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Science lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 30 minutes

Viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists that cause disease

Human body and health

CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-2England: GCSE Combined Science: Infection and response

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists that cause disease.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Pathogens, immunity and vaccines

Leads to: Vaccines, antibiotics and painkillers: what each can do

Materials: Stopwatches, Body diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Pathogens, immunity and vaccines). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What type of pathogen causes malaria? (virus / bacterium / fungus / protist) → protistPrompt: Colds and flu cannot be treated with antibiotics.
  2. What do antibodies do? (carry oxygen / digest food / attach to specific antigens on pathogens, helping destroy them / clot the blood) → attach to specific antigens on pathogens, helping destroy themPrompt: Each antibody fits one antigen, like a lock and key.
  3. Disease: which statement is NOT true? (Some bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics. / All bacteria cause disease. / Skin is a barrier that stops many pathogens entering. / Mosquitoes spread malaria.) → All bacteria cause disease.Prompt: Think about what each treatment really does.

Hook · 3 min

  • Ask everyone to find their pulse, then jump for 30 seconds and find it again.
  • Share the objective: Viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists that cause disease. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What type of pathogen causes malaria?
  • Step 1: Protists are single-celled eukaryotes, often spread by vectors.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: protist
  • Answer: protist
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What type of pathogen causes malaria? (virus / bacterium / fungus / protist) → protistPrompt: Antibiotics do not work against viral diseases.
  2. Under ideal conditions a bacterium divides every 20 minutes. A drop of milk starts with 5 bacteria. How many bacteria will there be after 4 hours? → 20480Prompt: How many divisions happen in the time?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Why can a virus not reproduce on its own? (It must use the machinery inside a host cell / It is too big / It has no genetic material / It only reproduces in water) → It must use the machinery inside a host cellPrompt: Viruses are not made of cells.
  2. What type of pathogen causes COVID-19? (virus / bacterium / fungus / protist) → virusPrompt: Antibiotics do not work against viral diseases.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Pathogens, immunity and vaccines.
  • Use concrete materials: stopwatches.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Vaccines, antibiotics and painkillers: what each can do.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-9.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists that cause disease

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Measles spreads quickly in crowded rooms. How?

    • A. through contaminated soil
    • B. through plant roots
    • C. by mosquito bites
    • D. droplets in the air from coughs and sneezes

  2. Question 2

    What type of pathogen causes HIV?

    • A. virus
    • B. bacterium
    • C. fungus
    • D. protist

  3. Question 3

    Under ideal conditions a bacterium divides every 20 minutes. A drop of milk starts with 2 bacteria. How many bacteria will there be after 3 hours?

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Why can a virus not reproduce on its own?

    • A. It has no genetic material
    • B. It only reproduces in water
    • C. It is too big
    • D. It must use the machinery inside a host cell

  5. Question 5

    What type of pathogen causes measles?

    • A. virus
    • B. bacterium
    • C. fungus
    • D. protist

  6. Question 6

    Under ideal conditions a bacterium divides every 20 minutes. A drop of milk starts with 5 bacteria. How many bacteria will there be after 4 hours?

    Answer

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Answer key: Viruses, bacteria, fungi and protists that cause disease

  1. 1. D. droplets in the air from coughs and sneezes

  2. 2. A. virus

  3. 3. 1024

  4. 4. D. It must use the machinery inside a host cell

  5. 5. A. virus

  6. 6. 20480