How does a cocktail of aluminum, formaldehyde, and an infectious disease keep you healthy? Science scholars explore the composition and role of vaccines in a short video that explains how vaccines interact with our immune systems, why vaccines sometimes cause adverse reactions, and why immunity sometimes fails.

Concepts

immunity, vaccinations, antibodies, public health, polio

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the video to show the link between vaccination and public health
• Pass out copies of your school district's vaccination requirements to show the class the types of vaccines they've received and the illnesses they protect against

Classroom Considerations

• Some pupils may not have received vaccinations due to their family's preferences or beliefs; consider asking the class if they have had vaccinations before watching the video

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Animated sequences show key components of the immune system go to war with infectious diseases, making the resource fun and light-hearted
• The video addresses the topic of vaccines containing bad ingredients and explains the identity and actions of substances like formaldehyde; this ensures pupils understand why the substances are necessary

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.7.2 SL.9-10.2