Disease Research

Diseases can hurt and kill people. The more we know about them, the more we can cure and prevent them.

In this assignment, you will create a public service announcement about a disease that you do research on. View past student samples.

Part 1: Background and Choose Disease

Choose an infectious or non-infectious disease (no repeats within each class).

You may consult the Disease Research List or the reading on page Micro-Life Book p. C-8 to C-11 for ideas.

Part 2: Research

Read and follow directions in the Disease Research Assignment to create a public service announcement (PSA) about your disease.

Use the following sources to conduct research:

• Mayo Clinic (search by disease name)

• Centers for Disease Control (search by disease name)

• Medicine Net (search by disease name)

If you need more information beyond what is at these three sites, try searching for "World Health Organization," "National Institutes of Health," or whatever other specific information you need about your disease.

Part 3: Final Product

Students present their work. In the presentation, students follow these guidelines:

• • Presenters introduce themselves and the disease.

  • Briefly share the 9 items on the public service announcement.

  • Do not read all information off the PSA, just cover the main points.

  • Make eye-contact with the audience

  • Conclude by saying, "Thank you, are there any questions?"

Audience members take notes on each disease by answering 1-3 in their journals.

• 1. Name of disease

  2. Main idea/summary of disease

  3. One additional thing you find interesting about the disease.

Disease Research Extension: Centers for Disease Control Outbreak Simulations

Play at least two of the CDC outbreak simulations.

Options for All Disease Extensions (choose one):

1. Written Reflection:

1. Write a one paragraph summary of what you learned from the (resource).

2. Then, evaluate the (resource) in one paragraph. In your evaluation, give your opinion on how appropriate the material from it would be for the rest of class, judge the pros and cons of it, and predict how well students will do with the it.

3. Then, write a paragraph with a recommendation for whether the (resource) should be used by the full class in the future.

2. Creative Reflection (choose one):

• Make an art project to illustrate what you learned from the (resource).

  • Perform or record a skit to illustrate what you learned from the (resource).