Bacteria:

Wanted DEAD Not Alive

A WebQuest for High School Biology
Designed by
J. Hadyk

Streptococcus bacteria

Picture courtesy of American Museum of Natural History exhibit

Introduction

Little Johnny is beginning to feel a little sick. His throat is sore and scratchy, his head is throbbing, and he has the chills. Yeah! Hooray! This means he gets to stay home from school, but it also means he has to visit the dreaded doctor (oh no!) That horrible person who sticks cold metal instruments in his ears and up his nose, and don’t forget trying to gag him with a big Q-tip. Then, he is told that he has strep throat. What is strep throat? Where does it come from? Can you die from it?

These are the types of questions you will have to answer. In this assignment you will research a bacterial or parasitic infection and you will share the information that you find with the students in the class.

The Task

You are now a first year medical student at AAAA-CHOOO University. You need to specialize in the research of a bacterial or parasitic disease. Once you have completed your research you must compile your information on a “wanted poster” to display in the hospital hallways for the benefit of the unknowing public. You will also have to present your findings to a group of fellow medical students.

Process

You will choose a bacterial or parasitic disease by browsing through the general websites and finding one that peaks your interest. Then you must have this topic approved by the supervising doctor (a.k.a… the teacher).

Once you have chosen a bacterial disease, you must research it in great detail. The information you find can be organized into the following categories: cause, symptoms, treatment methods, who does the disease affect, survival rates, etc…

Any information that you collect must be documented as hand written notes.

This specific information will then be organized into a “Wanted Poster”. The poster will explain that the bacteria or parasite is wanted dead, not alive. The wanted poster needs to include some kind of graphic (preferably a picture or a drawing), a description of the bacteria or parasite, and all of the categories listed above. The information should be clear, concise, and well organized ( so you don’t have to be an M.D or a PhD to understand it)

You must include a bibliography that consists of at least 5 sources listed in the appropriate format! If you do not include a bibliography you will not receive credit for the assignment.

Stay on task, it is easy to become sidetracked

Be prepared to answer questions from the supervising doctor as well as your fellow medical students.

Resources

You can use both written and web sources

Web Sources

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/

http://www.zen.co.uk/home/page/nchadd/infect.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/diptheria_t.htm

http://www.doh.wa.gov/topics/bruce.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/

http://www.sciam.com/1998/0398issue/0398levy.html

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dastlr/gcdir/Index.html

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/795_antibio.html

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/dmid/bacteria/

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html

http://ponderosa-pine.uoregon.edu/students/Janis/menu.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/11170/epidemics/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/index.htm

http://www.nfid.org/factsheets/

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/campylobacter.html

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/clostridium.html

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/h_pylori.html

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/rocky.html

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/shigellosis.html

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/brucellosis_g.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/hansens_t.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/leptospirosis_g.htm

http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Para_Health.htm

http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Para_Health.htm

http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Para_Health.htm

http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Image_Library.htm

http://www.umdnj.edu/~ntbcweb/tiddiag.htm

http://www.anti-parasite.com/parasit.html

http://www.anti-parasite.com/wrmsflks.html

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/epidemic/section_09/index.html

Non Web Sources:

Bunch, Bryan. Ed. Diseases. Vol. 1-8. Scientific Publishing: Grolier Educational. 1997

Burkow, Robert. Merck Manual of Medical Information. New York: Simon and Schuster Pocket Books. 1997

Cahill, Matthew. Ed. Professional Guide to Diseases. 6^th edition. Springhouse: Springhouse Corp. 1998

Komafoff, Anthony. Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. New York: Simon and Schuster. 1999

Ed. Good Housekeeping Family Health and Medical Guide. U.S.A: Hearst Corporation. 1979

Evaluation

This assignment is worth 60 points. You will be graded on your hand written notes, a bibliography/work cited, your wanted poster, and your presentation to the class. The following are the rubrics for this project:

Content Rubric

Attractiveness Rubric

Conclusion

After you are finished with your research, the presentation of your findings, and the sharing of information with your colleagues you should be able to:

Identify types of bacteria and/or parasites
Describe how they interact with their host
Determine some of the symptoms the diseases have in common
Explain the role diseases have in society and how they can be treated and prevented

Credits and References

Remember your research must be well documented. If the format for a bibliography has slipped your mind refer to

http://www.apa-mla.com/formats/mlapage.html

http://www.hccs.cc.tx.us/system/library/TipSheets/MLA.html

Remember to thank anyone who has helped you with this project, although the majority of the work should have been completed individually.