacher comments:
Middle school teacher: This lesson puts more responsibility for learning on the student. It would make a good reinforcement for prior learning or good intro activity to see what kids know. Might be hard to keep students' attention. Need to put a time limit on it or more of a specific task. Lesson could be manipulated to meet needs/time limits. Rating: Acceptable
High school teacher: This activity seems to be a good introduction into the difference between bacterial and viral infections, how infections may be transmitted, and how we treat these infections. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
6-12
© 2011 Discovery Education. Students discover how an infectious disease can spread; they then create a plan to contain it.
Activity Duration: < 15 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Quick and simple activity to show how infectious diseases can spread. Not a lot of setup required; however, not as appealing to students as there isn't a lot for them to do. I also see a possible issue with putting kids' names on the board. Kids can be rude and disrespectful, especially in the context of diseases, etc. Just a middle school teacher's perspective. Rating: Acceptable
High school teacher: This activity would be a good introductory activity. Would help explain some concepts, including scientific modeling. There are other activities available on this site that are also useful. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
Simple exercise, good for elementary or middle school students. Perhaps combined with epidemiologic study for more advanced students? Rating: Recommended
6-8
© 2004 Montclair State University. Five instructional modules explore specific health-related issues through the science of epidemiology. The modules prepare students to make personal and collective evidence-based health-related decisions. Module 1 consists of six investigations that explore how diseases are geographically distributed. Module 2 consists of ten investigations that explore diseases and their causes.
Activity Duration: 1 hr each
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Seems to be a lot of prep work. Teacher will likely need the aid of a paraprofessional to assist. A lot of reading. Might be difficult in a large classroom setting. A lot of copies need to be produced, but most of it can be reused. Nice problem-solving activity. Going to be difficult to keep kids attending to the task. Rating: Acceptable
High school teacher: These are what I consider to be 'bulky" activities. They require a lot of time to prep and the PPTs (Power Points) are very basic. Perhaps good for middle level if teacher has a lot of time and not a lot of high-level students. Rating: Not recommended
Virologist comments:
Some minor typographic errors in classroom presentations, but overall a good introduction to Chi Square contingency analysis of risk/benefit. Rating: Recommended
9-12
SAFER·HEALTHIER·PEOPLE™, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services. Through an inquiry-based activity, students demonstrate how germs spread. Then, through a WebQuest, students determine the abundance and types of microbes around them.
Activity Duration: 6 hr
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
High school teacher: Having students exposed to agar and other laboratory materials used in microbiology is important to attract kids to this field. It could and should be used during a scientific-method unit or a great intro unit in microbiology. The PDF file is extremely well done, with links to all the teacher supplies needed. This is a perfect model for how Web sites should be used to help teachers with a specific curriculum. This site also provides links to a WebQuest activity, so it could be used as part of a larger unit. I love the activity but it may be hard to complete due to its length. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
This is a very ambitious activity, but it can be modified for the target age group. I very much like the activities directed toward learning the scientific method. If this activity were divided into two activities, I would give high marks to the first half. Some information about the different types of microbes is not totally accurate. Rating: Acceptable
9-12
SAFER·HEALTHIER·PEOPLE™, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services. Excellence in Curriculum Innovation through Teaching Epidemiology and the Science of Public Health (EXCITE). By stepping into the role of a public health officer, students learn about epidemiology and get an overview of the disease transmission cycle. A guide for Science Olympiad participants describes the steps of an outbreak investigation and how epidemiologists evaluate and test hypotheses.
Activity Duration: 1-2 hr
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: At the middle level, I haven't seen much done in epidemiology. This activity seems a little long for the attention span of a middle-level student. Some of the thought processes/problem solving might be too advanced for the middle-level student. Rating: Questionable
High school teacher: These activities are good for high-level 9-12th graders. The explanations are valid but require abstract thinking. The vocabulary level is quite high for students, e.g., aseptic meningitis, cohort, cluster of, etc. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
Hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and meningitis as examples may be effective for capturing the interest of high school students. Although the introductory page suggests methods for engaging students (e.g., selection of students to play roles as facilitator, recorder, and reporter), the exercises are dry--it is up to the instructor to convince students to become engaged. Rating: Recommended
4-7
© 2008 Hall of Health. Children’s Hospital & Research Center, Oakland; Health & Biomedical Science for a Diverse Community. Students better understand communicable diseases as they create models of germs, act out the response of the immune system, watch germs spread, solve epidemiological mysteries, and test methods for killing germs.
