Investigating Diseases

You might think that this investigation is too difficult for 7th grade students but, as you know, they surprise us every day.  And they are so computer savy!  How long will it take?  We are on a block schedule so half a block (40 minutes) to introduce, explain and draw numbers to decide who gets to pick first out of the list of diseases (see attached file under "Resources").  Then, 2 more blocks on the computers.  If they need more time they would have to do it outside of class.  The presentation schedule should be no later than 2 weeks after the initial introduction.  I would say between 5-7 presentations per block.  More than that and the students get bored and the teacher mentally tired.  As with the choosing of diseases, there should be a drawing to determine who gets to pick their presentation date first.

You might be wondering why I mention the presentation maybe shown to persons with limited English.  It is a way to get them to use images and not just write words on a power point slide.  I feel power point was meant to convey pictures that we then talk about and not words just thrown up on a screen.

 The 7th grade science standard for this is;  "The student will demonstrate an understanding of the functions and interconnections of the major human body systems, including the breakdown in structure or function that disease causes."

The indicator is;  "Explain the effects of disease on the major organs and body systems (including infectious diseases such as colds and flu, AIDS, and athlete’s foot and noninfectious diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, and skin cancer)."

Standards and indicators found by clicking 7th grade at http://www.dodea.edu/curriculum/science.cfm?cId=stn&stndId=sci