Defend
Yourself
Developed
by: Ellen D. Hartline
© American Association of Immunologists 1999
Overview
This immunology unit is written for junior high school students,
specifically students at the seventh grade level, and is intended to be used as
a classroom and/or dry lab exercise in which the students learn some of the
principles and fundamentals of infectious diseases and the role of the immunity
and vaccination in preventing spread of infections. Thus, the exercise is
most appropriate in the context of a course in which life science and the
applications of modern science to the human organism are studied.
The purpose of this unit in immunology is to introduce the students to the principles of immunology including the existence of innate and acquired immune defense, the uses and applications of immunization and vaccination, and the nature of infectious diseases and the ways in which immunization and vaccination can be applied to protecting humans and animals against the spread of infectious agents. When the students have completed this exercise they will have an understanding of the functioning of the immune system and the ways in which the immune system can be manipulated to protect us against certain infectious diseases.
Objectives
The goal of this immunology unit is to teach the seventh
grade level student the principles and concepts of immunity, vaccination, and
the transmission of and resistance to infectious diseases.
Suggested
Time
It is suggested that this immunology unit can be
completed as a single unit in a science curriculum or life science course in the
seventh grade. Approximate time for completion of this unit would encompass
approximately three or, at most, four 1-hour meetings. The hyperstudio project
in the computer laboratory would take approximately eight 50 minute sessions
with students working in pairs.
To receive a copy of this curriculum, please contact: The American Association of Immunologists, telephone: (301) 634-7178, fax: (301) 634-7887, email infoaai@aai.org.