Activity Duration: 5 x 1 hr
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Elementary School teacher: This is a very user-friendly and organized Web site for teachers. This activity is more related to the health curriculum than to science standards. Rating: Recommended
Middle School teacher: This is a nice resource because it is complete: summary, lesson plans, and student worksheets. Each lesson can stand alone or be used with others. The lesson plans include extensions and references. The worksheets are student-friendly and easy to reproduce. Students should leave this activity being able to explain key concepts about how infectious diseases are spread. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
This activity has lots of good concepts and provides much opportunity for discussion. It leads up nicely to Lesson 5 on antigens and antibodies. Rating: Highly recommended
4
Division of Vector Borne Diseases (DVBD), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A series of 5 lessons introduces students to the life cycle and behavior of mosquitoes and how they transmit disease. A discussion of the prevention of La Crosse Encephalitis is relevant to other mosquito-borne diseases.
Activity Duration: 5 x 1 hr
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Elementary school teacher: The objectives and materials were well stated, but the lesson itself was long. The actual lesson steps were not stated. It did not seem to be a lesson plan for students but rather a lesson for the teachers on mosquitoes. This is not a teacher-friendly Web site. The homework projects were much clearer. There is a lot of material here. Rating: Questionable
Virologist comments:
This activity is very well done and can be adapted to a large number of age groups. Many important topics are covered. The role of mosquitoes in viral transmission is very clear. The movie and the slides are excellent. The Teacher's Guide is very good. Rating: Highly recommended
9-12
©1999 by the BSCS and Videodiscovery, National Institutes of Health. Students explore the relationship between basic biomedical research and the improvement of personal and public health. They classify diseases as emerging, re-emerging, or endemic and assume the roles of public health experts to investigate the cause of a mystery disease. They give examples of how infectious agents can be transmitted to humans and explain how environmental changes can result in the emergence of infectious diseases.
Activity Duration: 15-30 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
High school teacher: Well-organized, easily accessible materials. Materials well constructed and clear with appropriate reading level. Easy for teachers to use. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
Great examples of organizational approaches and critical thinking for examination of current concerns. Rating: Highly recommended
6-8
© 2011 by AAAS. Students simulate the spread of a disease with tap water and NaOH and try to determine the original source. Using disease cards, which include descriptions of symptoms, students act out different diseases for the class to identify. Internet resources are used to understand how viruses infect humans and interfere with normal body functions, and how infectious diseases can be treated or prevented.
Activity Duration: 30-60 min
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: A good activity that involves "chemistry" and "science tools." Fun problem-solving activity. This activity involves a lot of reading (the setup and extensions). Might be tough for certain populations. The activity can be modified, or used as a class activity. NOTE: Have headphones available for students for the Podcast. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
Great content, but I'd like to see a more obvious discussion of how viral infections can be treated--that antibiotic prescription is not indicated. Rating: Recommended
7-12
Columbia University’s Summer Research Program for Science Teachers. This lesson plan encourages students to explore how viruses and bacteria spread, how the body defends against pathogens, and how to identify white blood cells.
Activity Duration: 2 hr
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Good intro to how disease is spread. Activity involves some preparation--making a solution--and requires phenolphthalein. Supports the health curriculum. Good ideas for research, creating portfolios, and projects to be done outside of class time. Rating: Recommended
High school teacher: The lesson is very interesting, although a 7th grade teacher may not have the supplies for it and 7th graders may miss the indicator analogy. The site deals with binding, then moves to inflammatory responses, then to immune-system responses. This would be a great lesson for high school microbiology. The site is boring and not attractive. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
The exercises were designed using the National Academy of Sciences Standards for Science Education for assessment. However, the exercises are only briefly described for the educator and there are no classroom materials included to assist in structuring the activity for students. Therefore, it is best suited for elementary-level students. Rating: Questionable
11-12
Columbia University’s Summer Research Program for Science Teachers. This lesson plan simulates an infectious disease outbreak based on an actual outbreak in 2005 in Angola. Students work in teams as Special Pathogen Agents to gather information about blood and pathogens to formulate a diagnosis. They explore molecular genetics and immunology to identify the true pathogen and the cause of the outbreak.
