Standard of Learning

4.4   The student will demonstrate an understanding of health concepts and behaviors that prevent illness and disease. Key concepts/skills include

1. the body's defenses;
2. the spread of germs (viruses, bacteria, and fungi);
3. the difference between communicable and non-communicable diseases;
4. the importance of early detection of health problems;
5. the role of regular physical activity, nutrition, and healthy choices.

<< Back to Index

Understanding the Standard

The student will understand what viruses, bacteria, and fungi are and how to prevent the spread of these germs.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• define a pathogen. (a germ that causes diseases – there are five different types of pathogens)
• list the three most common types of pathogens:
• bacteria; (a one-celled living thing)
• virus; (a pathogen that makes copies of itself) and
• fungus. (a plant-like living thing)
• describe how you can prevent the spread of these germs:
• stay away from someone who has an illness that can be spread;
• do not touch anything that person has touched;
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water;
• cover sneezes or coughs; and
• keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Sample Lessons

An Ounce of Prevention
Provides information on some simple things individuals can do to prevent getting sick. Background information on infectious diseases, personal hygiene, taking care of pets, antibiotic use, food borne illness and immunizations are also provided.
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Contact: http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention/
Free

Be a Germstopper
Encourages healthy habits to prevent the spread of illness in schools and at home. Provides links and resources for teachers on food safety, hand washing, the flu and nutrition.
Sponsor: CDC
Contact: http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/index.htm
Free

Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases
Lesson plan for students to apply the information they learn about the immune system, germs, and diseases to a physical activity in which the object is to select the correct method of treating an illness.
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Health
Diseases.pdf
Free

Fun with Handwashing Education
Aimed at preschoolers to grade 4, this lesson plan involves primary prevention of contagious diseases includes teaching young children and their caregivers about personal hygiene behaviors. There are five key times to wash hands with soap and water: before eating, after sneezing or coughing, after playing outdoors, after playing with pets, and after using the toilet. This lesson presents a variety of fun and low-cost techniques for handwashing education. This lesson is taught in two 30-45 minute sessions.
Contact: The Educator's Reference Desk
Contact: http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Process_Skills/HPS0200.html
Free

Glo Germ
Hand washing lesson plan that teaches about disease transmission, germs and how frequent hand washing helps to prevent illness.
Sponsor: Glo Germ
Contact: http://www.glogerm.com
Free

Hand Washing Experiment/Data Collection
Students develop skills in scientific reasoning and data interpretation that will support them in making health-conscious choices.
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Health
Hand_Washing_Experiment.pdf
Free

Oral Health Education: Saving Smiles Series- “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body”
Grades:  4 & 5
Lesson Plan (1) Identify the components of a balanced meal and describe carbohydrates and their impact on oral health. (SOL 4.1b, d ; 5.2b)
Lesson Plan (2) Develop an awareness of community health resources available (SOL 4.5a,b ; 4.6a ; 5.4a,b ; 5.5c,d,e,f)
Lesson Plan (3) Describe the causes of dental diseases including the role of bacterial plaque, and describe how dental diseases can be
prevented. (SOL 4.4b,d ; 5.2a)
Lesson Plan (4) Identify laws related to the purchase of tobacco products and describe the effects of tobacco on oral health and the body. (SOL 4.4b,d ; 5.2a) 
Sponsor: Virginia Department of Health, Division of Dental Health
Contact:  http://www.vahealth.org/dental/oralhealtheducation/index.htm (curriculum resources)
Free

Stalking the Mysterious Microbe
Interactive Web site with information about microbes, what they are and where they live. Interesting facts, activities, and general information to teach about microbes.
Sponsor: American Society for Microbiology
Contact: http://www.microbe.org/index.html
Free

Texas Department of Health
This lesson will help children recognize that personal health decisions and behaviors affect health throughout life. Following this lesson students will be able to identify and practice personal health habits that help individuals stay healthy. Sponsor: Texas Department of Health
Contact: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/kids/lessonplans/default.shtm
Free

Additional Instructional Resources

• American Museum of Natural History - http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/infection/
• Do Bugs Need Drugs? - http://www.dobugsneeddrugs.org/teachers/index.html
• Hand Washing – http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/Subjects/eatsmart/handwa~1.htm
• Health Departments
• Illness & Disease – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/health.htm (health & fitness 3-5)
• Local Health Department
• http://www.kidshealth.com
• PBS Antibiotic Resistance - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/survival/clock/index.html and http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/10/4/l_104_03.html
• Preventing Infectious Illness - HealthTeacher.com – http://www.healthteacher.com
• Save the Antibiotic - http://www.savetheantibiotic.com/public_html/index2/index2.html
• School Nurse
• Virginia Department of Health – Antibiotic Worksheets -Antibiotic_Worksheets.pdf
• Virginia Department of Health – Antibiotic Pretest - Antibiotic_Pretest.pdf
• Virtual Museum of Bacteria - http://bacteriamuseum.org/

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

• explain the three most common pathogens.
• describe how pathogens/germs are spread.

TOP...