Small, but Deadly! – Teacher Notes
Microorganism Educational Flyer
Assessed TEKS
x 8A Define taxonomy and recognize the importance of a standardized taxonomic
system to the scientific community (Supporting Standard)
x 8B Categorize organisms using a hierarchical classification system based on similarities and differences shared
among groups (Readiness Standard)
x 8C Compare characteristics of taxonomic groups, including archaea, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and
animals (Supporting Standard)
x 4C Compare the structures of viruses to cells, describe viral reproduction, and describe the role of viruses in
causing diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and influenza (Readiness Standard)
x 11C Summarize the role of microorganisms such as bacteria, protists, fungi and detritivores in maintaining and
disrupting equilibrium including diseases in plants and animals and decay in an ecosystem (Supporting
Standard) x 10C Analyze the levels of organization in biological systems and relate the levels to each
other and to the whole system (Supporting Standard)
Introduction: You are a student intern at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). You have been tasked with
creating an educational flyer concerning a specific disease caused by one of the following microorganisms:
bacteria, virus, protist, or fungus. Your flyer will be distributed to schools around the nation in order to educate
students about the disease.
My flyer topic is: _____________________________________________________
Choices of Products
You can give students the choice of how they want to create their product, or you can choose for them. Here are
a few suggestions: Glogster (digital poster); Poster; Flyer; Parent Newsletter; Web Alert; Public Service
Announcement (Video)
Sample Products
The CDC website has some great examples of Educational flyers about diseases. You may want to show
students one as an example/sample, especially for those students who require modifications.
Choices of Microorganisms
Teachers want to assign students to a topic, or have them pick from the list. A suggestion would be to send the
list of diseases around and each student sign next to one disease (that prevents doubling up, thus cheating). See
the table below.
KEY: B=Bacteria, F=Fungus, P=Protist, V=Virus
Type of
Microorganis
m
Disease it causes
Scientific name
B
Anthrax
Bacillus anthracis
B
Botulism
Clostridium botulinum
B
Diptheria
Corynebacterium diphtheria
B
E.coli
Escherichia coli
B
Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionella
B
Lyme disease
Borrelia burgdorferi
B
Meningitis
Streptococcus pneumonia
B
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rickettsia rickettsii
B
Salmonella
Salmonella serotype
B
Staph (MRSA)
Staphylococcus aureus
B
Strep Throat
Streptococcus pyogenes
B
Tetanus
Clostridium tetani
B
Tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
F
Athlete’s Foot
Tinea pedis
F
Fungal Pneumonia
Pneumocystis jiroveci
F
Lung infection-allergy
Aspergillosis
F
Lung Infection-allergy
Blastomycosis dermatitidis
F
Ringroom
Tinea corporis
F
Valley Fever
Coccidioidomycosis immitis
F
Yeast Infection
Candidia albicans
P
African Sleeping Sickness
Trypanosoma brucei
P
Black Fever, Kala-Azar, Dumdum Fever
Lishmaniasis donovani
P
Cryptosporidiosis, Crypto
Cryptsporidium parvum
P
Intestinal Sickness - Giardiasis
Giardiasis lamblia
P
Malaria
Plasmodium falciparum
P
Montezuma’s revenge
Amebic Dysentery
V
AIDS
HIV
V
Bird Flu
Avian Influenza A
V
Chicken pox
Varicella zoster virus
V
Common cold
Rhinovirus
V
Flu
Influenza A&B
V
Hand, foot and mouth disease
coxsackievirus A16
V
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus
V
Herpes or Shingles
Varicella zoster virus
V
Measles/Rubella
Measles virus
V
Meningitis
enteroviruses; such as coxsackieviruses
V
Mumps
Mumps virus
V
Polio
Polio Virus
V
Rabies
Rabies virus
V
RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus
V
Smallpox
Variola
V
Warts
Human Simplex Virus (HSV)
V
West Nile
West Nile virus
Small, but Deadly!
Microorganism Educational Flyer
Introduction: You are a student intern at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). You have been tasked with
creating an educational flyer concerning a specific disease caused by one of the following microorganisms:
bacteria, virus, protist, or fungus. Your flyer will be distributed to schools around the nation in order to educate
students about the disease.
