Hay fever season
Focus Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Explain the Hay fever season story to another student.
What is hay fever?
Describe the symptoms of hay fever.
Explain the allergic reaction that happens for someone suffering hay fever.
Why is spring particularly bad for people with hay fever?
What does the `pollen count’ tell us?
What can be done to ease the symptoms of hay fever?
How does Reuben control his hay fever?
Apart from taking medication, what else can be done to reduce hay fever
symptoms?
10. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
EPISODE 30
26TH OCTOBER 2010
Learning Area
Health and
Physical
Education, Science
Allergies
Key learning
Students will research information about hay fever and other allergies. Negotiate
with students how many activities they will need to complete.

Is there anything in the classroom that could cause an allergic reaction?
How could you allergy-proof your classroom? Come up with some
recommendations.

Use the transcript of the BtN story http://www.abc.net.au/btn/teachers.html
and highlight unfamiliar words. Find out the meaning of each word and put
them into a sentence.

Write five true or false statements about allergies. Give them to a group of
students to work out.
Apply and Analyse

What are histamines and what symptoms do they produce? How do
antihistamines work? Draw a cartoon to explain how they work.
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/index.htm
l

How does being allergic to something change your life? Consider the
following allergens; nuts, penicillin, milk, eggs, pollen, seafood, dust and
animal hair and the reactions they cause. How can they be treated, avoided
and managed?

Write a response to the following statement: `Allergies are on the rise in
Australia.’ Research the topic and present your response to the class.
Evaluate and create
© ABC 2010
Students will
develop knowledge
and understandings
about different
allergic reactions
and their effect
on the human body.

Create a flow chart to show the body’s reaction to hay fever or another
allergic reaction (choose one). Include in the chart the antigen entering the
body, the immune system’s reaction and the physical symptoms.

Interview someone who has an allergy. Write a diary entry describing the
allergy and treatment from their point of view.

Create a public service announcement about an allergic disorder; hay fever,
asthma, eczema or anaphylaxis.
 Related Research Links
ABC Behind the News – Hay fever
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/v3/stories/s2094489.htm
Child and Youth Health – Hay
feverhttp://cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=285&i
d=1724
KidsHealth – Allergies
http://kidshealth.org/Search01.jsp?SearchSection=3&Mode=Search&SearchTextAr
ea=allergies%20p3
Raising Children - Symptoms, tests & treatment
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/hay_fever.html
Asthma SA - Asthma Friendly Schools
http://www.asthmasa.org.au/index.php/selectedContent/1451053390
© ABC 2010