Infectious Disease: Evolving Challenges to Human Health
BAM! Working the Epidemiologic Triangle
 Overview of Activity
A lesson plan where students take on the role of epidemiologists studying an outbreak of E. coli. Students try to eradicate the outbreak by studying the "epidemiological triangle."
Activity Type: In Class Role Play
URLs: http://www.bam.gov/teachers/epidemiology_triangle.html
Grade Level: 6-8
Level of Difficulty: Introductory
Amount of Time Required for Activity: About Three 40-minute Class Periods
Recommended Uses:
Prior to attending the exhibit. it may be used as an engaging activity to encourage students to think about how the spread of infectious diseases occurs and is studied.
After visiting the exhibit, it may be used as a culminating activity that brings together the information they've been exposed to and allows then to experience it first hand.
Description
The epidemiological triangle was devised by scientists to study health problems related to infectious diseases. Whenever there is an epidemic, scientists turn to this relationship to understand the connections between the agent, host and environment. This lesson is divided into different sub-lessons detailed below.
Part 1 (50 minutes): Students complete a chart in class and at home that details what infectious diseases they and other family members have had and then research other types of infectious diseases. This part of the activity engages students by drawing them in through their own prior experiences.
Part 2 (60 minutes): Students learn about the epidemiological triangle collaboratively in class by applying it to the diseases they were discussing before. They then take on the role of epidemiologists and use the Internet to determine the epidemiological triangle for different diseases that they will present to the class. To assess their understanding, there is a set of questions at the end and a rubric that details the teacher expectations for the three day assignment.
This activity is part if a series designed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Relation to the Science Standards
Middle School
Content Standard C - Population and Ecosystems
Content Standard C - Regulation and Behavior
Content Standard C - Deversity and Adaptations of Organisms
Content Standard F - Personal Health
Content Standard F - Risks and Benefits
Content Standard F - Science and Technology in Society
Related Part of the Exhibit
Public Health
Tracing Emerging Infectious Diseases
Additional Related Links
http://www.bam.gov/teachers/activities/epi_1_triangle.pdf
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