Introduction
Time is running out and the cases are increasing everyday!!
A mysterious illness has begun spreading rapidly through your community. People are getting sick, and no one knows exactly how it started or how to stop it. As members of a Disease Response Team, you have been called in to investigate the outbreak and protect the public.
Your mission is to answer the question: How do diseases spread, and what can we do to stop them?
In this WebQuest, you will learn how infections are transmitted, how scientists track outbreaks, and what steps can be taken to prevent the spread of disease. By the end, you will use your knowledge to help inform others and stop the outbreak before it gets worse.
Task
You will work in a team to investigate a disease outbreak and create a Breaking news report to inform the public.
Your group will act as a Disease Response Team and create a short video or presentation that explains:
What the disease is
How it spreads
Symptoms people should watch for
How to prevent the spread
Each team member will have a specific role, and together you will present your findings as if you are reporting live during an emergency.
Process
Step 1: Form Your Team
You will work in a group of 3–4 students.
Step 2: Choose Roles
Each team member will take on one role:
- Researcher → Finds information about the disease
- Scientist/Health Expert → Explains how it spreads and how to prevent it
- Reporter → Presents the news report
- Media Specialist (optional) → Helps create slides/video
Step 3: Research the Disease
Use the links provided by your teacher (or approved websites) to find:
- What the disease is
- How it spreads (air, contact, etc.)
- Symptoms
- Prevention methods
Take notes as a group.
Step 4: Plan Your News Report
Work together to create a script that includes:
- Introduction to the outbreak
- Key facts about the disease
- Safety tips for the public
Step 5: Create Your Project
Choose one:
- Record a video news report
- Create a slideshow presentation
Be creative! Act like real reporters.
Step 6: Present
Share your news report with the class.
Evaluation
Your project will be graded using the following criteria:
- Content Accuracy (25 points)
Information about the disease is correct and clearly explained - Teamwork & Participation (25 points)
All group members contributed and worked together - Creativity & Presentation (25 points)
Project is engaging, clear, and well-organized - Completion of Requirements (25 points)
All parts of the assignment are included
Conclusion
In this WebQuest, you learned how diseases spread and how important it is to protect public health. You worked as a team to investigate an outbreak and share important information with others.
Understanding how to prevent the spread of disease helps keep communities safe.
Extension Activity:
Research a real-world outbreak and compare it to your project. What was similar? What was different?