Activity Duration: 2 hr
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
High school teacher: Unattractive site, but an interesting activity. For the most part the lesson is appropriate, but I feel the learner may have to make too many assumptions since an entire case study is being based mainly on one Web site. The special pathogens unit is a very interesting field and will excite a lot of kids, but I am not sure they can get all the teacher wants from the one site. Rating: Acceptable
Virologist comments:
This is an excellent problem-based learning activity. It is well structured. The role of each group of students is well defined. The references are excellent. Rating: Highly recommended
7-12
© 2011 Genetic Science Learning Center, University of Utah. This activity demonstrates the specificity of viral vectors for target cells in gene therapy delivery methods using two approaches: 1) Styrofoam models demonstrate viral ligand binding to receptor proteins on the surface of target cells; 2) Students use paper models of viruses and cells to find the appropriate match between viral ligands and cell receptors.
Activity Duration: 15 min
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: This activity seems best suited for upper-level genetics students who want a hands-on type of activity. The target cell activity can be used in cell specialization in middle-level classrooms. Not sure if the prep work involved is an efficient way of demonstrating the material. Rating: Questionable
High school teacher: Good materials and useful activity. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
Clear demonstration and hands-on approach to understanding "recognition." Rating: Highly recommended
2-4
© 2008-2012 The Regents of the University of California. All Rights Reserved. Science & Health Education Partnership. Students learn about different classes of germs via a book and discussion. Students first assign germ names to stuffed “microbe” animals, then they describe the symptoms and modes of contracting germs. Finally, they try to wash “GLO Germ” off their hands to reinforce the importance of personal hygiene.
Activity Duration: 2-3 hr
Cost: $55 per GlitterBug kit
$15 per book
$7 per stuffed "microbe"
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Elementary school teacher: Good hands-on activities for students and concrete examples for three different types of germs. Most supplies, however, would need to be purchased. Rating: Acceptable
Middle School teacher: The Glo Germ would be a great way to introduce viruses and bacteria, but Glo Germ and the black light are expensive. The vocabulary fits with 7th Grade life science topics. Rating: Acceptable
Virologist comments:
This activity is very age appropriate. Sounds like fun! Rating: Highly recommended
7-12
© 2011 Discovery Education. Students learn the basics about viruses, recognizing their occurrence in plants as well as animals and that some viruses are helpful to humans. Students imagine they are part of a team of scientists assigned to stop a local weed epidemic by genetically engineering a virus that will target the weed. They sketch the weed they would like to target, and then they sketch a virus they have designed to attack the weed.
Activity Duration: 4 hr
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Objectives are clearly stated. It's a research project using Internet sources. You would have to find some sources you want students to use and have your media specialist assist with written books from the library. This would take some time when you first do the research. Students have a "real world" problem to solve in their research. Students work in cooperative groups to solve the problem. A rubric is included for grading. Good ideas for extensions of the activity. Rating: Recommended
High school teacher: The Web site presents a creative lesson for students, but the burden is still on the classroom teacher, as the site doesn't give much information nor good links for obtaining virus information. The site touches on most virus content found in high school microbiology. Not a very pretty site, but useful enough. Rating: Acceptable
Virologist comments:
The stated objectives of this exercise are good; however, there is not much guidance. The exercise assumes that students and teachers have some familiarity with viruses. The instructor will need to be very well informed. The idea of releasing a genetically engineered virus for a "weed epidemic" is questionable. The references provided are very general. Rating: Acceptable
4-8
SAFER·HEALTHIER·PEOPLE™, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services. This activity introduces students to the world of microbes, explores how we are protected by our immune system, and discusses how vaccines help fight disease.
Activity Duration: 15-30 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Excellent resource for students to reinforce infectious diseases. The Immune Platoon comic is a great way to engage kids in reading passages that can actually come to life. The other parts of the CDC Web site are also a great resource; they could allow for follow-up, or a more in-depth activity. NOTE: Have students find the "sound off" button, or have headphones in a lab setting. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
Virologist 1: This is a great use of comics to explain the immune system, although it is not a story. Descriptions of the case files are very good. Most are about viruses: Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Influenza, Varicella, and Hepatitis B. Rating: Recommended
Virologist 2: Not a lot of information but good explanations of immune platoon and flu krew. The case studies have to be downloaded, which is a bit of a pain. It would be easier if there were links to the pages through the Internet. Rating: Highly recommended
3-9
© 2009 by Capstone Press, a Capstone Publisher Company. Students follow the adventures of Max Axiom as he explains the science behind viruses.
