Doctor, Doctor, Tell Me the News (revised)
Original Author: Jenny Amos, GK-12 institute
Revised by: Nick Henke and Katie Altman
Overview: A problem solving game that covers diseases of the human body.
Suggested grade level(s): 7-12
Concepts covered: Disease, virus, bacteria, organ systems, problem solving
Standards: (Based on South Carolina 7th grade standards)
7-3: 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. (Life Science)
7-4.3: 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).
Length of lesson: 30 minutes
Materials required: Folders for each student
Disease List
Patient Write-ups
Copies of Diagnosis Sheet for each student
Lesson Format
Phase I.
Engage
Grab the students attention by asking the class the following questions:
 Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a doctor’s office?
 How does a doctor determine what illness a person has?
 Have you ever considered being a doctor or nurse?
As background, make sure that students have completed the chapter covering diseases and are
familiar with the human body and organ systems.
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This lesson plan is part of the 2007 GK-12 Institute
Phase II.
Explore
Introductory Information: (Read the following information aloud to the students.)
In a busy doctor’s office, the head doctor has hired you to take patients to help him/her diagnose
that patient’s disease. Using the patient write-up given to the nurse and your knowledge of
diseases, you must diagnose them quickly.
Activity:
1. Tell the students to diagnose the patients on the list as quickly as possible for a prize.
2. Seven different patients will be in different colored folders around the room and they must see
all 9 patients. There are 9 disease write-ups that they have to refer to for diagnosis, but they
should be careful since so many diseases sound similar.
3. Once the student has diagnosed all of the patients and writing their diagnosis on the Diagnosis
Sheet, they must turn it in to the physician attendee (the teacher) for review and the prize.
Phase III.
Explain
Answers:
Name
Gloria Hampton
George Talons
Ester Graves
Julia Plimer
Ed Yingling
Veronica Klapps
Johnny Becker
Steven Johnson
Linda Smith
Phase IV.
Disease
Athlete’s foot
Flu
Diabetes
Cold
Strep throat
Parkinson’s disease
Asthma
Skin cancer
AIDS
Elaborate
DISEASE is a condition that does not allow the body to function normally. Diseases can affect
either an individual organ or an entire body system. Diseases are divided into two groups—
infectious and noninfectious.
Infectious diseases are caused by tiny organisms called pathogens.
-These pathogens can be bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protists.
-These pathogens can come from another person, a contaminated object, an animal bite, or the
environment.
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-The immune system is responsible for distinguishing between the different kinds of pathogens
and reacting to each according to its type.
-Once a pathogen has entered the body, it works by damaging individual cells within the organs
or in some cases attacks an entire body system.
Noninfectious diseases are diseases that are not caused by pathogens in the body.
-They are not spread from organism to organism.
-These diseases are caused by malfunctions in body systems that are either inherited or caused by
environmental factors.
Thought questions to ask the students:
1) As the physician’s assistant, what do you think you or the nurse, or even the physician,
could have done differently?
2) Do you think if there were 10 diseases and 7 patients you would have had a higher
percentage of correct diagnoses? Why?
3) What does this make you think about doctors making correct diagnoses when there are
thousands of diseases in the real world?
4) Is anyone interested in being a doctor or studying disease?
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Disease List (Alphabetical)
AIDS
Description: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus attacks the cells in the immune system making the
organism unable to fight off other pathogens that may attack the body. Symptoms include fever,
sweats (often at night), swollen glands, chills, weakness, and weight loss. AIDS patients may go
up to 10 years without experiencing any symptoms.
Diagnosis: A person may also be diagnosed as having AIDS if they have a CD4 cell count
below 200 cells/mm3.
Asthma
Description: Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and the airways that deliver air to the
lungs. It causes periodic attacks of wheezing and difficult breathing. An asthma attack occurs
when the airways become inflamed in response to a stimulus, such as dust, mold, pets, exercise,
or cold weather. However, some attacks start for no apparent reason. Usually found in childhood
but some are not diagnosed with asthma until adulthood. During an episode a patient will
experience tightness of the chest, difficulty breathing, and coughing.
Diagnosis: Diagnosis is done by listening to the lungs (for a wheezing sound), taking lung xrays (looking for inflamed lungs) and performing allergen tests (for food and environmental
allergens).
Athlete’s Foot
Description: A common fungal infection of the skin of the feet. The fungus may be contracted
from public environments and then grows in the warm and moist environment usually between
the toes, and can be difficult to cure. Athlete's foot causes scaling, flaking, and itching of the
affected skin.
Diagnosis: Usually can be diagnosed by a visual inspection of the infected area. When this is
not sufficient, a KOH test (potassium hydroxide) can be prepared. Also when needed a skin
biopsy (a sample if tissue) can be examined.
