Understanding Communicable Diseases

Curriculum Area

Health Education, Grade 6
Aligned with the National Health Education Standards (NHES):

• Standard 1: Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
• Standard 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information and products to enhance health.

Lesson Objectives

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

1. Define what communicable diseases are.
2. Identify at least three causes of communicable diseases (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites).
3. Explain how communicable diseases spread.
4. Discuss personal hygiene and prevention strategies.

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Materials Needed

• Whiteboard or Smartboard
• Markers
• Printed worksheets (attached to teacher notes)
• A ball or soft beanbag for the "germ spread" activity
• Prepared index cards with examples of communicable diseases and their causes

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Lesson Structure

1. Welcome and Hook (5 minutes)

Begin with an engaging question to grab attention:

• “Have you ever had the flu or a cold? What do you think caused it?”

Using easy-to-understand terms, introduce the concept of communicable diseases. Write the definition on the board:
“A communicable disease is an illness that can spread from one person to another, or from animals and the environment to humans.”

Pass the ball or beanbag and ask three students to share any illnesses they’ve heard about. Write down their responses.

Transition to the next section:

"We’re going to explore what causes these illnesses and how they spread."

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2. Causes of Communicable Diseases (10 minutes)

Step 1: Categorization Activity (6 minutes)

1. Divide the class into 4 small groups (6-7 students each).
2. Distribute prepared index cards with examples of communicable diseases (e.g., flu, athlete’s foot, food poisoning) and their causes (e.g., viruses, fungi, bacteria, parasites).
3. Challenge each group to match their diseases to the correct cause category using the whiteboard. Each cause will have its own column (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites).

Teacher Clarification:

After groups have matched their cards, briefly explain:

• Bacteria cause illnesses like strep throat.
• Viruses spread colds, flu, or chickenpox.
• Fungi cause infections like athlete’s foot or ringworm.
• Parasites can cause diseases like lice or malaria.

Make connections to personal experiences (e.g., "Has anyone heard about people getting the flu shot to prevent a virus?").

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3. How Diseases Spread (8 minutes)

Interactive Exercise: Germ Simulation

1. Have all students stand in a large circle.
2. Explain that you’ll use the ball/beanbag as a "germ."
3. Toss the ball to one student, saying, "You sneezed but didn’t cover your mouth, so now you’ve passed germs to your friend."
4. That student then tosses the ball to another, narrating how germs continue to spread (e.g., “You touched your nose and then touched the doorknob!”).
5. After several tosses, ask:
   • "How quickly did the germs spread?"
   • "What could we have done to stop the spread?"

Wrap-Up Discussion (2 minutes):

Write the main ways diseases spread on the board:

1. Through the air (sneezing/coughing).
2. Through contact with contaminated surfaces.
3. Through direct contact with people who are infected.

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4. Prevention Strategies (7 minutes)

Teacher-Led Discussion:

Highlight personal hygiene practices that reduce the spread of communicable diseases:

1. Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
2. Covering sneezes/coughs with the elbow.
3. Avoiding sharing personal items like water bottles.
4. Staying home when sick.
5. Taking vaccines when available.

Quick Practice: The 20-Second Wash (2 minutes)

• Have students practice washing hands as a class by rubbing their hands together and “washing” for 20 seconds, counting aloud while humming the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

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Wrap-Up and Exit Ticket (5 minutes)

Recap Key Points

Ask the class:

1. What are communicable diseases?
2. Name one cause of communicable diseases.
3. How do they spread?
4. Share one way to prevent germ spread.

Exit Ticket

As students leave, hand each a sticky note and ask them to:

• Write down one new fact they learned today about communicable diseases.

Have them place their notes on a designated "health wall" as they exit.

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Assessment of Learning

• Participation in the group categorization activity.
• Responses during the germ simulation and discussion.
• Exit ticket responses to confirm understanding.

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Teacher Reflection

• Were students engaged during activities?
• Did they demonstrate an understanding of causes, spread, and prevention strategies?
• How might the lesson be adjusted for even more active participation next time?