How do small things make a big difference? Activities to teach about human-microbe interactions

Chandana Jasti, Barbara Hug, Jillian L. Waters, Rachel J. Whitaker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recent scientific studies are providing increasing evidence for how microbes living in and on us are essential to our good health. However, many students still think of microbes only as germs that harm us. The classroom activities presented here are designed to shift student thinking on this topic. In these guided inquiry activities, students investigate human-microbe interactions as they work together to interpret and analyze authentic data from published articles and develop scientific models. Through the activities, students learn and apply ecological concepts as they come to see the human body as a fascinatingly complex ecosystem.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)601-608
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Biology Teacher
Volume76
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2014

Keywords

  • curriculum development
  • data analysis
  • high school biology
  • human health
  • Inquiry instruction
  • microbiology
  • models
  • NGSS

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