Cold
Description: An illness caused by a viral infection located in the respiratory system. Once inside
the human body, the cold virus multiplies and attacks the mucous membranes of the nose and
throat causing the common effects of the cold (for example, cough, sore throat, runny nose or
fever). Other symptoms include muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, shivering, and loss of appetite.
Because the cold is caused by a virus it cannot be treated with an antibiotic.
Diagnosis: Since there are no tests available to diagnose this illness doctors must look for the
common symptoms. Throat cultures can be taken to rule out any other infection.
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This lesson plan is part of the 2007 GK-12 Institute
Diabetes
Description: A disease that results in the glucose (sugar) level of the blood being higher than the
normal range. It is caused by a person’s inability to either produce or use properly a natural
chemical produced in the body called insulin. The higher level of blood sugar results in many
disorders of the body, for example an increase in problems with circulation of blood. Other risk
factors include poor diet and obesity. Diabetes can lead to kidney disease or heart disease or
cause vision problems. Symptoms include frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger. Later
symptoms include blurred vision and swelling of the extremities such as the feet.
Diagnosis: Diagnosed by taking plasma blood glucose tests or fasting glucose tests. Patients
typically will score > 200 mg/dl plasma glucose or fasting glucose > 130 mg/dl. Patients will
also experience frequent urination, loss of appetite, and high blood pressure.
Flu
Description: Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a highly contagious viral infection of
the respiratory system. Influenza typically causes fever, muscle aches, chills, fever, sore throat,
headache, fatigue, and a more severe cough than the common cold and usually lasts longer. The
flu can lead to nausea and vomiting. Generally transferred thru the air by couch or sneeze
Diagnosis: Doctors typically look for the common symptoms of the flu. Antibody tests and
viral cultures can also show if a patient has influenza.
Parkinson ’s Disease
Description: A disease of the nervous system that occurs when certain nerve cells in the brain
stop functioning properly, affecting the muscular system. The major symptoms are severe
shaking (tremors) and disabilities involving movement. Others include joint and muscle stiffness
and impaired balance. At present, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease.
Diagnosis: There is no test for this disease so doctors are forced to diagnose based on
symptoms, usually if a patient experiences tremors, slow movement and rigidity, and postural
instability.
Skin Cancer
Description: A disease in which skin cells found in the outer layers of the skin becomes
damaged, often showing a change in appearance of the skin such as a growth or a sore that
doesn’t heal. Factors that can lead to skin cancer are damaging ultraviolet rays (UV) from the
Sun or tanning beds and heredity.
Diagnosis: The best way to diagnose skin cancer is to take a biopsy of the concerned area to be
examined under a microscope.
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This lesson plan is part of the 2007 GK-12 Institute
Strep Throat
Description: Strep throat is a contagious disease caused by bacterial infection. Strep throat
symptoms include fever, pain, redness, and swelling of the throat and tonsils. Strep throat may
produce mild or severe symptoms including sore throat, nausea, and vomiting. Strep throat is
contagious and can be transferred by close contact with another person.
Diagnosis: Diagnosis includes examination of the symptoms and laboratory testing including
RADT test (rapid antigen detecting test) or throat culture examination.
Phase V.
Evaluate
A sample rubric is shown below:
CATEGORY
Worksheet
Class Discussion
4 pts.
3 pts.
2 pts.
1 pt.
Student got all
answers correct
and work was
neat.
Student got a
majority of
answers right and
work was legible.
Student did not
answer all
questions and
work is illegible.
Student did
nothing.
Student was alert
and engaged in
discussion and
shared ideas.
Student was alert
and respectful to
the discussion and
answered in
‘group’ questions.
Student was
distracted or
disrespectful
during discussion
and did not add to
the group.
Student was a
distraction and
halted the
discussion to get
attention.
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Name _______________________________
Doctor, Doctor, Tell Me the News!
Diagnosis Sheet
Gloria Hampton - Red
___________________________________________
George Talons – Dk Green
________________________________________
Ester Graves - dk Blue
_________________________________________
Julia Plimer - Yellow
_________________________________________
Ed Yingling - Beige
_________________________________________
Veronica Klapps - Lt Blue
_________________________________________
Johnny Becker- Lt Green
_________________________________________
Steven Johnson-Orange
_________________________________________
Linda Smith-Purple
_________________________________________
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Patient Write-ups
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Patient name: Miss Gloria Hampton
Age: 21
Occupation: student
Temperature: 98.5 F
Weight: 125
Height: 5’6”
Family history: Heart problems (mom’s side)
Skin cancer (dad’s side)
Diet: Healthy diet of lean meat and vegetables
Symptoms:
I eat healthy and exercise regularly. I compete on my schools swim team and between classes
am always at the pool or in the gym. Since the season began I have been more fatigued than
usual and have noticed a weird skin color on my foot that has been irritating me.