Activity Duration: 15-30 min
Cost: $8.00 to $22.00
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Excellent! Readability is perfect for the middle-level student. Well laid out with a table of contents, full color comic, extensions following, glossary, and index. I think this would also fit in a middle-level reading program as well as a science class. A great way to include reading in a science class! Rating: Highly recommended
High school teacher: This is a well-constructed comic that explains viruses. It has good logical progression of ideas, clear graphics, and a nice glossary and index. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
Well-organized comic with table of contents of 4 units: basic microbiology, compare and contrast between bacteria and viruses, how viruses cause diseases, and how to stay healthy. Pop-up explanations are helpful for readers at this grade level. It is completed with glossary, index, and scientific references. Rating: Highly recommended
7-12
© 2011, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. Students discover how the ocean virus, Emiliania huxleyi virus (EhV), saves the world by keeping Emiliania huxleyi algae in check and bringing balance to the oceans.
Activity Duration: 15-30 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Excellent idea to fuse a comic with curriculum. That aspect of it will make it really appealing to middle-level students. A lot of the vocabulary is over and above the typical 7th grade science vocabulary. I suppose that is the point--to introduce them to scientific vocabulary? I think this would be a great supplemental activity that could be used in a reading class in conjunction with a science class. Rating: Recommended
High school teacher: Really good explanation of ocean virus and connections with ecology and evolution. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
Great comic story, especially as an educational tool about the benefit of viruses to the environment. Excellent graphic quality. Rating: Highly recommended
6-12
© 2007 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The Science Reflector, Summer 2007, Volume 36, Number 2. The North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA). In this investigation, students create an icosahedral virus model and consider how virus structure and behavior could be mimicked in nanotechnology applications. Students describe the structure of a virus, how viruses function as nanomachines, and how viruses self-replicate.
Activity Duration: 30-60 min
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Kids love to "build things." This activity is a great way to reinforce the structure and function of a virus. The models the students build will not only give them something they can hold/take home; they can also be used in other classroom activities or displayed in the classroom and/or school. Setup and prep is appropriate. Rating: Highly recommended
High school teacher: This activity is a good starting point for a virus unit. Can be flexible for content level, and is well explained. It deals only with icosahedral viruses, so care must be taken to explain not all viruses have this structure. Activity materials are easy to duplicate and inexpensive. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
Great directions for assembly of icosahedral head structure. Rating: Highly recommended
6-12
© 2011 Discovery Education. In this activity, students create a larger-than-life model of one of six different viruses and then compare their completed models to see differences in virus types.
Activity Duration: 30-60 min
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: A good virus model activity. This activity might be a little difficult or hard to manage, as there isn't a "cutout" to base the structure on. There is room for students to make their own interpretations of the model (good and bad). Materials list can be somewhat difficult or expensive to obtain. Rating: Recommended
High school teacher: Good virus pictures, nice comparison chart of metric measurement. Rating: Acceptable
Virologist comments:
I am not certain how students are supposed to model their constructs. No obvious template is provided. Rating: Questionable
6-12
© 2011 Nasco. This model was designed to introduce students to the structure of a virus. It illustrates the major components with removable pieces. The model is constructed of resilient, nontoxic EVA foam. A teacher’s guide includes inquiry-based lab activities, reproducible worksheets, background information, and assessment ideas.
Activity Duration: 15-30 min
Cost: $72.50
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: I like the large size of this. Can be used as a demo or a small-group project. Rating: Highly recommended
High school teacher: Very nice-looking model, easy to assemble. Very expensive and I question the durability of the foam material. Single-use model (only shows one type of virus), but could be used to teach virus structure. Great if you have lots of dollars and space. Rating: Not recommended
Virologist comments:
Great three-dimensional representation of HIV; however, a model with this level of detail should contain a legend that indicates the identity of the pieces. Rating: Highly recommended
9-12
©RCSB Protein Data Bank. Students learn about viral infection and immunity. Students also build 3-D preprinted paper models of icosahedral viruses in order to understand the use of symmetry in virus assembly.
Activity Duration: 1 hr
Cost: cost of supplies
Standards:
Teacher comments:
High school teacher: This activity seems like something that could be used in a high-level microbiology class. It basically provides a number of modeling activities for higher-level microbiology students. Most 9th graders will not take microbiology, so this may not be applicable for that age. Rating: Acceptable
Virologist comments:
This activity is of high quality. The materials are clear and useful for educators, and are excellent resources. Rating: Highly recommended
9-12
© Science Kit & Boreal Laboratories. Groups of students build their own models of 5 different viruses: tobacco mosaic, mumps, influenza, potato X, and a bacteriophage. They discover the structural diversity of different viruses and realize that animals, plants, and bacteria are all susceptible to viruses. The activity provides an excellent lead into lessons on the lytic and lysogenic cycles of viruses.
