immune system virtual lab middle school

Youll need the heavy white paper for your antibodies. Because viruses contain genetic material, they are capable of mutating and evolving over time. It is best to let students choose their own cups of "bodily fluids" at the beginning of the simulation, rather than handing them out. On a grander scale, the game gives them a deeper appreciation of their bodies. The game is a competition between two teams, in which students on one team represent an invading source of infection (antigens), and students from the other team are members of the human immune system (skin, white blood cells and antibodies). The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Students can dive into the pandemic of 2020 and relate the information learned in this activity to how COVID-19 spread so quickly. Rather than learning through textbook diagrams and direct instruction, students actively engage in and develop a model of how each component interacts with the other to protect the body from invasion and illness. Lesson 1 is useful to introduce the space aspect of this lesson, as well as Lesson 5 (or previous knowledge) about the functions of blood. 'Ready, set, infect!' is a role-playing game for middle-school science classrooms (ages 11-14). However, antibiotics can lose their effectiveness if the bacteria mutates into a new strain that differs from that which the medicine was not intended to destroy. There are different types of white blood cells that each carry out a different function. Leukocytes also can be found in bone marrow, which is a thick, spongy jelly inside your bones. Have each student walk around the room and find a student who can define one vocabulary term. 0338326). When the real pathogens attack, our body is already prepared and can quickly react and neutralize the invaders. For any other use, please contact Science Buddies. All ideas should be respectfully heard. Explain how a virus replicates itself once it attaches to a host cell. When you become sick, your body is not able to do everything that it can when it is healthy. If they completed this during the lesson, you can skip this. To learn more about the immune system, watch Our Amazing Immune System (video, 8:40) or listen to The Drama of the Immune System (podcast, 13:11), both created by the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. Cell communication is a multi-step process. The accompanying worksheets guide students exploration. Have students research common vaccinations and make recommendations for which vaccinations would be important for astronauts before they go into space. If students choose their own cups, the teacher cannot be accused of intentionally giving a student an "infected" cup. antibody, antigen, autoimmune disease, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), humoral immunity, infection, laboratory technique, lupus, screening. B cell: A cell that matures in the bone marrow and secretes millions of specific antibodies that are tuned in to kill a certain germ. In response, the bodys immune system launches a cascade of complex processes that end up with the antigen from the outside invader binding with a matching antibody. 2. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) destroys T cells, leaving the body extremely susceptible to opportunistic infections (caused by malnutrition, chemotherapy, etc.) Highlights developmentally appropriate, inclusive, & family focused approaches. 5.0 (1) $2.99. It produces T-cells and plays an important role in the early development of the immune system. Engineers design the equipment used for collecting and measuring the immunity of astronauts. Use argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells. "Disease Detectives," a National Geographic (June 1991) article that describes physician John Snow's classic work in London to discover the source of a cholera outbreak in the mid-1800s. Explore how your immune system seeks out and disables pathogensand prepares your body for future attacks. This is why it is important that students do not know who their matching antigen or antibody is before the start of the game. Because the unique Y-shape of the antibody creates two binding sites for antigens, multiple antigens and antibodies can clump together, creating globs of cells called agglutinations. Produce the rack of test tubes, and show how they are numbered to correspond to the cups that were used. They are divided into B cells (mature in the bone marrow) and T cells (mature in the thymus). Explore how your immune system seeks out and disables pathogens and prepares your body for future attacks. Use of the TeachEngineering digital library and this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Plasma cells produce and release millions of antibodies into the bloodstream and lymphatic system. The spleen filters the bloodlooking for foreign cells and red blood cells that need to be replaced. Students can also use their model to argue whether or not a hypothetical patients blood test shows evidence of an immune response. Thanks for your feedback! Unfortunately, the excitement of the chase does not easily translate onto the written page of a science textbook. What percent of the class was infected originally, before exchanging the fluids? Biomedical engineers and epidemiologists must understand how a virus infects the cells in our bodies and how our immune system reacts to the invasion in order to create vaccinations, protective devices, and procedures to keep us safe. Learn Genetics: University of Utah's Learn Genetics site is great for all things genetics. Units serve as guides to a particular content or subject area. At the elementary level, having students gain a basic understanding of how our body uses antibodies to protect us from viruses would provide sufficient depth of study, while at the same time engaging students in an interesting topic. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Why is it usually not possible to determine exactly who the originally infected persons were in a situation like this? Students learn about the chambers and valves of the heart, the difference between veins and arteries, and the different components of blood. The white blood cell indefatigably chases the invader until the cell reaches its goal of ingesting and then spitting out the villain. Typically, at least two-thirds of the class will have become infected during the exchange process. A newly made HIV virus is shown in this photomicrograph, immediately after being released from the infected immune cell just below it.copyrightCopyright NIH. The human body's bone marrow produces new red and white blood cells. The immune system is the group of organs and tissues that protects the human body from outside germs and harmful things (see Figure 1). (function(jQuery) { Chemical engineers develop vaccinations and antibiotics that help our immune systems fight some of the most threatening germs. By learning about the immune system, you will understand how your body protects itself and in what ways it can fail. Tonsils, adenoids, Peyer's patches and the appendix are all lymphoid tissues. and funded by EIROforum. How do engineers help our immune systems stay healthy? We are all constantly exposed to microorganisms, some of which can make us sick. Build a Digestive System Maze. Play the game as described above for about 45 minutes. 20 Identifying Organs of the Immune System Virtual Lab 21 ELSIA Virtual Lab 22 Mouse Dissection Laboratory 23 ELISA Laboratory 24 Quiz 5 - Immune System: Assays . Can an antibody connect to more than one type of antigen? The human body and the way we fight off infections is fascinating! It can show whether a patient has antibodies related to certain diseases, making it useful for medical diagnoses. (Grades Mechanical damage (such as broken bones and torn ligaments), vitamin deficiency (such as anemia if you do not get enough iron), organ decay, genetic disease and cancer are examples of a "sick" body. Students will examine the function of the muscular system as they dissect and manipulate a chicken wing. Introduction: Begin with a discussion of how epidemics begin, and how they spread. This activity and its extensions are focused on the crosscutting conceptsof systems and system models, structure and function, and cause and effect. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Designed for child and youth professionals across all roles and functions, the VLS provides evidenced-based content, demonstration videos, and practical tools to facilitate . The Vaccine Research Extension worksheet guides students through an optional research project on vaccines. Trace cutout shapes onto colored paper and cut along the traced lines to maketwo of each antigen using one color of paper per antigen. pathogen: Biological agent that can cause disease in the body. This hijacked cell either dies and bursts, freeing new virus particles, or splits off the viral particles (see Figure 3). Antigens (represented by the colored shapes) are proteins found on the surface of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, and other foreign invaders to the body. List several invaders of the immune system, including viruses and bacteria. }); Virtual labs are a great tool to try if you have computer access. Pathogens include harmful bacteria (like Salmonella or E. coli that cause food poisoning), microscopic fungi, viruses (ranging from measles to the flu), and more. A life science curriculum aims to teach students about the diverse life forms found throughout the world. technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards. While bacteria often grow in the fluids between your cells, and can reproduce and spread through the body via the bloodstream, viruses have a different strategy. 4.6. Attach as many antibodies to antigens as you can, and notice that eventually all the antigens become trapped in interconnected groups. (Grades Bacteria are tiny independent creatures that roam around inside our bodies, while viruses invade our healthy cells to multiply since they are not alive. No rights are granted to use HHMIs or BioInteractives names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works. Before a longer mission, such as a flight to Mars, could be safely attempted, a lot of research needs to be done. Another issue is when the immune system attacks foreign organ and tissue transplants, which it does not recognize as "safe" and so tries to get rid of. 5), Have you ever been sick or had a cold? Put a drop of lotion on your hands and rub them together to spread the lotion out evenly. Have students investigate allergies and how the immune system responds to them. It also allows students to develop a more complex conceptual model of how cells, chemicals and infecting agents interact simultaneously in the immune system. