Lesson 1.4: Communicable Diseases

Overview

This lesson focuses on communicable diseases and addresses how using assertive communication can help you avoid situations where diseases might be spread.

Learning Targets

  • Explain what an infectious disease is.
  • Compare the different methods of transmitting an infectious disease.
  • Identify actions you can take to keep from getting an infectious disease.
  • Identify common symptoms of infectious disease.
  • Explain how to wash your hands properly to prevent spreading disease.

Preparation

For the Warm-Up Activity: Write the journal question on the board, or identify (and copy as needed) the worksheets you plan to use:

For the Content Focus: Open the Lesson 1.4 PowerPoint slides, or make copies of the Lesson 1.4 Note-Taking Guide.

For the Lesson Focus: Copy the Lesson 1.4 Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Communicating Well to Stay Healthy.

Warm-Up Activity

Select a warm-up activity to help get your class focused and on task.

  • Journal Question: How often do you wash your hands each day? Describe how you wash your hands. Why do you think it is important to keep your hands clean?
    • Option: Write or project the question, and have students respond in their journals as they enter class.
    • Option: Have students discuss the question with a partner or in a small group.
  • Vocabulary Review: Have students work individually, in partners, or in small groups to complete the Lesson 1.4 Vocabulary Review Worksheet.
  • Quiz: Have students complete the Lesson 1.4 Quiz to assess their prior knowledge.
    • Option: Collect the quizzes, and use them alongside posttests to demonstrate student learning.
    • Option: Have students share their answers with a partner and then go over the answers together as a class.

Lesson Content

Review the content from the textbook lesson.

Option: Use the Lesson 1.4 PowerPoint slides to review the chapter content.

Option: Have students use the Lesson 1.4 Note-Taking Guide to review chapter content. Ask students to work alone, in pairs, or in small groups. Review the questions as a class if time permits.

Lesson Focus: Using Assertive Communication to Avoid Disease Risks

  1. Have students work with a partner to complete the assigned task.
  2. Provide one copy of the Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Communicating Well to Stay Healthy for each pair of students.
  3. Have students follow the instructions on the worksheet to create a skit with a scenario that demonstrates assertive communication.
  4. Combine students into groups of four, and have them take turns acting out their skit. Have the group watching the skit evaluate the skit using the checklist on the worksheet.

Challenge Activity

Have students who need an additional challenge work on the following critical-thinking task.

Have you ever used a hand sanitizer? Do you think they work? Conduct research on the effectiveness of hand sanitizers and write a brief report of your findings.

Reflection and Summary

Review the critical content from today’s lesson. Review the learning targets, and ask students to answer each question posed.

Can you…

  • Explain what an infectious disease is?

    An infectious disease is a disease caused by a pathogen that enters your body. Infectious diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

  • Compare the different methods of transmitting an infectious disease?

    Infectious diseases are transmitted in different ways, including direct contact; indirect contact; airborne transmission; and coming in contact with a host carrier, such as a mosquito.

  • Identify actions you can take to keep from getting an infectious disease?

    To prevent getting an infectious disease, follow basic guidelines such as washing your hands with soap and water, covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing, and getting vaccinated.

  • Identify common symptoms of communicable diseases?

    Runny nose, coughing, sneezing, upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, headache, and fever are common examples of communicable disease symptoms.

  • Use assertive communication to avoid risky situations?

    Use I statements, practice saying no, use strong body language, and keep your emotions in check if you want to be assertive in your communication (demonstrated in the Lesson Focus activity).

Assessment

Complete one or more of the following assessment tasks for this lesson.

  • Quiz: Have students take the Lesson 1.4 Quiz.
  • Vocabulary Review: Collect the Lesson 1.4 Vocabulary Review Worksheets, and evaluate them for accuracy.
  • Note-Taking Guide: Collect the completed Lesson 1.4 Note-Taking Guides, and spot check one or more items for completion and accuracy.
  • Skill-Building Worksheet: Have students submit the Lesson 1.4 Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet: Communicating Well to Stay Healthy and use the Holistic Rubric: Health Communication to evaluate their skill development.
  • Journal Question: Ask students to respond to the journal question again, adding information they learned from today’s class. Require a one-paragraph response that uses proper grammar.

Take It Home

Use sticky notes to create reminders about the different ways to prevent infectious diseases. Post the sticky notes around your house in areas where infectious diseases may spread, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and handrails.