Disease Detectives: Tracking Outbreaks and Public Health
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Disease Detectives: Tracking Outbreaks and Public Health

Grade 8Science5 days
In this project, students take on the role of disease detectives to investigate pathogens, disease outbreaks, and public health strategies. They'll compare different types of pathogens, analyze data to differentiate between epidemics and pandemics, and design public health campaigns. Through activities such as creating pathogen profiles, analyzing outbreak data, and visualizing disease spread, students apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. The project culminates in students developing a comprehensive public health campaign proposal.
PathogensEpidemicsPandemicsData AnalysisPublic HealthDisease PreventionOutbreak
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as disease detectives, use our understanding of pathogens, disease spread, and data analysis to create effective public health campaigns that prevent the spread of infectious diseases in our community?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How do different types of pathogens spread and cause disease?
  • What are the key differences between epidemics and pandemics, and what factors influence their spread?
  • How can we use data to track and analyze disease outbreaks?
  • What are the most effective strategies for preventing and treating infectious diseases?
  • How can public health campaigns be used to educate and empower communities to prevent the spread of disease?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to compare and contrast the characteristics of different pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites).
  • Students will be able to explain the differences between epidemics and pandemics.
  • Students will be able to analyze and interpret data related to disease outbreaks.
  • Students will be able to design effective public health campaigns to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
  • Students will be able to apply their understanding of pathogens, disease spread, and data analysis to real-world scenarios.

Life Science

LS 8.1.1
Primary
Construct an explanation to compare the basic characteristics of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites relating to the spread, treatment, and prevention of disease.Reason: Directly addresses the characteristics of pathogens and their role in disease.
LS 8.1.2
Primary
Analyze and interpret data to explain the difference between epidemic and pandemic as it relates to the spread, treatment, and prevention of disease.Reason: Focuses on analyzing data related to disease spread, which is crucial for disease detectives.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Mysterious Illness at Camp

Campers at a summer camp start exhibiting strange symptoms, and rumors of a mysterious illness spread. Students examine initial reports, interview "witnesses" (role-played by older students or community members), and analyze the data to determine the source and mode of transmission, sparking their interest in disease detectives.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Pathogen Profile: Meet the Microbes

Students research and create detailed profiles of different types of pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites). They will focus on their structure, mode of transmission, and the diseases they cause.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose one type of pathogen: virus, bacteria, fungi, or parasite.
2. Research the chosen pathogen's characteristics: structure, reproduction, mode of transmission, and the diseases it causes.
3. Create a detailed profile of the pathogen, including visuals and descriptions of its key features.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive pathogen profile (e.g., a poster, presentation, or infographic) detailing its characteristics and disease-causing mechanisms.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses LS 8.1.1 by requiring students to compare the basic characteristics of different pathogens.
Activity 2

Outbreak Analysis: Epidemic vs. Pandemic

Students analyze real-world case studies of disease outbreaks, differentiating between epidemics and pandemics based on data such as infection rates, geographic spread, and mortality rates.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research examples of disease outbreaks, both epidemics and pandemics (e.g., influenza, Ebola, COVID-19).
2. Collect data on infection rates, geographic spread, and mortality rates for each outbreak.
3. Analyze the data to determine whether each outbreak was an epidemic or a pandemic, justifying your reasoning.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comparative analysis report that explains the differences between epidemics and pandemics, supported by data from real-world examples.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses LS 8.1.2 by requiring students to analyze and interpret data to explain the difference between epidemic and pandemic.
Activity 3

Data Detective: Tracking the Spread

Students use provided datasets (simulated or real) to track the spread of a disease outbreak. They will create graphs and charts to visualize the data and identify patterns in the spread of the disease.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Receive a dataset representing a disease outbreak (e.g., daily infection rates, geographic locations of cases).
2. Create graphs and charts (e.g., line graphs, bar graphs, maps) to visualize the data and identify trends.
3. Write a summary of your findings, describing the patterns of disease spread observed in the data.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA data analysis report with visualizations (graphs, charts, maps) that illustrates the spread of the disease over time and location.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports LS 8.1.2 by having students analyze and interpret data related to disease outbreaks, focusing on the spread.
Activity 4

Prevention Campaign: Stop the Spread

Students design a public health campaign aimed at preventing the spread of a specific infectious disease. They will consider the target audience, key messages, and effective communication strategies.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose a specific infectious disease to focus on.
2. Research effective prevention strategies for the chosen disease.
3. Design a public health campaign, including key messages, visuals, and communication channels (e.g., posters, social media, videos).

