Treatment Activity Introduction

Introduction:

This is a topic that lends itself easily to high student involvement and participation. The target audience for this lesson is an advanced biology class such as an AP Biology or IB Higher Level Biology course of about 20 students. The lesson involves the use of technology that is assumed is readily available in the classroom. The lesson is designed for an 80-90 minute class that has studied molecules, cells, genetics and at least the human circulatory, respiratory and immune systems. With this information in mind, the three areas of the lesson (medical care, vector control and vaccines) could easily be adapted for different grade levels, class time, class size, technology access, etc.

Objectives

The students will be able to:

1) Describe common treatments for the flu and the biological basis for them.
2) Describe how vaccines prevent disease, different types of vaccines, how the flu vaccine is predicted and produced, the biological basis for why the flu vaccine changes every year and the research and prospects of H5N1 vaccine.
3) Describe methods of vector control for H5N1.

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Opening/Buzz activity (1-2 minutes): Generate student interest by surveying the class for different information such as:

1) how many have had the flu before
2) how many did "self-diagnosis" and how many went to the doctor
3) what they did to treat the flu
4) how many have had a flu vaccine before and whether they got the flu that year OR if it's the appropriate time of year how many have had it this year
5) how many can list at least 3 countries where there was an outbreak of bird flu