The Infectious Disease and Immunology Unit for the 4th grade provides students with the basic skills and information necessary to understand communicable diseases. Students create models of germs, act out the response of the immune system, watch how germs spread, solve epidemiological mysteries, and test methods for killing germs.
Lesson 1: Epidemic Outbreak
Lesson Plan Worksheet
The class participates in a simulation of spreading an infectious disease. Each student receives a vial containing an unknown liquid (water or vinegar). The vial represents body fluids, and the students take turns exchanging fluids using small eyedroppers. Finally, the presenter adds a pinch of baking soda to each vial to test the students for an infectious disease. The students with reactive test tubes have the disease, and they trace back the line of transmission. The class brainstorms ways that diseases spread and how to prevent getting sick. Then the class begins an investigation of the microorganisms living in the classroom.
Lesson 2: Classifying Microorganisms
Lesson Plan Worksheet
The students investigate colonies of microorganisms that grew on the Petri dishes from lesson 1. They make and record careful observations, then classify colonies by color, texture, and size. Then the class learns about four types of microbes that scientists have discovered. Each student creates a paper model of a microbe.
Lesson 3: Killing Microbes Part I
Lesson Plan Worksheet
The class starts an experiment testing how cleaning products affect the growth of microbes. Students make predictions about the effectiveness of washing their desks with nothing, water, dish soap, alcohol, anti-bacterial soap, or baby wipes. Then they carefully follow written instructions as they attempt to kill fungi and bacteria on their desks and culture the remaining organisms on potato slices in Petri dishes. The potato slices are kept for a week and observed and analyzed during the following lesson.
Lesson 4: Killing Microbes Part II
Lesson Plan Worksheet
An infectious disease researcher talks to the students about the scientific process, stressing the importance of asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. The researcher shows how scientists grow cell cultures on Petri dishes for use in experiments. The students share their experimental procedures and results with the guest. Students measure bacteria and fungal colonies and estimate the surface area of the potato that is covered with colonies. The class compares predictions with results. Then the students complete coloring sheets illustrating the principles of food safety.
Lesson 5: The Body Fights Back
Lesson Plan Handout
The students make antigens for their microbe models from lesson 2 and antibodies that match these antigens. Then they read cartoon strips about the immune system and act out the scenarios using their microbe models. Finally, they discuss vaccines, antibiotics, and the importance of immunizations, and they brainstorm ways to enhance the effectiveness of their immune systems.
