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In this unit, students engage in a variety of activities to learn how the human body is organized into systems and some of the microbial organisms that live there, with an emphasis on the idea that microbes can be helpful and harmful. They then leverage their understanding to create a public service announcement (PSA) that will inform their community about the biology, risks, and possible benefits of a specific microbe. Their PSA will include an evidence-based argument regarding the value of eradicating the microbe.
Use this unit at a glance to explore a brief outline of the materials included in this resource.
Unit Driving Question: Which microbes should we protect or eradicate to keep our bodies healthy?
In this series of activities, students are introduced to the main types of microbes, scientific classification, how scientists organize living organisms, and the organization of the human body.
Through the lens of human body system organization, students learn how microbes can be helpful or harmful to humans. In this series of activities, students engage in jigsaw reading activities and with online interactives, videos, and an infographic. They keep track of their ideas in order to reflect on their understanding over time. Students also analyze the design features of six public service announcements (PSAs) as they prepare to create their own PSA in a later lesson.
Students collaborate to create and present their own public service announcement (PSA) that introduces a particular microbe to their community, including an evidence-based argument regarding the value of eradicating the microbe.
(singular: alga) diverse group of aquatic organisms, the largest of which are seaweeds.
substance (such as pollen) that induces a negative bodily reaction, such as sneezing, wheezing, itching, or difficulty breathing.
having a consistent, unusual, negative reaction to a substance.
sensitivity to a specific substance (such as pollen) which causes a negative bodily reaction, such as sneezing, wheezing, itching or difficulty breathing.
structure, form, or appearance of features relating to the body structure of organisms.
(singular: bacterium) single-celled organisms found in every ecosystem on Earth.
smallest working part of a living organism.
series of organs and glands responsible for the ingestion, digestion, and absorption of food. Also called the alimentary canal.
harmful condition of a body part or organ.
powerful device that uses electrons, not light, to magnify an image.
to destroy or remove.
total destruction.
relating to organisms whose cells have a nuceleus.
caused by food contaminated with disease-causing germs or toxic substances.
to work or work correctly.
(singular: fungus) organisms that survive by decomposing and absorbing nutrients in organic material such as soil or dead organisms.
taxonomic category of structurally or phylogenetically related species.
network of chemicals and organs that protects the body from disease.
suggestion or hint.
something (such as a bacterium or virus) that causes disease; also referred to as a pathogen.
to provide knowledge.
the act of eating or consuming.
set of organs that form the external covering of the body and protects it from many threats such as infection (in humans, this includes skin).
relationship between two or more forces, objects, or organisms.
grouping based on physical and genetic characteristics following the methods of the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus.
measurement of how enlarged an image is
tiny organism, usually a bacterium.
study of the structure, function, and behavior of microscopic organisms.
microorganisms and genetic material present in or on a specific environment.
composed of more than one cell.
cells, organs, and tissues including the brain and spine that respond to internal and external stimuli.
group of tissues that perform a specialized task.
specialized part of a cell that performs a specific function.
living or once-living thing.
organism that causes a disease, such as a virus.
to convince someone to do or believe something through reasoning or argumentation.
process by which plants turn water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide into water, oxygen, and simple sugars.
relating to organisms whose cells have no distinct nucleus.
one-celled organisms in the kingdom protista, such as amoebas. (singular: protozoan)
system where oxygen is taken into the body and an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place; in humans consisting especially of the nose and lungs.
distinctive relative size, extent, or degree.
having or consisting of a single cell (also referred to as unicellular).
group of similar organisms that can reproduce with each other.
system of organization.
system that is part of a larger system.
sign or indication of something.
collection of items or organisms that are linked and related, functioning as a whole.
cells that form a specific function in a living organism.
to pass along information or communicate.
having one cell.
animal that transmits a disease from one organism to another.
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Learn at Home: Grades 6-12
Fostering curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning, this curated collection of activities can be adapted for students in grades 6-12 in a remote learning environment. Explore the planet through interactives and short lessons or take a deeper dive into a subject area with a complete unit.
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Infectious Agents
People get sick when another organism, big or small, invades their body and infects them. These infectious agents come in all shapes and sizes, and all of them pose different threats to the human body. Some are microscopic, such as bacteria or viruses, which attack human bodies on the cellular level. Others are larger, like fungi, which are unicellular or multicellular organisms that grow on and feed off organic material, including humans. Finally, parasites such as tapeworms can find their way inside the human body and feed on blood and nutrients without killing their host. Learn more about infectious agents and their impact on human health with this curated resource collection.
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The Interconnected Systems of the Human Body
Students collaborate to reach a working definition of what counts as a system, using examples from everyday life. Students learn how the human body is organized into systems of multiple interacting subsystems through an infographic.
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Science 101: Human Body
How does the human body work? What roles do the digestive, reproductive, and other systems play? Learn about human anatomy and the complex processes that help your body function. This video contains depictions of the human body.
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Introduction to Microbes and Human Body Systems
Students build a stronger understanding of how the human body is organized and interacts with microbes through a series of articles and videos and by creating a human body microbial map. Then they create a public service announcement on a specific microbe.
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Learn at Home: Grades 6-12
Fostering curiosity and a passion for lifelong learning, this curated collection of activities can be adapted for students in grades 6-12 in a remote learning environment. Explore the planet through interactives and short lessons or take a deeper dive into a subject area with a complete unit.
-
Infectious Agents
People get sick when another organism, big or small, invades their body and infects them. These infectious agents come in all shapes and sizes, and all of them pose different threats to the human body. Some are microscopic, such as bacteria or viruses, which attack human bodies on the cellular level. Others are larger, like fungi, which are unicellular or multicellular organisms that grow on and feed off organic material, including humans. Finally, parasites such as tapeworms can find their way inside the human body and feed on blood and nutrients without killing their host. Learn more about infectious agents and their impact on human health with this curated resource collection.
-
The Interconnected Systems of the Human Body
Students collaborate to reach a working definition of what counts as a system, using examples from everyday life. Students learn how the human body is organized into systems of multiple interacting subsystems through an infographic.
-
Science 101: Human Body
How does the human body work? What roles do the digestive, reproductive, and other systems play? Learn about human anatomy and the complex processes that help your body function. This video contains depictions of the human body.
-
Introduction to Microbes and Human Body Systems
Students build a stronger understanding of how the human body is organized and interacts with microbes through a series of articles and videos and by creating a human body microbial map. Then they create a public service announcement on a specific microbe.