In this activity, students work in groups to read about different types of diseases and ultimately rank them from the least dangerous to the most dangerous. There is no actual right answer to this, and the cards are designed to foster discussion and provide a basic overview of the types of pathogens that cause disease.
Cards include pathogens from the major groups: protozoans, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Each card includes a description of the pathogen, how it is contracted, and the symptoms of the infection. Images on the card either represent the actual pathogen or the vector that transmits it.
These cards can also be used to assign students a specific pathogen to research more thoroughly. I have my students create a Disease Infographic that explores a specific pathogen and share information with the class.
Grade Level: 9-12
Time Required: 30-45 min