*Blood results: none
Doctor’s note: Tissue biopsy sent to lab for examination
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Patient name: Mr. George Talons
Age: 45
Occupation: factory worker
Temperature: 100.7 F
Weight: 210
Height: 5’10”
Family history: Diabetes (mom’s side) no information from father’s side
Diet: Cereal for breakfast, brings a sandwich to work for lunch, big supper at home
Symptoms:
About three days ago I noticed that I was not feeling 100%. I had a sore throat and seemed cold
at work. My wife says I have been going to bed earlier than usual and seem sluggish around the
house. Also my head and muscles hurt when I cough.
*Blood results: none
Doctor’s note: patient seems to be coughing severely and complains of a sore throat.
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Patient name: Miss Ester Graves
Age: 53
Occupation: secretary
Temperature: 97.9 F
Weight: 180
Height: 5’5”
Family history: Diabetes (mom’s side)
Heart Problems (dad’s side)
Diet: usually take out food or eating out for dinner, skips breakfast daily, and drinks diet soda
Symptoms:
It’s all been bothering me for a year now I guess. I also notice that I get dizzy between meals and
after big meals. I lost some weight in this past year but I haven’t been exercising or eating any
differently, in fact, I’d say I eat more because it keeps me from being dizzy. I also noticed that I
have to go to the bathroom more often so much that people thought I was using it as an excuse to
get more break time from work.
*Blood results: plasma glucose level at 210 mg/dl
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Patient name: Miss Julia Plimer
Age: 16
Occupation: High school student
Temperature: 100.8 F
Weight: 130
Height: 5’7”
Family history: Diabetes (mom’s side)
Arthritis (dad’s side)
Diet: Cafeteria food and fast food mom picks up on her way home from work.
Symptoms:
For the past few days I have been feeling a bit lousy. My mother says my head is warm to the
touch and she is very concerned. I have been coughing a bit and have a runny nose. I suppose I
have been feeling weak and have a headache. My mom says I need antibiotics. Can you give me
some to get her off my back?
*Blood results: none
Doctor’s note: RADT test came back negative.
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Patient name: Mr. Ed Yingling
Age: 26
Occupation: Football player
Temperature: 100.2
Weight: 220
Height: 5’10”
Family history: none known
Diet: I really like steak and potatoes. Coach tells us to eat pasta before each game.
Symptoms:
Hey, Doctor, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I’m usually never sick. I’m having trouble
swallowing when I eat. And boy do I like to eat. My throat has been too sore and swollen. And
when I do manage to eat something, I get nauseous and throw it up half the time.
*Blood results: normal
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Patient name: Mrs. Veronica Klaps
Age: 45
Occupation: nurse
Temperature: 99.0
Weight: 150
Height: 5’6”
Family history: Ovarian Cancer (mom’s side)
Arthritis (dad’s side)
Diet: Varied diet. Try to stay away from red meat.
Symptoms: I’ve lost some weight over the past year and not sure why. I get a bit dizzy
sometimes and it seems to happen if I haven’t eaten lately. My joints are kind of stiff lately
probably because I am getting older. Every so often my hands get a bit shaky, probably because
it so darn cold outside these days.
*Blood results: plasma glucose level at 180 mg/dl
Doctors note: Patient complains of joint pain
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Patient name: Mr. Johnny Becker
Age: 10
Occupation: none
Temperature: 98.7 F
Weight: 76
Height: 4’8”
Family history: emphysema (mom’s side) lung cancer (dad’s side)
Symptoms:
Doctor, since he was little my son has had these symptoms. He gets sick more often than my
other kids. He tells me that sometimes he has trouble breathing and gets dizzy. He seems to
cough a lot and have trouble breathing while playing outside with his sister. Please help him so
that I can sleep without worrying that he’s going to die!
*Blood results: normal
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Patient name: Mr. Steven Johnson
Age: 20
Occupation: Beach lifeguard
Temperature: 98.7 F
Weight: 176
Height: 6’1”
Family history: Arthritis (mom’s side)
Asthma (dad’s side)
Symptoms:
Hey doc, how’s it going? I came in today because I noticed a weird discoloration on my foot
man, but I wash my feet in the shower every day before I go to work. Everything else seems to
be good bro, it’s the middle of summer and the air is fresh!
*Blood results: normal
Doctor’s note: Tissue biopsy sent to lab for examination
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Patient name: Mrs. Linda Smith
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Age: 35
Occupation: volunteer
Temperature: 98.7 F
Weight: 130
Height: 5’8”
Family history: Cancer (mom’s side)
Diabetes (dad’s side)
Symptoms: Lately I have been feeling a bit fatigued and as a result I have lost a bit of weight. I
keep having these chills and wake up sweaty at night, but I’ve been vaccinated for malaria every
time the Peace Corps have taken me to Africa since I was 25. I hope I’m not coming down with
the flu! It is that time of year.
*Blood results: none
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This lesson plan is part of the 2007 GK-12 Institute