Activity Duration: 1-2 hr
Cost: $59.99
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: The opportunity to have a hands-on activity is great. However, I'm afraid of all the "little pieces." Not sure how this will hold up. This would probably work well in a small-group setting or possibly a mentored or diff (gifted) program. Probably a better fit for a high school classroom in an overall sense. It does cover structure/naming/cycles, etc. Rating: Acceptable
High school teacher: This is a nice way to begin this building activity and replenish supplies as you go. Offers different virus morphologies--probably worth the dollars. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
The exercises are very useful for understanding virus structure. I particularly enjoyed the adenovirus assembly exercise--great way for students to understand an icosahedral virus structure. Rating: Highly recommended
3-8
© 2004-2011 Baylor College of Medicine. This Web-based magazine introduces students to basic concepts in microbiology including: healthy and unhealthy microbes and how they spread, past epidemics, the human immune system and vaccines, and HIV/AIDS.
Activity Duration: 30-60 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Elementary school teacher: A very colorful, well-laid-out magazine for upper elementary students. There are quick assessments within the magazine that could be done as it is read or used as a final assessment at the end. The HIV/AIDS topic toward the end is very appropriate for 3rd - 5th grade students. Students would be very attracted to the modern-looking, colorful media. Rating: Highly recommended
Middle school teacher: Very creative, fun book for middle school students. The color and pictures should capture their attention. There are mini activities for students to answer. It is a great way to include reading within science. Internet sites for additional research are provided. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
This excellent activity covers a lot of important concepts in a very clear manner. It would be useful for a wide range of age groups. Rating: Highly recommended
7-12
© 2012 National Academy of Sciences. Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences. Through videos and text, this online interactive site allows students to explore: viruses, their evolution and distribution; the role of vaccines and the human immune system; the HIV pandemic; and malaria. Students choose different control measures for several diseases and see the outcomes of their choices.
Activity Duration: 30-60 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Good site but a little hard to navigate. It would require some prep time by the teacher to establish some clear instructions for the students to follow. Can be used to explore or gather information for research. Great graphics and information. Rating: Recommended
High school teacher: This is probably the best informational site I have seen. There are eight well-defined sections that deal with the modern issues having to do with viruses. This site is probably inappropriate for any age below 9th grade because the material is more complicated. It would be a great resource for a high school microbiology class, as it deals with virus propagation, world-wide health issues, and remediation. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
This is an impressive Web site. The interactive animations are very useful for understanding the challenges of some global diseases, antibiotic resistance, and vaccines. The resources listed at the bottom of the menu are excellent. Rating: Highly recommended
5-12
© 2011 Genetic Science Learning Center, University of Utah. Use a scroll bar to understand the relative sizes of cells, including a coffee bean, a skin cell, E. coli bacterium, HIV, and a carbon atom.
Activity Duration: < 15 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Love this site! The clarity of the images all through the zoom is excellent. This is a great way to differentiate between macro- and micro-organisms. This site can be used in many different aspects of science. The write-ups that follow may not be suited to certain grade levels, but you can use the activity as it pertains to your audience. Rating: Highly recommended
High school teacher: This is a multifunctional Web site that shows biological scale and can be a concept explanation for the metric system. Very useful to show students order of size and metric measurement! Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
Lesson provides useful scale and references to familiar items (grain of rice, sesame seed). Sliding scale bar is easy to manipulate and allows students to "zoom in." The metric conversion chart is a very important tool and shows the relationships between units while students view the increasingly smaller items in the scale window. Rating: Highly recommended
7-12
© 2001 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) NOVA ONLINE. Students learn about the role smallpox played in the development of vaccines and learn the difference between live and non-live vaccines. An interactive animation walks students through the steps of various techniques used to make six different vaccines in a virtual laboratory.
