Exploring Germs and Illnesses

Introduction

Welcome 8th Grade Scientists!  

Exploring Germs and Illnesses Caused by Germs

Imagine that your best friend has spent the night in your room for a sleepover.  The next morning you notice that your friend is sweating and shivering.  You ask your friend what is wrong.  They tell you that they feel sick.  After explaining to your parents that your best friend is not feeling well, your best friend gets picked up by their parents and goes directly to the doctor.  

What do you think the doctor figured out about your friend's health?  What type of illness did they have?  What could have caused this illness?  A virus?  A bacterial infection?  A parasite?  Will you get the same sickness as your friend?  Why or why not?  

Click the "Task" icon to read how you will explore germ-caused illnesses or communicable diseases.


Task

Common Core Extended Standard To Be Addressed in this Webquest:  

Life Sciences:  8th grade

Structures and Functions of Living Organisms
EX.8.L.1 Understand that germs can cause disease.
EX.8.L.1.2 Identify illnesses that may be caused by germs

In this webquest, you will research one human illness caused by any type of germ such as: a virus, fungus, parasite or bacterium.  You will then create a poster or brochure that could be displayed in a doctor's office to explain how to prevent the illness (or communicable disease) that you chose to study.  Have fun as you explore these websites and create your final product!  If you have any questions, please let me know in class!  

 

Helpful Guidelines:

  • Your poster or brochure should describe the symptoms of the illness either through drawings, diagrams, or written text.
  • Your poster or brochure should explain why a person should take action to prevent this illness. 
  • Your poster or brochure should indicate the type of germ; virus, bacteria, parasite, or fungus that caused the illness to occur.  
  • Include any interesting facts about the virus, bacteria, parasite or fungus.
  • Explain to the reader of your poster or brochure how they can prevent the illness that you chose.  
Process

As you work on this webquest, you may find it helpful to take simple notes about what you have found.  At the end of this screen, is a graphic organizer that may help you organize your research:  

STEP 1:  To get started on your poster or brochure, pick a type of germ (or microbe) that interests you.  Below are website links that you can explore to decide which type of germ you will focus on for this project.  

STEP 2:  Once you have decided which type of germ (or microbe) you will focus on for your poster or brochure; identify an illness caused by that particular type of germ.  

You have two choices about Step 2 for identifying an illness caused by your germ of choice.  

Choice 1: You can review the previous websites (under STEP 1) to find an illness to create a poster or brochure about.

Choice 2: Or explore these sites below to find a type of illness caused by your germ of choice.  

STEP 3:  Research ways to prevent germ-born illnesses through these websites:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/spacescience/germ-free-school-year/

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm

STEP 4:  Create your poster or brochure!  

Keep in mind these guidelines for your poster or brochure:

Helpful Guidelines:

  • Your poster or brochure should describe the symptoms of the illness either through drawings, diagrams, or written text.
  • Your poster or brochure should explain or argue why a person should take action to prevent this illness. 
  • Your poster or brochure should indicate the type of germ; virus, bacteria, parasite, or fungus that caused the illness to occur.  
  • Include any interesting facts about the virus, bacteria, parasite or fungus.
  • Explain to the reader of your poster or brochure how they can prevent the illness that you chose. 

 

Scan your articles and resources to help you decide what type of germ to investigate, or draw on your life experiences to decide what type of germ you will examine.

STEP 1: Choose your type of germ:

A. viral germ                  B. bacterial germ              C. fungal germ                D.  parasitic germ

 

STEP 2:  List Characteristics of that germ:

Habitat:__________________________________________________

Shape and Size:___________________________________________

Survival Needs:____________________________________________

A Drawing or Sketch of the germ:

 

             STEP 3: Identify an Illness Caused by that Germ:

 

Illness Name:_____________________

Symptoms and Signs of the Illness:

 

 

 

Methods for Preventing This Illness:                                        Reasons for Avoiding This Illness:

 


 

Evaluation

 

A total of 24 points are possible for this web quest.

3 points

The student has mastered this requirement

2 points

The student has partial or some (at least one piece) of this requirement. 

1 point

The student has none of this requirement.  Students may revise their work after a conference with their instructor.

The student provides evidence that shows that:  the germ presented is a direct cause of the illness presented. 

3

2

1

The student provides a list or description of the symptoms of the illness caused by a germ.

 3

 2

 1

The poster or brochure provides a valid argument about why a person should try to prevent this illness.

 3

 2

 1

There is description of a type of germ that causes the featured illness for humans, either a virus, bacteria, parasite, or fungus.  Either through pictures, writing, or diagrams.

 3

 2

 1

The Poster or Brochure has a minimum of 3 facts about the germ. 

 

 3

 2

 1

Connections are made either through drawings, diagrams, or writing about how the germ causes the illness in humans. 

 3

 2

 1

The poster or brochure is easy to read.

 

 3

 2

 1

The poster or brochure has a creative or unique design while still communicating pertinent information clearly.

 3

 2

 1
Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed learning about a type of germ, such as a virus or parasite.  The information that you have gleaned from this Webquest will help you stay safe from harmful microbes in the world.  Hopefully, you were not too grossed out by what you discovered.  Microbes are all around us and most of the time we live in harmony with them.  But sometimes they can wreak havoc on our health.  Thank you for working on this project to the best of your abilities!  

Credits

Center For Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/index.html

Germs Movie for Kids - Virus & Bacteria Introduction Video from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D0eIsuZC3w

Hall, N.  Graphic Organizer for Germs and Illness Webquest

Hillendale Health website: http://hes.ucfsd.org/gclaypo/commdise/commdise.html#catch

The LifeTree website; Information on parasites. http://www.parasitecleanse.com/GALLERY.HTM.  Aurora Designs, LLC

The National Academies: Types of Microbes webpage: http://needtoknow.nas.edu/id/infection/microbe-types/

Nemours Kidshealth.org: http://kidshealth.org 

North Carolina Common Core Extended Standards website: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/acre/standards/extended/science/6-8…;

Winebrenner, Susan. (2012).  Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom: Strategies and Techniques Every Teacher Can Use to Meet the Academic Needs of the Gifted and Talented (3rd ed.).  Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit. 

 

Teacher Page

The goal for this webquest is for 8th grade students to address the North Carolina Common Core Extended Science Standard on the Structures and Functions of Living Organisms.

The two standards are: 

EX.8.L.1 Understand that germs can cause disease.

EX.8.L.1.2 Identify illnesses that may be caused by germs.   

Norah Hall is a MAT student at Meredith College in North Carolina.  This is her first webquest.