Activities
Use our template to make your own adenovirus (common cold virus). Teachers' notes for this activity are also available.
Resources and Links
- Explore this teaching video on YouTube – with an explanation about why we need a different flu vaccine each winter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug-M1nIhfIA
- Check out this ‘spotlight’ education resource from the Nature Education pages highlighting key resources (aimed at secondary school level) with a focus on the potential flu epidemic/H1N1. http://www.nature.com/scitable/spotlight/the-h1n1-virus-6902675
- Find out more about the hidden world inside the cells that make up your body:
http://secret-universe.co.uk/ - How small is small? Viruses are much, much too tiny to see with the naked eye - use this cool animation to find out just how small a virus can be:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/ - Visit Cell magazine’s webpages for real microscope pictures, taken by scientists, showing cells fighting it out with viruses.
http://www.cell.com/cell_picture_show-viruses - Check out this blog for some amazing virus facts and much more about viruses:
http://www.virology.ws/2009/10/19/ten-cool-facts-about-viruses/ - Use the Centre of the Cell’s ‘New Vaccines’ activities to introduce the concept of vaccination – showing how early vaccination was tested, discussing informed consent in clinical research and helping pupils learn about the process of developing a new vaccine. http://www.centreofthecell.org/lessonplans/New_Vaccines.pdf
- Download a lesson plan, from the Society for General Microbiology, focusing on how rhinoviruses cause colds. The lesson includes an activity with glitter gel demonstrating how colds can be spread from person to person by both direct and indirect contact and how hand washing can reduce the spread. http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/media/transfer/doc/factfile_cold_wars.pdf
- See our timeline of key developments in antibody science.
- Interested in a career in science? Visit the Science Council’s careers website to find out more about jobs and career routes.
http://www.futuremorph.org/