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA public health campaign proposal that includes a detailed plan for educating the community about preventing the spread of the chosen disease. This should incorporate visuals and key messages.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsIntegrates LS 8.1.1 and LS 8.1.2 by requiring students to apply their understanding of pathogens and disease spread to develop practical prevention strategies.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Disease Detective Portfolio Rubric

Category 1

Pathogen Profiling

Assesses students' ability to research, understand, and present the characteristics of different pathogens.
Criterion 1

Research and Understanding

Evaluates the depth and accuracy of the research conducted on the chosen pathogen.

Exemplary
4 Points

Conducts thorough and accurate research, demonstrating a deep understanding of the pathogen's characteristics and related diseases.

Proficient
3 Points

Conducts accurate research, demonstrating a clear understanding of the pathogen's characteristics and related diseases.

Developing
2 Points

Conducts basic research with some inaccuracies, demonstrating partial understanding of the pathogen's characteristics.

Beginning
1 Points

Conducts minimal research with significant inaccuracies, showing limited understanding of the pathogen.

Criterion 2

Presentation Quality

Assesses the clarity, accuracy, and creativity in presenting the pathogen profile.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents information with exceptional clarity and creativity, using visuals effectively to enhance understanding.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents information clearly and accurately, using visuals to support understanding.

Developing
2 Points

Presents information with some clarity, though visuals may not fully support understanding.

Beginning
1 Points

Presents information unclearly, with ineffective use of visuals.

Category 2

Outbreak Analysis

Evaluates students' skills in analyzing and interpreting data to differentiate between epidemics and pandemics.
Criterion 1

Data Interpretation

Measures the ability to accurately interpret and analyze outbreak data.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional data analysis skills, providing insightful differentiation between epidemics and pandemics.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates clear data analysis skills, accurately differentiating between epidemics and pandemics.

Developing
2 Points

Demonstrates basic data analysis skills, with partial differentiation between epidemics and pandemics.

Beginning
1 Points

Demonstrates minimal analysis skills, struggling to differentiate between epidemics and pandemics.

Category 3

Data Visualization

Assesses the ability to use graphs and charts to effectively visualize disease outbreak data.
Criterion 1

Visual Clarity and Accuracy

Evaluates the clarity and accuracy of visual data representations.

Exemplary
4 Points

Creates highly accurate and aesthetically clear visualizations that reveal insightful patterns in data.

Proficient
3 Points

Creates accurate and clear visualizations that effectively illustrate patterns in the data.

Developing
2 Points

Creates basic visualizations that show some patterns in the data, albeit with inaccuracies.

Beginning
1 Points

Creates unclear or inaccurate visualizations with minimal data insights.

Category 4

Public Health Campaign Design

Assesses the creativity, effectiveness, and clarity in designing a public health campaign targeting disease prevention.
Criterion 1

Message Effectiveness and Creativity

Measures the impact, creativity, and clarity of the public health campaign messages.

Exemplary
4 Points

Crafts persuasive and highly creative campaign messages that effectively engage and educate the target audience.

Proficient
3 Points

Crafts clear and effective campaign messages that engage and educate the target audience.

Developing
2 Points

Crafts basic campaign messages that partially engage the target audience with limited effectiveness.

Beginning
1 Points

Crafts unclear or unengaging messages with minimal audience impact.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflecting on your work as a disease detective, what was the most surprising thing you learned about the spread, treatment, or prevention of disease?

Text
Required
Question 2

Which activity (Pathogen Profile, Outbreak Analysis, Data Detective, or Prevention Campaign) helped you understand the material the best?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Pathogen Profile
Outbreak Analysis
Data Detective
Prevention Campaign
Question 3

On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident are you in your ability to explain the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?

Scale
Required
Question 4

If you were to continue working as a disease detective, what specific area of research or public health would you want to explore further, and why?

Text
Required