Pathogens Mini Unit

Name: Pathogens Mini Unit - Shop | It's Not Rocket Science
Price: 25.00 USD
Availability: InStock

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This product is designed to be an extension into pathogens unit that covers bacteria and viruses, specifically as pathogens, in further depth than is traditionally required in an introductory biology course. This mini-unit is a supplement or add-on that is designed to be used at the end of the year, after the 7 core biology units included in my biology curriculum. It is perfect for digging deeper into bacteria and viruses if you or your students are passionate about the topic, or if you need hands-on student-driven curriculum to use after state testing. Content covered includes: structure and reproduction of bacteria and viruses, germ theory of disease, bacterial vs. viral diseases, ways disease can be treated and prevented, and an overview of the immune system. This product includes notes, a packet of student handouts for all activities and projects, and a free-response quiz to use as a summative assessment. The student packet comes in a paperless digital version that can be used in Google Drive™ and/or Microsoft OneDrive™. The content in this mini-unit is not provided on differentiated levels for CP and Honors like the 7 core units.

Note: This is as add-on extension mini-unit in my Biology Curriculum Full Year Bundle. You can buy this unit for 20% off if you purchase it as a part of the full year bundle.

What content is in this unit?

Structure, characteristics, uses, and reproduction of bacteria and viruses
Germ theory for disease
Causes of disease, with emphasis on bacterial and viral diseases
Overview of the immune system, including innate vs. adaptive immunity
Treatment and prevention of disease
Antibiotic resistance

To read more about my scope and sequence for all of the units in my biology course, as well as to access my free pacing guide for the class, check out this blog post here.

What standards are covered?

When writing each of my biology units, I wrote them within the scope of the *NGSS high school life science standards. Each unit incorporates DCIs, crosscutting concepts, and the science and engineering practices. The following DCIs are specifically covered in this unit:

HS-LS1-2: Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms.
HS-LS4-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment.
HS-LS4-4: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.

Note: If you aren’t sure how your state standards compare to the NGSS, shoot me an email at itsnotrocketsciencestore@gmail.com with a PDF or link to your state standards for Biology and I will be happy to review them for you prior to you making a purchase!

What prior knowledge is necessary for students to have before using this unit?

This is designed to be a supplemental mini-unit that serves as a more in-depth extension into bacteria and viruses as pathogens than is normally required in a Biology I course. Because of this, it expands on ideas learned previously in the year, and students will need to have background information on characteristics of life, biogeochemical nutrient cycles, cells, and evolution, at a minimum, to succeed in this unit. My students would have prior knowledge on all topics from the 7 core units in my full year biology curriculum. I also believe it is best used at the end of the year because it is very student-driven and research-based, requiring developed autonomy skills.

What is included?

I strongly encourage you to download the preview for this product. It is 15 pages and will give you the best idea of what all is included. In short:

16 pages of teacher implementation notes + editable unit plans for 17 days of lesson plans (including both 50-minute and 90-minute block pacing guides)
27-page PDF packet with all student handouts for the entire mini-unit including:
- Unit outline with objectives and vocabulary terms for each concept covered for students to use to make their own study guides from
- Notes outlines for each of the three main concepts in Cornell Note format – now including completely filled in AND fill in the blank versions!
- Lab Stations: Safety and Equipment (+ editable version)
- Task Cards: Bacteria and Viruses (20 cards)
- Creative Writing: A Case for the Microorganism group project
- Project: Disease Research Poster
- Lab: Antibiotic Resistance simulation
- Research Activity: A Look at Vaccines
Access to ALL of the materials in the student packet in a digital paperless format that can be used in Google Drive™ and/or Microsoft OneDrive™
3 fully animated PowerPoints of notes (37 slides)
Links to YouTube video lectures for each of the PowerPoint notes – perfect for absent students or flipped classrooms!
1 quiz for the summative assessment with 7 NGSS 3-dimensional free response questions, including a detailed answer key!

What types of files are included?

When you download this product you will receive a zip file with 5 folders of files. Most of the documents in this product are secured PDFs, meaning you can print them but not edit or copy/paste the text. The paperless digital student packets will be accessed via a Google Drive™ link in a PDF file that students can type into but not change the essential content of. Editable versions (Word docs) are only included for the unit plans, quiz, and some aspects of the activities for you to customize for your classroom. The PowerPoint lecture notes also have editable text. This is to protect the copyright and intellectual property of my own work, plus the work of many dedicated clip artists and photographers whose graphics I purchased for commercial use to be included in this product. If you have questions about this, please don’t hesitate to email me with them prior to purchasing!

What materials are needed in addition to the resources provided?

A list of additional materials is compiled on p.7 of the preview document. Click here to open it. I wrote every unit in this curriculum for a science teacher with minimal materials and budget, so the majority of the supplies needed can be purchased on Amazon or at Walmart!

How many class periods will it take to teach this unit in its entirety?

This unit covers 17 50-minute class periods or 11 90-minute block class periods. However, if you don’t have that much time available you can cut out some of the activities, have students do one of the projects at home, or use the YouTube lecture videos that come with the unit to implement a flipped classroom style.

How is this resource distance learning compatible?

This resource already comes with all of the student handouts in a packet format that can be used on paper (PDF to print) or digitally in a paperless version for Google Drive™ and/or Microsoft OneDrive™. All of the PowerPoint notes also come with a lecture video to help your students learn from afar. You can see all of my lecture videos on my YouTube channel here, and you can check out a free sample of a paperless digital packet so you can see what the formatting and usability is like prior to purchasing. Please don’t hesitate to email me at itsnotrocketsciencestore@gmail.com if you have questions so we can figure out if this is a good fit for you and your students.

