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In MedMyst: Original students use the scientific method and science process skills to investigate infectious disease outbreaks. In Mission One: Orientation At O.R.B., students get an introduction to infectious diseases and pathogens. In Mission Two: Peril in Prokaryon, students learn about infectious pathogens and epidemiology while investigating a cholera outbreak. In Mission Three: Nemesis in Neuropolis, students learn about viruses and vaccines while investigating a smallpox case. In Mission Four: Malady in Mabuufo, students learn about malaria, the history of malaria research, and disease vectors. In Mission Five: Zero Hour Zoonoses, students learn about zoonotic pathogens and the diseases they cause, while trying to prevent a bioterror attack. All five missions have a teacher's guide with worksheets and additional activities.

Type: Educational Game

The students will be able to identify one or more infectious diseases and their cause(s). The students will be able to list at least 3 ways that infectious diseases can be prevented.

Type: Educational Game

In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that describes the spread of the Zika virus through the Americas and its arrival in the United States. The text describes how the virus is carried by specific species of mosquitoes that are common in Florida and other warmer areas of the United States. An added concern with Zika is the link to microcephaly, a neurological disorder affecting fetuses and infants from infected mothers. The text also describes other viruses in the larger group that Zika belongs to and how these viruses affect the human body. This lesson is designed to support reading in the content area. The lesson plan includes a reading guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. Options to extend the lesson are also included.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is a lesson on viruses and a simulation on how diseases can spread.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson plan has power point to support it. The lesson requires students to complete a project comparing bacteria, fungus, and viruses.

Type: Lesson Plan

***All activities from this lesson, with the exception of free alternative activities, are adapted from Florida Science Fusion Grade 6 Teacher's Manual and Lab Manual ©Holt McDougal***
This lesson addresses the structure and function of human body systems with emphasis on how organ systems collaborate to maintain homeostasis for an entire organism.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is a collaborative lesson design by Lori Kern and Dawn Barone.

This lesson focuses on infectious agents (fungus, bacteria, virus and parasites). Students will be able experience a hands-on activity to reinforce the concepts addressed in this benchmark.

Type: Lesson Plan

Teaches three ways viruses can spread: cough, sneeze, and touch.

Type: Lesson Plan

Take a microscopic journey into the immune system and the world of infectious fungi and parasites.

This is Part 2 in a two-part series of interactive tutorials. Click  to open Part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Take a microscopic journey into the immune system and the living and non-living worlds of bacteria and viruses.

This is Part 1 in a two-part series of interactive tutorials. Click to open Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn about viruses that can infect the human body, how they can cause epidemics and pandemics, and how best to protect yourself against infectious diseases like COVID-19 in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Help Agent Icky compare and contrast types of infectious agents that may infect the human body, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. By completing this interactive tutorial, maybe you can be a Microbe Buster one day too!

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The good, the bad, and the ugly of infectious diseases.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

This resource is designed to support reading in the content area. The text describes the emergence of the Zika virus and the threat it may pose to the United States. Information is provided about how the virus is transmitted, and the connection between Zika and microcephaly is explored.

Type: Text Resource

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The article discusses the amazing discovery of an ancient virus found frozen in the Russian permafrost after 30,000 years. The virus is huge in size and only infects amoebas. Amazingly, the virus is still infectious after remaining frozen for so long.

Type: Text Resource

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area.

How has bacteria evolved to be resistant to antibiotic drugs? Scientists have discovered that an ordinary kitchen item, the cutting board, can spread dangerous germs.

Type: Text Resource

Scientists who are working to discover new medicines often use robots to prepare samples of cells, allowing them to test chemicals to identify those that might be used to treat diseases. Students will meet a scientist who works to identify new medicines. She created free software that "looks" at images of cells and determines which images show cells that have responded to the potential medicines. Students will learn about how this technology is currently enabling research to identify new antibiotics to treat tuberculosis. Students will complete hands-on activities that demonstrate how new medicines can be discovered using robots and computer software, starring the student as "the computer." In the process, the students learn about experimental design, including positive and negative controls. Students should have some introductory knowledge about the following topics: (1) biology: students should have a basic understanding of infection and good hygiene, they should know what bacteria and cells are; (2) chemistry: the students should know what a chemical compound (molecule) is. They should have an understanding that medicines, also called "drugs", are chemical compounds; (3) basic experimental design: students should understand the terms "samples" and "testing". All hand-outs necessary for this video lesson can be downloaded below.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation