Causes of Illness

Grade Level & Curriculum Standards

Grade: 5th Grade

Curriculum Area: Health Education (US)
Topic Strand: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Standard Alignment:

• National Health Education Standards (NHES): Standard 1 - Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
• Substandard 1.5.3: Identify how bacteria, viruses, and other germs spread and contribute to illness.
• Substandard 1.5.5: Describe ways to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this 35-minute lesson, students will:

1. Understand what communicable (infectious) diseases are and identify their common causes (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites).
2. Learn how communicable diseases spread through different modes of transmission.
3. Develop practical prevention strategies to reduce the risk of spreading illnesses.

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Required Materials

• Chart paper or whiteboard
• Markers
• Prepared index cards with real-life scenarios (e.g., coughing without covering, sharing food, handwashing)
• Paper and colored pencils for creative activity
• A bottle of glitter, bowl of water, and soap for a "hands-on" activity
• Laminated visuals of germs (microscopic images of bacteria, viruses, etc.)

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Lesson Outline

1. Warm-Up Activity: Germ Detective Game (5 minutes)

Objective: Engage students and assess prior knowledge.

• Greet the class and introduce the topic by asking: "Who has ever had a cold? How do you think you caught it?"
• Write student responses on the board.
• Show laminated visuals of germs and explain, “These tiny creatures—too small to see without a microscope—are what make us sick. Scientists call them pathogens. Today we’ll learn how they spread and what we can do about it.”

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2. Mini-Lecture with Visuals: Spreading Germs (10 minutes)

Objective: Teach students the basic causes of communicable diseases and how they spread.

• Part A: What Are Communicable Diseases?
  Use simple, age-appropriate explanations like:

  • "Diseases like colds, flu, or even strep throat can spread from one person to another. That’s why they’re called communicable diseases!”
  • Explain the most common causes of communicable diseases:
    • Bacteria: Harmful germs that can grow fast, like in strep throat.
    • Viruses: Tiny particles that need our cells to live, like the flu.
    • Fungi and Parasites: (Briefly touch on these without too much complexity). Use examples like athlete’s foot for fungi.

• Part B: How Do Germs Spread?
  Introduce the modes of transmission with simple actions:

  • Direct Contact: Shaking hands
  • Indirect Contact: Touching a doorknob
  • Airborne: Coughing or sneezing
  • Through Contaminated Food or Water

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3. Hands-On Activity: Glitter Germs Experiment (10 minutes)

Objective: Demonstrate how germs spread and how handwashing helps prevent illness.

1. Setup:
   • Place water and soap in bowls at the front of the class.
   • Sprinkle glitter into the water and swirl it around (the glitter represents germs).
2. Instructions:
   • Have a few students dip their hands into the glitter water and shake hands with others (observe how it spreads).
   • Ask students to try washing glitter off with just water (some glitter remains, showing the importance of soap).
   • Finally, allow students to wash glitter off with soap and water.
3. Wrap up this activity by reinforcing: "This is why we wash our hands well—germs are like glitter. Soap gets rid of them so they don’t spread!”

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4. Group Brainstorm: Pop Quiz Scenarios (5 minutes)

Objective: Apply knowledge about disease prevention to real-life situations.

• Split the class into small groups.
• Pass an index card with scenarios to each group (e.g., "Your friend sneezes into their hands, then gives you a pencil. What should you do?").
• Groups discuss the best way to avoid spreading germs in their situation and share answers aloud. Encourage creative solutions!

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5. Wrap-Up: Prevention Poster (5 minutes)

Objective: Reinforce the lesson by creating visual reminders.

• Hand out blank paper and colored pencils.
• Students quickly draw a prevention tip they’ve learned today (e.g., handwashing, covering a sneeze with your elbow, not sharing food).
• Collect posters to display in the classroom or hallway!

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Key Points for Teacher to Emphasize

• Germs are the main causes of communicable diseases, and there are simple ways to stop them from spreading.
• Washing hands with soap, avoiding sharing personal items, and practicing good hygiene are key prevention strategies.
• Everyone has a part to play in keeping each other healthy.

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Assessment Methods

• Informal Assessment: Observation of participation during the Germ Detective Game and Glitter Germs Experiment.
• Group Activity Reflection: Evaluate the students’ ability to identify solutions from their Pop Quiz Scenarios.
• Creative Poster Activity: Ensure students’ posters reflect lesson objectives.

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Follow-Up or Homework

Ask students to observe their own hygiene habits and those of their family members at home tonight. Provide them with these prompts to think about:

• Did I wash my hands before eating?
• Did I cover my mouth when coughing or sneezing?
  Have them report back one improvement they or their family could make to stay healthier!

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Teacher's Note:

This lesson uses a hands-on approach designed to emphasize active learning and visual engagement. The Glitter Germs activity is particularly memorable and demonstrates concepts in a way students will retain! Fun and interactive, this lesson aligns perfectly with 5th-grade cognitive levels while preparing students with practical, life-long knowledge!