*NOTE* I did not specifically write this unit for distance learning or homeschool settings, but this entire unit can still be used in a modified format. I include a “Distance Learning Tips” document with suggestions for using these resources in a virtual teaching and/or homeschool setting to help you. If you have questions about which resources may or may not work from home, shoot me an email and we can discuss!

What is so great about the digital student packets that are included?

You can go PAPERLESS in your classroom if you want – no more dreaded mornings at the copy machine!
You still get all of the organization of my packet strategy, just now in digital format too!
Students will be able to access their packets ANYWHERE. No more, “I forgot my binder so I couldn’t do (fill in the blank)”
Students can print their filled in packets or an extra blank copy easily from home
You can now have a mixed classroom with some students paperless and others not. You can also start with just doing a few units digitally and others on paper. Whatever works best for you and your students. The point here is that you now have OPTIONS!
You have increased flexibility for students to easily learn and be connected outside the walls of your classroom.
A built in opportunity to help students grow in their digital literacy.

Why use a “packet” instead of an interactive notebook?

I started creating packets for my students over six years ago, and I love them so much more than interactive notebooks. While interactive notebooks are great resources that work for many teachers, I have found the packet strategy to be a more appropriate tool for using in the secondary classroom setting with my students. I love using the packet for many reasons:

I only have to make copies one time each unit instead of copying handouts every day. Even though it takes a while to copy the packets for each student, it saves so much time on a day to day basis. (Also I’ve often recruited seniors to be my “Teacher’s Aide” and have trained them to copy all of my packets for me. I haven’t seen a copier in YEARS and it’s glorious!) You can also now go DIGITAL and PAPERLESS with the Google Drive™ version of the packet, if you prefer!
It puts responsibility back on the students to maintain their A&P binder with their packet, while also aiding them in practicing organization skills. It has been incredibly effective for my lower level students especially. Even though it is a lot of papers to receive at once, I can watch them put it in their binder and leave it there, rather than having to hang on to numerous individual papers passed out each day. It has really eliminated the need for a textbook too, so students really only have to remember to bring ONE thing to class – their binder with their packet!
It makes it so easy to be absent last minute. If you or your child gets sick, sub plans are a breeze. You don’t have to send your teacher neighbor to make copies for you – because your students already have everything they need. You just have to tell the sub which pages the students need to work on for the day. It was especially helpful for my long-term substitute when I was on maternity leave!
The structure of the packet provides a more helpful method than interactive notebooks in preparing students for college – which should be one of our goals as high school teachers. The packet helps students learn how to structure notes (one of the reasons why I love teaching them how to write Cornell notes) and how to stay organized.
They are a time saver in so many ways – no more time wasted regularly passing out handouts or having to cut and paste things into a notebook.
Students do a better job keeping up with returned graded work because every page is numbered, so they can put graded assignments right back into the packet where it came from, setting them up to more likely refer back to graded work as they study.
You no longer need a filing cabinet – you can keep all of your curriculum and keys organized in binders!

Why should I use this product in my classroom?

This activity-based, student-driven mini-unit is the perfect resource to use at the end of the school year to expand on pathogens, further than traditional standards would go. It can be used for the full 17 days that are detailed in the unit plan, or some of the activities can be cut out to shorten it to fit in that strange period of time after state testing before the end of the year. It is also unit that can easily be used to implement a flipped classroom, with students using the lecture videos to complete notes at home so class time can be maximized for all of the different activities and projects. This is designed to be used at the end of the school year where students have had a full year growing in autonomy and NGSS skills, but doesn’t have to be if your students are ready.

Designing curriculum for an entire unit that is engaging, activity-based, and standard-aligned can be exhausting. I’ve spent over 5 years creating my biology curriculum and have had amazing results. I had a 96% pass rate on the State standardized End-of-Course exam for Non-Honors students and a 100% pass rate for honors students. This was at a South Carolina public school with over 50% of the students being below the poverty line. My average score on the EOC (all 200+ students combined that I taught over 2 years) was a 90%. I believe this success is due to multiple factors, but I attribute a lot of it to the packet curriculum I have designed, and the fact that all of that all of my traditional tests are cumulative (which you would see in units that come with tests!) Honestly, I could go on and on about the packet as a resource and why I love it so much, but I think you will find as you use it that you will fall in love with it too. Last but not least, this product comes with links to video lectures for each set of notes. This resource + all of the detailed lesson plans makes this product perfect for teachers new to this subject, going on maternity leave for a long-term sub, or using a flipped classroom strategy.

Interested in other biology resources?

Check out the other units in my full year biology curriculum:

What if I have a question?

Email me at itsnotrocketsciencestore@gmail.com I’d love to answer any questions you have!

How do I stay updated on new products, sales, blogposts, and freebies?

Join my email list and follow me on Instagram! These are the two best ways to keep up with what’s happening at It’s Not Rocket Science!

TERMS OF USE

You may:

Use this item for your own classroom, students, or for your own personal use.
Buy additional licenses for others to use this product at a discount by visiting your TpT “My Purchases” page.
Review this product to recommend others buy it in blog posts, at professional development workshops, or other venues as long as credit is given to my store with a direct link to my store/product.

You may not:

Upload this product to any unsecured website or server that other teachers can access for free.
Give this product to others without the purchase of an additional license for them (this includes emailing, printing copies, or sharing through a website, cloud or other network.)
Copy or modify any part of this document to offer others for free or for sale.
Use the resources for commercial use, such as teaching a course on Outschool or a similar platform using these resources.

*Note: NGSS is a registered trademark of WestEd. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.