Lesson 3: Disease-Causing Microbes

Grade 5-9 (health, science and social studies)
Grade 10-12 (health, science and social studies)

Topic: Disease-causing microbes in water.

Time: 60 minutes

Space Requirement: Regular classroom

Methodology: Learning centres, jigsaw, cooperative learning and poster making

Materials:

• Fact sheets
• Question sheets
• Blank tables
• Poster materials
• 5 different coloured pins (one for each disease, 20 of each colour)
• Large world map

Objectives: The students will investigate five common diseases that can be transmitted by water by becoming the experts on a particular disease. Each learning centre will have information to read and questions to answer. After learning about the disease, each group of students will present their information so that the whole class can learn about the disease. The groups will also make a poster to hang in the classroom about their particular disease.

For the Teacher: Fact sheets for all five types of contamination (Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Hepatitis A, and Shigella) are available on the Safe Drinking Water Foundation website (www.safewater.org) or by following the links below. There are two versions for each disease. The elementary and middle years grades should use the simple versions of the fact sheets, which are less detailed but have same information. In terms of the water treatment questions, the teacher should read the detailed version of the disease because there is more information on water source treatment.

Directions/Procedure:

1. Set up the classroom into five learning centres. Each centre should have the following items:
   a. An information sheet (fact sheet on the disease).
   b. A diagram of the disease (virus or bacteria), treatment options, world distribution.
   c. Large pieces of construction paper (for posters).
   d. Markers, glue and scissors.
    
2. Divide the students into five groups and assign the groups to one of five centres. Have the students within the groups assign roles for reading, poster assembly, class presentation, and any other jobs. (5 min)
    
3. At each centre, the students must answer the questions in order to speak about the disease and they must fill in the table. The questions and table are found below. (15 min)
    
4. Students work together to create a poster about the disease. The poster should include: (20 min)
   a. Facts about the disease, such as the name of the bacteria or virus that causes it and the type of organism that causes it.
   b. Symptoms of the disease, as well as how long it lasts, method of transmission, animal responsible for transmission (high school only), any other diseases (and symptoms) that are associated with it (high school only).
   c. Prevalence in the world as well as any recent outbreaks (each of the diseases is found in every country, with the Arctic and Antarctic as the only exceptions).
   d. How it can be removed from the water supply (may include a diagram of the process).
   e. Pictures of the disease organism, life cycle if applicable (high school only).
    
5. Once finished, students have up to five minutes to present their disease. They should be considered experts on the disease and field questions from their classmates. If the poster making process is lengthy, have the students present the next day. Before the presentations begin, hand out copies of the blank table to each student, so that they can fill in the details of the other groups’ presentations. The students are responsible for completing the table and must fill in answers either from the presentation or from the posters. (20 min)
    
6. On a large world map, put one pin in each country known to have cases of each of the 5 diseases. The map is for dramatic effect. The students will see the map covered with pins.

Evaluation: Although there is no formal evaluation for the lesson or unit, how the students work in groups and the quality of the posters prepared can be used as formative assessment. Also the students can be evaluated on the accuracy of their tables (amount completed, proper information) and the answers to the questions for their particular disease.

Resources: Follow the links for fact sheets to use for each learning centre. The detailed fact sheets are intended for high school classrooms.

Campylobacter
Cryptosporidium
Escherichia Coli
Hepatitis A
Shigella

Detailed Campylobacter
Detailed Cryptosporidium
Detailed Escherichia Coli
Detailed Hepatitis A
Detailed Shigella

The following resources and handouts are found below:
- Waterborne Diseases Blank Chart
- Waterborne Diseases Completed Chart
- Sample Poster (Not completed; use as a guide)
- Elementary/ Middle Years Questions
- High School Questions

Extension Activity: The Safe Drinking Water Foundation has other educational programs that can be taught with this set of lessons. Operation Water Drop examines the chemical contaminants that can be found in water; this program is designed for a science class. Operation Water Flow explores the use of water and where it comes from; this program is designed for a Social studies and Math collaboration. Operation Water Spirit presents a First Nations perspective of water and water issues and is designed for a Native Studies or Social Studies class. Operation Water Health explores common health issues surrounding drinking water in Canada and around the world and is designed for a Health, Science and Social Studies collaboration. To access more information on these and other educational activities visit the Safe Drinking Water Foundation website at www.safewater.org.

Sources and Related Links:
- Algae - a SDWF Fact Sheet
- Bacteria - a SDWF Fact Sheet
- Coxsackie B - a SDWF Fact Sheet
- Detailed Giardia - a SDWF Fact Sheet
- Detailed Helicobacter pylori - a SDWF Fact Sheet
- Detailed Legionella - a SDWF Fact Sheet
- Disease Causing Micro-Organisms - a SDWF Fact Sheet
- Pathogenic Microbes - a SDWF Fact Sheet
- Protozoan Parasites - a SDWF Fact Sheet
- Viruses - a SDWF Fact Sheet

Waterborne Diseases Questions (Elementary):

1. Which disease are you researching?
   
   
   
    
2. What type of organism causes this disease?
   
   
   
    
3. What are the symptoms of this disease? Can it be spread from person to person? How long do the symptoms last? Can it be treated?
   
   
   
    
4. Where is this disease found in the world? Has there been a recent outbreak of this disease? If so, where?
   
   
   
    
5. Describe the most effective water treatment to kill the disease.

Waterborne Diseases Questions (High School)

1. Which disease are you researching? What is the scientific name for the disease-causing organism?
   
   
   
    
2. What type of organism causes this disease?
   
   
   
    
3. Draw the organism and its life cycle.
   
   
   
    
4. What are the symptoms of this disease? Can it be spread from person to person? How long do the symptoms last? Can it be treated? If there are no medicinal treatments available, what can an infected person do to recover?
   
   
   
    
5. Where is this disease found in the world? Has there been a recent outbreak of this disease? If so, where?
   
   
   
    
6. Depict the area where this disease might be found. Include in your answer: the economy of the area, population, living conditions, possible water sources, and any other factors affecting the community and water source.
   
   
   
    
7. Describe the most effective water treatment to kill the disease.