H1N1 discussion

Yesterday and today students discussed the articles they found on H1N1. Students worked in small groups to present their articles and practice active note taking. After each group member shared, the class came together to share key points from the discussion groups. There were several terms (such as pandemic, epidemic, immunization and virus) that were mentioned in most articles. To help explain these concepts students watched animations and video clips to further their understanding.

Click here to see the video from Discovery Science to see just how far germs from a cough can travel.

Click here to see the animation from UK NHS on the importance of immunization as a way to stop the spread of disease.

Click here to see the life cycle of a virus from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Below is the video clip we watched to explain the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic.


REMEMBER, YOU HAVE A TEST ON FRIDAY. SEE THE TOP SIDEBAR FOR DETAILS.

H1N1 Homework

Today in class we did the onion & cheek cell lab (see post below). For your next class period (G block is due Wednesday September 16th, F and D blocks this assignment is due Thursday September 17th), complete the following. Your assignment may either be typed or handwritten, however you may NOT email it to me.

1. Find an article on H1N1 (swine flu).
Places to look for articles include: Science Daily, TIME magazine, International Herald Tribune, and the BBC

2. Read it.

3. Write a summary IN YOUR OWN WORDS on the article.

4. Include a proper MLA citation for your article.
To cite a website write down the following information:

Author last name, author first name. "Title of the article." Name of the website. Year the article was published. Name of the organization. Date you read the article. The url for the website.

5. Be prepared to present your article to the class.

EXAMPLE FOR WHAT YOU NEED TO TURN IN.

Ms. Saxe
-- Period
15 September

Summary for

Swine Flu: To Panic Or Not -- That Is The Question

In an effort to clear up all the misinformation surrounding H1N1, Dr. Sutker, of Baylor University Medical Center, gave five overarching facts about swine flu. These facts included that swine flu IS treatable with Tamiflu and Relenza which one can get with a prescription. So far only 40 individuals in the U.S. have been diagnosed with swine flu, compared with 5-20% of the population that contracts influenza A/B each year. Lastly, "you can not get swine flu from eating pork products." In the second part of the article Dr. Sutker offered tips to prevent the spread of infection. These tips, such as frequent hand washing, covering your cough and seeing a doctor if you think you are infected, apply not only to swine flu but for all infectious diseases. Hopefully this information will clear up much of the panic about H1N1.

Citation: Baylor Health Care System. "Swine Flu: To Panic Or Not -- That Is The Question." ScienceDaily 30 April 2009. 15 September 2009 /releases/2009/04/090429144956.htm>.