6-9
© Copyright Science upd8, UK. Students learn of Vietnamese villages that are disease free thanks to local children and scientists using biological and environmental controls without the use of insecticides. This poster-making activity reinforces students’ understanding of food chains as they work out how the Vietnamese children eliminated the virus and explain why the strategy works.
Activity Duration: 15-30 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
Middle school teacher: Interesting information, but not very exciting. Not a lot of science involved. Students make and share posters about controlling mosquitoes. NOTE: The video clip is not narrated in English (but it's still neat to watch). Rating: Acceptable
High school teacher: This is fundamentally a good activity, but the posters are both in color (for student handouts) and not real clear as to their intent. The short video appears to be narrated in Vietnamese. Assumes substantial pre-teaching time. Rating: Acceptable
Virologist comments:
Good introduction to prevention of mosquito-borne viruses. Students will benefit from the discussion of simple measures we can take to keep the environment free of mosquitoes. Also good basic information about dengue. Rating: Recommended
10-12
Resource for Biocomputing, Visualization, and Informatics (RBVI), University of California – San Francisco. Students construct three-dimensional icosahedral models by cutting and folding preprinted figures of the dengue virus that shows the arrangement of proteins in the virus capsid.
Activity Duration: 1 hr
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
High school teacher: The activity is interesting and could be used as a supplemental activity for an afterschool club or a microbiology class. It probably is only relevant curriculum-wise if the more common shapes are made, but for advanced students the whole spectrum of shapes could be made. Rating: Acceptable
Virologist comments:
I love this! This is a terrific and fun activity for kids to make the virus by themselves from the template. It gives them an appreciation of the virus shape and introduces proteins and RNA. The exercise for high school students is also very good. The Virus Particle Explorer is a great resource. Rating: Highly recommended
9-12
©RCSB Protein Data Bank. Using preprinted paper, students construct a three-dimensional paper model of the dengue virus.
Activity Duration: 15-30 min
Cost: free
Standards:
Teacher comments:
High school teacher: The model of DNA is a good intro to DNA structure. The Web site is easy to work through. Objectives are not stated, but the activity could be useful for a 9th-10th grade biology teacher. Rating: Recommended
Virologist comments:
Very nice paper-folding model of dengue virus. The Protein Data Bank of Dengue virus is very well done. Rating: Highly recommended
