Disease Control and Prevention Lesson Plans

High School Lesson Plans - Cholera

Masters of Disaster [PDF - 35 pages]

Students learn how to coordinate a basic response to a public health disaster by exploring of the cholera outbreak in Haiti after an earthquake. Students use patterns in public health surveillance data to characterize a public health emergency. Then, students tailor strategies inconsideration of social, economic, ethical, environmental, cultural, and political needs to develop an action plan.

Middle School Lesson Plans - Influenza

Keep Calm and Get Vaccinated [PDF - 37 pages]

Students will learn about the influenza virus, vaccine, and possible effects of an influenza pandemic. Through an interactive PowerPoint and Webquest, students will learn how the influenza virus can change, spread, and, possibly result in a pandemic. They will also learn about influenza surveillance. Students will collect data about influenza transmission and analyze data from two influenza pandemics. In a lesson extension, students will create a public service announcement for the seasonal influenzavaccine

High School Lesson Plans - Influenza

Have You “Herd”? Modeling Influenza’s Spread [PDF - 46 pages]

Students use mathematical modeling and perform a laboratory test simulation to explore infectious disease. Through the use of various models, students learn how to predict the infectious disease transmission and spread in populations. Then, students evaluate the effectiveness of countermeasures implemented to prevent pandemics, such as vaccination campaigns.

Seasonal Flu Costs How Much?! [PDF - 47 pages]

Seasonal influenza (flu) can be a serious disease that leads to hospitalization and occasionally death. Every flu season is different because the types and subtypes of influenza viruses can change each year. CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older should get a seasonal flu vaccination every year. This lesson examines the economic effects associated with seasonal flu and vaccination decisions. Students will use a systematic, public health approach to learn about influenza and prevention effectiveness, also called public health economics. By using data and scientific estimates of the direct and indirect cost of the flu, students refine mathematical skills and apply them to a real-world scenario. Analyzing scientific evidence through the eyes of students provides them with the insight as to how social and economic factors can often substantially influence decision making and oftentimes outweigh scientific evidence. Developing a tailored vaccination program for their school helps students think strategically about how to construct a winning argument.

High School Lesson Plans - Obesity

Food for Thought: Making Healthy Food and Physical Activity Choices [PDF - 20 pages]

Making healthy choices about food and physical activity are not always just a personal choice. Society often plays a role. In this lesson, student will explore how individual choices about healthy eating and physical activity can be influenced by societal factors such as access, affordability, and availability of healthy foods and access to safe places to be active. Then, using a formal debate format, students will create and defend a viewpoint regarding the influence of society on individual choices that reflects scientific knowledge and student-generated evidence. At the end of the lesson, students will be able to actively and accurately engage in conversations about a priority public health concern of the 21st century.