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.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will understand the difference between diseases that can be spread by contact (communicable) and those that cannot (noncommunicable).

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

• define communicable disease. (a disease caused by pathogens that can be spread – cold, flu, strep throat, etc.)
• define noncommunicable diseases. (a disease that can not be spread from one person to another person – heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.)
• identify the primary causes of noncommunicable diseases. (genetics, diet, etc.)

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

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

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/
• Diet, Nutrition &Chronic Diseases – http://www.wiley.com/cda/product/0,,0471971332%7Cdesc%7C2699,00.html
• Do Bugs Need Drugs? - http://www.dobugsneeddrugs.org/teachers/index.html
• http://www.kidshealth.com
• Illness & Disease – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource (health & fitness 3-5)
• Learning About HIV; Prevention Infectious Disease - HealthTeacher.com – http://www.healthteacher.com
• Local Health Department
• 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
• 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 difference between diseases that can be spread by contact (communicable) and those that cannot (noncommunicable).
• identify a disease that has infected a large number of people, and determine whether it was a communicable or noncommunicable disease.

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