My flyer topic is: _____________________________________________________
Expert
Practitioner
Apprentice
Provides both the common name and
scientific name written in binomial
nomenclature of the microorganism
Only one name is listed, either
the common or scientific
name; the scientific name is
not written correctly
The name of the organism
is not listed
All taxons are listed and in order from
Domain to Species; if a virus, describe
the type of virus (retrovirus, etc.)
Some of the taxons are listed
or they are incorrectly listed in
order
No levels of classification
are listed or are all listed
incorrectly
Symptoms of the
Disease
3 symptoms are explained, including
initial and advanced symptoms
2 symptoms are explained;
only initial or advanced
symptoms are listed
None or 1 symptom is
listed; there is no
distinction between initial
or advanced symptoms
Mode of Transmission
of the Disease and
Geographic Location
All modes of transmission are
explained in detail; geographical
location of where this disease most
likely occurs is listed
Some modes of transmission
are explained; some
geographical information is
provided of where this disease
is most commonly found
Missing modes of
transmission and/or
geographical information
of where this disease is
most commonly found
Treatment of the
Disease
All possible treatments are listed,
initially and long term
Some treatments are listed;
either initial or long term
treatments are discussed
No treatments are
discussed
Prognosis of the
Disease
The prognosis of the person is
described if left untreated AND if
treated; includes life expectancy
The prognosis of either treated
or untreated is discussed; may
life expectancy is inaccurate
No treatments are
described; life expectancy
is not listed
Name of Disease
Causing
Microorganism
Classification of the
Microorganism
Prevention of the
Disease
How the disease can be prevented
from spreading is explained in detail
Visual Representation
At least 3 graphics used: one is of the
microorganism, one of the body
system affected, and one other
graphic; graphics are balanced with
text
Creativity/Neatness
Flyer looks professional; attention to
organization, color and creativeness
are used without taking away from
content; grammar and spelling are
correct
Some detail about how the
disease can be prevented is
explained
Only 2 graphics are used; the
graphics do not contain either
the microorganism or body
system affected; the graphics
distract from the content
Somewhat organized, creative,
or organized; grammar or
spelling errors
No prevention suggestions
are listed
None or 1 graphic is used;
graphics distract from the
text/content
Somewhat organized; more
attention to design than to
content; plagiarism is
evident
Resources/Works
Cited
Minimum of 3 sources are cited (if a
website, list the web address and
author/organization) and are credible!
Only 2 sources are cited or
sources are only somewhat
credible
None or 1 resource is cited;
sources are not credible
Legionnaires Disease
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jane Smith
Common & Scientific Name
x
Legionnaires Disease, also called Legionellosis, is caused by a bacteria,
Legionella pneumophila
Classification
x
Eukarya, Eubacteria, Protobacteria, Gamma Proteobacteria, Legionellales,
Legionellaceae, Legionella, Legionella pneumophila
Symptoms
x
Chills, cough,muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, loss of
coordination and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting.
How the disease is spread? Mode of Transmission & Location
x
Infection normally occurs after inhaling an aerosol (suspension of fine particles in
air) containing Legionella bacteria. These particles originate from an infected
water source.
x
The disease is particularly associated with hotels, cruise ships and hospitals with
old, poorly maintained pipework and cooling systems.It is not limited to any one
location in the world.
Treatment
x
Levofloxacin and Azithromycin (antibiotics)are used initially. If those are
ineffective, different antibiotics are used.
Prognosis
x
If treated with antibiotics soon enough, patients can recover within a few weeks.
However, 5% to 30% of those infected during an outbreak will die.
Prevention
x
Can be inactivated by UV-C-Light and the use of ultrasonic. Staying healthy also
decreases the risk, unlike those with compromised immune systems, smokers, or
those with chronic lung disease. Keeping water sources clean is the key!
Resources
1) Center for Disease Control, www.CDC.gov
2) WebMD, www.WEBMD.com
3) MSDS Online, Infectious Disease Index, http://www.msdsonline.com