This CNNfyi.com lesson plan is supplemented with material from 
Take a closer look at the West Nile virus
August 20, 2001
Web posted at: 2:25 PM EDT (1825 GMT)
Overview: How is the West Nile virus harmful to people? What strategies can be taken to prevent the spread of the virus? Use the article and lesson to conduct further investigation about the transmission, health effects, treatment and prevention of the West Nile virus.
Curriculum connections: Health, environment
Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Explain the transmission, health effects, treatment and prevention of the West Nile virus.
- Create an informational brochure about the virus, transmission and prevention.
Standards
Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning
Health standard 2, grades nine-12
High school students need to know how the prevention and control of health problems are influenced by research and medical advances
!--startclickprintexclude-->
|
RESOURCES
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Materials
CNNfyi.com article,"Education effort follows West Nile death"
Internet access
Maps of North America
Colored pens or pencils
Suggested time
Article and questions only: 30 minutes
Full lesson plan: Two to three classroom periods
Procedure
1. Survey the class about their prior knowledge of the West Nile virus by directing students to write down what they already know about the virus and what they would like to discover about the virus.
2. Have students read the CNNfyi.com article"Education effort follows West Nile death" and ask the following:
Who is Latricia Hughes? Why are more workers going to be assigned to the Fulton County area in Georgia? What type of education are elderly people currently receiving regarding the West Nile virus in Georgia? Why are health officials focusing the education towards elderly people?
How does the West Nile virus spread? What happens to humans infected with the virus? Why are the percentages of people being infected with the virus very small, according to Dr. Scott Wetterhall?
Why are New York City health officials and the Metro Atlanta West Nile Task Force meeting? Do you think this is a good idea? Discuss. When and where was the first case of the West Nile virus reported? How are officials in Florida trying to handle the virus? What are some precautions given in the article to prevent the West Nile virus?
3. Have students discover areas in the United States in which people have tested positive for the West Nile virus. Instruct students to color or shade in those areas on a U.S. map. Refer students to the last two Web sites below to learn more about the spread and tracking of West Nile in the United States. Then ask: Where do you think the West Nile virus will spread next? Explain. How does the geography of the United States provide an environment conducive to the spread of West Nile? Then as a class, discuss the role that geography plays in the spread of diseases.
4. Have each student identify specific information he or she has learned about the virus. Then ask: Did you find any information that you learned which refuted what you thought you knew about the virus? If so, what misinformation did you have about the virus? Refer to the questions you wrote prior to reading the article and doing research. Were all your questions answered? If not, did anyone in the class discover the answer to your question?
Assessment
Have students draw upon their research to develop brochures to educate members of their community about West Nile. Instruct students to include information about the virus, method of transmission and strategies for prevention of the virus.
Challenge
Inform the students that the West Nile virus is an arbovirus. Arboviruses are a large group of viruses that are transmitted between animal hosts by blood-feeding arthropods, such as mosquitoes. Direct students to identify other examples of arboviruses and determine the similarities and differences between another arbovirus and the West Nile Virus.
If you use CNN NEWSROOM, use the video and follow theDaily guide from July 27, 2001, on the West Nile Virus for additional questions and activities
RELATED STORIES:
|
|
RELATED SITES:
|
|