Activity Duration: 15-30 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Awesome activity for middle school students--super visuals and display of information. The site is easy to navigate. Students will love to make the vaccines. Rating: Highly recommended
High school teacher: Great activity to teach vaccination, and it has a built-in attention getter with the bioterror title. Instead of learning about the manufacture of vaccines through a book, students get to see a visual representation, which is great. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
This is an excellent program. The links at the bottom lead to associated programs that, when combined, present much good information about bioterrorism. Rating: Highly recommended
9-12
Copyright 2004-2012 Dark Realm Studios. This Web-based game is a simulation of a deadly virus that is released on the world. The objective is to ‘evolve’ different traits of the disease so that it spreads around the world and kills as many humans as possible before humans develop a cure. It discusses virus lethality, transmissions, types of viruses, and virus defense mechanisms.
Activity Duration: 30-60 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
High school teacher: Presentation is great for kids; it meets microbiology standards. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
Pandemic II presents an attractive game format with detailed information about the symptoms, transmission, and durability characteristics of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. I was impressed with the way the creators showed the potential for movement of infectious agents around the globe. The game requires players to try different combinations of pathogen characteristics in order to achieve the ultimate goal of "killing everyone." My only criticism is that the player is not allowed to simply check out the results of different pathogen characteristics--one must wait until sufficient "evolution points" are accrued before buying or selling an option for a given trait. Rating: Recommended
9-12
© 2011, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Explore how an ocean virus, Emiliania huxleyi virus (EhV), battles algae in order to maintain ecological balance in Earth’s oceans. Embedded in this graphic story are interactive learning activities that explore the numbers of viruses in the ocean relative to icebergs, jellyfish, etc. Explore an algal bloom up close. Open the virus to see inside and learn about the parts. The app includes an essay and a 30-minute radio documentary.
Activity Duration: 1 hr
Cost: free from the App Store
Standards:
Teacher comments:
High school teacher: Interesting reading, listening, and decoding images. This is a setoff activity that combines a creative use of animation and navigation of a view from space into the interior of a virus. Students will see how a virus helps maintain the balance of an ecosystem essential to Earth's ecology. Engaging and accessible to a wide spectrum of abilities. Rating: Highly recommended
High school teacher: I liked the analogy of the virus hunt being like using a goat as bait to lure a tiger. Great ecology details; the nutrient-release function of viruses and the message that stuff we think is yucky is crucial. Nice info about common ancestors, the idea that viruses differentiate from common ancestors. Great job of playing into Darwin's theories--the natural selection at a microbial level was clear and easy to understand. I liked the idea that one of the key roles of viruses is transferring genes between organisms. When we talk about the idea that self-replicating molecules may have preceded the development of cells on Earth, it makes more sense when you think about viruses evolving. Would be really useful when discussing population growth and limiting factors in an ecology unit or class. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
This activity provides students with a balanced perspective of the diversity of viruses - particularly the fact that viruses can be good, if not essential, for the health of certain ecosystems. The "game" is not very informative, and doesn't add much in my opinion, but the comic, essay, and radio documentary were useful and entertaining. Rating: Highly recommended
8-10
© 2011 Morgridge Institute for Research, Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery. This action-and-strategy game focuses on complex interactions in biological systems. Players experience what it takes to infect a cell, replicate, and escape to infect other cells.
Activity Duration: 30-60 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
High school teacher: The game was very insightful, if a little simple. It did teach content about various immune-system agents in an interesting way that is very visual and easy enough that middle school students can comprehend and upper-level students can still enjoy. The game had to have a special plugin to work, which could become a problem in schools. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
This game is good and challenging. It is likely that children who are accustomed to playing video games will learn quickly how to advance to each level of the game. I would recommend this for middle school students, but the cell biology concepts are at a sufficiently high level so that high school students could benefit as well. Rating: Highly recommended
6-8
© 2001-2010 Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning, Rice University. MedMyst is a problem-based adventure game provided in two versions. The original version engages the player in the role of a scientist/historian/detective who discovers infectious agents and transmission pathways. In the new reloaded version, students choose to work as an epidemiologist, microbiologist, or veterinarian to solve mysteries. Teacher materials and activities are provided. Available in Spanish.
Activity Duration: 30-60 min each
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: WOW! Excellent resource. A lot of time and effort has been put into this! This needs to be used by students. This interactive game has everything. Students will have fun navigating through the different challenges. Headphones might be helpful in a lab setting. Rating: Highly recommended
Virologist comments:
The game is a little bit long; players can't get out of it until the game is complete. BUT, very good graphics and great explanations. Plus it is a game scenario, so kids learn as they complete the game. Rating: Highly recommended