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. If they are right, they pass the card on to another team. The Google Drive folder is set as View Only; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File Make a copy. These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the Details section below, including crediting BioInteractive. Ask the students: Idea Web: Ask students to brainstorm a list of dangers to the body's immune system. Have a student volunteer put a drop of phenolphthalein in each test tube, and students will then be able to see how close they got to determining the original sources of the virus. At the middle school level, students should begin to view the body as a system, in which parts do things for other parts and for the organism as a whole. Review their answers to gauge their mastery of the subject. Bacteria.copyrightCopyright Oak Ridge National Laboratories http://www.ornl.gov/info/ ornlreview/v37_3_04/images/a02_bacteria_full.jpg, Figure 3. The Muscular System Inquiry Lab includes a brief reading passage, comprehension checks, hands-on . Describe the type of work that epidemiologists do. Ensure they use evidence to support their argument. The Internet has become an important source of medical information for people today. As an extension to the game, students can research the viruses labelled on the antigen cards to discover more about their pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and epidemiology. You can do this activity either in small groups using the tabletop templates as explained above, or with the whole class using the full-sized templates. Cut out the five antibody templates from your printouts. After this lesson, students should be able to: Describe the basic functions of the immune system. 5), Describe how a subsystem is a system that operates as part of another, larger system. Once the game has finished, have a brief discussion with students to ascertain what they learned or observed as a result of playing the game. Our tax ID #: 94-1696494, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, tabletop-sized Antigen and Antibody templates, Five sheets of cardstock or construction paper, each in a different color (so one sheet of green paper, one of yellow, one of blue, one of orange, and one of purple, for instance), Five pieces of white cardstock or construction paper (or two pieces, if using the tabletop templates), An open space to work, such as a large table or on the floor, Optional: Masking tape (to hold down the templates if they move around while youre tracing). No rights are granted to use HHMIs or BioInteractives names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works. For each scenario you will identify and select the cells that are . Once they get going, it may be easy at first to eliminate students who could not have been the initially infected ones, but it will then become more difficult. One example of an impaired immune system is the existence of allergieswhen the immune system reacts to an allergen (such as pollen, dust, animal fur, certain food, etc.) Then explain that you can test for the presence of the virus using the same chemical indicator as before. The activity can be easily carried out but the teacher should make sure that students dont run around or push each other violently. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license, 2 types of testing look for COVID-19 infections new and old, Maternal Microbiota Impacts Offspring Immune System, Microbes from Mom: Vaginal Birth vs. C-Section, Targeting Infected Cells for Immune Defense. In "Journey into DNA," zoom in to 15 different levels to see DNA's relationship to a human, beginning with the body and ending with the atoms that make . They also learn how an astronaut's immune system is suppressed during spaceflight due to stres Students learn about mutations to both DNA and chromosomes, and uncontrolled changes to the genetic code. Figure 1. (Grades Thanks for your feedback! In the small intestine, other digestive juices from the pancreas and the liver are added. Collagen is manufactured in different cells and places within the body but fibroblasts are the most common collagen-creating cells in the human body. Some hormones (tymosin) encourage lymphocyte production, while others (steroids and corticosteroids) suppress the immune system. What do you notice about the antigens? They will probably realize they need one or two students at the board to lead the discussion and record information as they go along. What does your body do when you are sick? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Medical professionals use sterilizing equipment to ensure their utensils and "tools of the trade" are clean and will not infect patients with bacteria and viruses. that would not normally kill a person not infected with the virus. It is the group of organs and tissues that act as the human body's defense against foreign particles that want to enter the body. As the narrator, the teacher should commentate on the action (e.g. Have students raise their hands to respond. Have students explain their approach to determining who the original infected persons were. All rights reserved. Pour some of the remaining solution into three of the test tubes whose numbers correspond with the cups, so that each test tube holds about an inch of solution. An online life science course teaches students using video instruction led by experienced teachers. Since 1994, CELLS alive! These subsystems are groups of cells that work together to form tissues and organs that are specialized for particular body functions. Through rich graphics, animations, interactive tools, and virtual labs . Write their ideas on the board. Dont miss the entire Human Anatomy and Physiology series from The Homeschool Scientist. Bacteria are simple, completely independent, single-celled organisms that are able to eat and reproduce (think of them as fish swimming through your body). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the NSF, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government. Your immune system responds quickly when your body is threatened by potentially dangerous foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. Engineers also design cleaning agents and disinfectants to kill germs in our houses. This is an interesting video on natural killer cells. Inside the body, the major components of the immune system are the thymus, spleen, lymph system, bone marrow, white blood cells, antibodies, complement system and hormones. It acts as a defense against foreign pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses and parasites), protects against some poisons and suppresses cancer cells. Fill the other cups about one-quarter full with water. Supporting STEM teachers in inspiring their students and fostering positive attitudes towards the science To ensure safety, no running is permitted during the activity. If a foreign body penetrates this outer barrier, the immune system tries to detect and eliminate it before it can multiply. Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems. Participation in this program has provided me the . When all students have their cups and are ready to begin exchanging fluids, make sure they are on their feet, and encourage them to walk around the room and not just exchange with those right next to them. that shapes our lives. In one study of middle and high school students in New York, over half showed almost no understanding of the biological concepts of virus, infection, and the immune system. HIV virus budding out of a human immune cell.copyrightCopyright National Institutes of Health http://aidshistory.nih.gov/discovery_of_HIV/images/budding.gif. A vaccine is the injection into your body of a weakened form of a specific disease so that your immune system builds up antibodies and is able to defend against it (before you become infected with a strong form of the disease). (Grade This adaptation examines the impact of online media on the opinions of pregnant women and healthcare providers about two maternal vaccines: whooping cough (pertussis) and the flu (influenza).Most pertussis articles used real-life cases and focused on protecting the baby, while influenza articles focused on . Each student should then find a different classmate to exchange liquids with, and record the cup number corresponding to this second exchange. They have also created (and improved upon existing) cleaning agents and disinfectants to help kill germs in your house before they invade your body. Vaccines are developed by using bits of damaged virus (often just the outer coating, without any internal genetic material) that contain viral antigens but cannot make us sick. *The NGSS logo is a registered trademark of WestEd. Adaptive immunity. Explain why the HIV virus is unique and not readily eliminated by the immune system. This Snack models how your body develops immunity to foreign invaders by producing antibodies that attack them. adaptive immune response, antibody, antigen, B cell, cytokine, dendritic cell, innate immune response, pathogen, T cell, vaccine. This joining takes place in the lymph nodes, on the surface of a specialized immune cell called a B cell. Mechanical digestion also occurs in the stomach due to the churning motion. National Institute of Health, Word on Health, October 2000, "Stress and Disease," http://www.nih.gov/news/WordonHealth/oct2000/stressfigure.htm, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. The article introduces the immune system using a role-playing game, in which students are either antigens, antibodies or white blood cells. Number the test tubes in the same way. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that circulates in the lymph and blood, searching for foreign bodies to destroy. This lining provides a physical barrier to help block germs from entering the body. With your hands over a sink or large bucket, have your helper put a pinch of glitter in the palm of one of your hands. Skin (or mucus or cilia): skin is an effective barrier to the entry of micro-organisms, while cilia, tears, sweat, saliva, mucus and earwax trap or wash micro-organisms away. COVID-19 Learning Note: The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has not previously been introduced to the human population, so no one in the world has prior immunity to it. jQuery(document).ready(init); (Example answers: Fever, vomit, sneeze, cough to get rid of germs, etc.). Immune System Virtual Lab Webquest Created by Biology Minds Students explore the immune system and vaccines in this virtual lab webquest. When youre done, you should have two green copies of Antigen A, for instance, two yellow copies of Antigen B, two blue copies of Antigen C, and so on. In this simulation, you'll play the part of a pathogen and try to establish an infectious colony within a human body. It also includes supplementary resources, such as a glossary of scientific terms. Once all teams have tested themselves on all the flashcards, clarify any questions. The lymph system extends throughout the body, similar to the way blood vessels do (except no pump, such as the heart, is involved). (Answers will vary depending on the solutions.). Describe the purpose, procedure, and potential limitations of an ELISA. Have students return to their seats with their index cards and cups of water. The human immune system reacts quickly when a virus invades the body, shown in Figure 2 below. The oxygen is moved around the body through the circulatory system and delivered to tissues where it is needed. The small intestine is the longest part of the digestive system, and most of the nutrients are absorbed here. Encourage wild ideas and discourage criticism of ideas. A good site for common childhood vaccines is: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5451-Immunizationa1.htm?s_cid=mm5451-Immunizationa1_e. Completing a lab is a great way for your students to become further familiar with the components of the immune system. Younger students will walk away with new knowledge if an activity may appear above grade level.

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