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Sick Day Lab
An infectious disease is any disease caused by germs that can be spread from one person
to another. Germs include viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Scientists call these germs
pathogens. The body has a defense system to keep pathogens from infecting. The defense
system is split into two categories called non-specific and specific response. Non-specific
includes your skin, eyelashes, and mucus that keep germs from getting inside your body.
Once the germs have broken the first barrier, they encounter specific response. This
includes cells that look for a destroy germs.
1) What are some infectious diseases?
2) What are some diseases that are not infectious?
The activity we will be doing today will simulate the spread of a bacterium that causes
the common cold. A simulation is a simplified demonstration of how an infectious
disease can spread through a population. Our simulation will show how one sick student
can spread their bacteria and infect other students, who then become sick.
Instructions:
1. You will receive a cup filled with a clear solution. This solution represents your body
and any bacteria you may be carrying. One person in the class will have a cup that is
“infected”, this person will be our sick student who comes to school and spreads their
bacteria.
Do not drink from the cup! (In Laboratory activities you should never drink of eat
anything unless your teacher tells you that it is sage to do so.)
2. Once you have your cup, you will interact with two other students. Follow these steps:
a. You are interacting with ___________________________ (name). Pour all of
your solution into your partner’s cup, and then have your partner pour all the mixed
solution back into your empty cup. Finally, pour half the mixed solution back into your
partner’s empty cup. You should have equal amounts in each cup, and the same amount
you started with.
b. When told to, switch partners and repeat the steps above. You are interacting
with _________________ (name).
After you have finished return to your seat and wait as the teacher reveals how many
students are infected.
3) Estimate how many people you think will be infected. ______________
3. An “infection indicator” will be put into each of your cups; solutions that turn red have
been infected with the bacteria.
4. Fill out the information bellow about the infected individuals:
4) How many students where infected? ______________
5) Who was infected?
6) Who was originally carrying the bacteria?
5. With a new cup, repeat the directions in set two. Remember to record in order the
people you interact with.
First interaction: _______________________
Second interaction: _____________________
Third interaction: ________________________
6. Once the “infection indicator” is added complete the questions:
7) How many students were infected? _______________
8) Who was infected?
9) Who was the originally carrying the bacteria?
7. Clean off your tables. Make sure all the solution has been collected and poured down
the drain.
Discussion Questions
10) What are some ways that infectious diseases are transmitted from one person to
another?
11) What are some ways you can prevent the spread of an infectious disease?
12) Some diseases require person-to-person contact while others are transmitted through
air. How might these differences affect the amount of people the disease can infect?
13) In our simulation disease spread was rapid, people who came in contact with an
infected individual immediately became infected and showed signs (solution turned red).
In real life, infections do not spread or show signs as rapidly, why is this?
14) In addition to exposure to germs and pathogens, what other factors influence the risk
of getting an infectious disease? What defenses does your body have that can prevent you
from getting sick, even when you have been exposed to germs?