Virginia Department of Education
The Germ Theory and Koch’s Postulates
Explore the history of cholera and its effect on society with your biology class. Young biologists will then proceed to grow their own germs, prepared from live cultures, and follow the steps of the scientific method to generate data....
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How Germs Spread
Fourth graders investigate how germs spread in this lesson. They listen to "The Flea's Sneeze" by Lynn Downey and make predictions on why the hog began sneezing. They then conduct an experiment using flour and paper cups demonstrating...
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Ways to Prevent the Spread of Pathogens
Fifth graders discuss the ways to prevent the spread of pathogens. In groups, they use the internet to research the ways to prevent disease from spreading. They use this information to create a poster and share the information with the...
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Changing Planet: Infectious Diseases Classroom Activity
Here is a different approach: emerging epidemiologists first go home to interview family on the topic of infectious disease. Then they come to class and view a video and PowerPoint that explore how climate change may increase the...
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Immune System: The Master of Self-Defense
Students examine the role of the immune system in the human body. They conduct a hand-washing experiment, answer questions while viewing videos, discuss key vocabulary, draw and label illustrations, and observe demonstrations and record...
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Safe Food
There is so much information in this instructional activity. A very comprehensive unit plan about food safety can be broken up into smaller pieces so as not to overwhelm the class with so much information at once. Some of the topics...
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When Germs Attack!
Students explore the hidden world of microbes and how our bodies spring into action in response to diseases. This ten lesson unit presents data on several microbial diseases and the reaction of the body's immune system.
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Wanted: The Infamous Five
Students name the five most common types of foodborne pathogens. They comprehend how bacteria can grow and spread. Students are taught healthy hygiene and food-safety habits. They discuss the crimes of the five most wanted foodborne...
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MICROBES 1: WHAT'S BUGGIN YOU?
Students use existing knowledge of microbes, focusing on the relationship between microorganisms and foodborne illness, as well as the implications that foodborne illness has on human health.
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Determining the Effectiveness of Handwashing
Students participate in an experiment in which they grow bacterial colonies. They examine the effects of antibiotics killing the germs. They discuss their findings to end the lesson.
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What's That Brown Fuzzy Stuff on My Plum?
Learners use Koch's Postulates to determine that a specific organism is the root cause of a specific disease and identify what Koch's Postulates are within a protocol. They describe symptoms and signs of diseased fruit and isolate fungal...
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Unit: Processing and Manufacturing: Examination Three
StudentsMatch the vocabulary terms in column A with the definitions in column B. Write the letter of the definition in column B in the space next to the terms in column A. Afterwhcich, students Write short answers or fill in the blank to...
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Outerspace: Frontier for Personal Health and Hygiene
Students view photos of astronauts sleeping, eating, bathing, and using the toilet, and discuss hygiene problems in a zero-gravity environment. They contrast hygiene habits in space to those on Earth, and create storybooks illustrating...
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Microbes 1: What's Bugging You?
Middle schoolers build on existing knowledge of microbes, focusing on the relationship between microorganisms and foodborne illness, as well as the implications that foodborne illness has on human health.
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Diseases
Sixth graders create a type of notebook or journal using colored copy paper on which to take notes. They complete research on a certain disease and report on it and then design their own disease causing bacteria or virus. Finally, 6th...
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Sorting
Pupils study how things are stored and how information is retrieved. In this investigative lesson students play a game that helps them to see how things are sorted in a library.
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Bacteria
Students study food borne illnesses and what foods are more likely to carry them. For this investigative lesson students examine harmful bacteria.
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What's That Brown Fuzzy Stuff On My Plum?
Students examine Koch's Postulates by actually using them. They perform each of the required four steps to show that the brown fuzzy fungus they see growing on stone fruit (plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries) is what causes them to rot.
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Labelling
Students assess the difference between "use by" and "best before" date markings on food items bought at a grocery store or some other establishment. They determine whether or not stored food is safe to eat and practice developing...
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Infection Control Word Search
In this word search worksheet, students search for terms related to infection control and community health. Words include infectious agents and other health terms.