This week in science students have been developing a greater understanding of how infectious diseases are transmitted as well as prevented. We have discussed the historical spread of typhoid fever by watching the documentary, "Typhoid Mary: The Most Dangerous Woman in America". We have also discussed the differences between epidemics and pandemics by playing two online infectious disease simulations, "The Great Flu" and "Pandemic II". As students have worked together to complete the online simulations, they have also been asked to reflect on which strategies and interventions worked best in transmitting and preventing global pandemics. The NC State educational researchers returned on Thursday this week to continue their ongoing study on "scale".
We began this week in science class by reviewing for our science benchmark. Students reviewed for the benchmark by working together to answer practice benchmark questions as well as by teaching and re-teaching difficult concepts related to chemistry and the hydrosphere. Following the science benchmark, students used their developing knowledge of infectious diseases to work together to develop their own (fictional, but realistic) disease brochures.
To start the week we discussed disease tables. We focused our discussions on the cause, symptoms, transmission, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases. We then completed a disease table for the following: Bubonic Plague, Yellow Fever, West Nile Virus, Malaria, and River Blindness. To finish out the week, students began working with their learning teams to answer benchmark review questions on the Hydrosphere and Chemistry units. The 8th grade science benchmark will be on Tuesday, January 12th.
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AuthorMr. Jones is the 8th grade science teacher on the GOLD Team. Archives
February 2016
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