A Journey Through the

Immune System
A WebQuest for 7th Grade (HEALTH)
Designed by
LIZ GARTMAN,R.N,B.S.N,M.Ed.
Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources Evaluation
Introduction
Part of the seventh grade health curriculum involves learning about different systems in the human body. This webquest is designed to help students gather a better understanding of the Immune System and the way in which it works in the body. As a group, you will write a chapter of a book which will be for seventh graders.

Remember back when you were little and your mom read aloud to you. Perhaps one of the books you enjoyed was about Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus. She is a fun teacher who piles her class into a yellow school bus and departs on various journeys such as into the solar system or into the human body. You will pretend you are in Miss Frizzle's class as you begin your journey through the immune system
Learners
This webquest will provide an in-depth look at the immune system and when completed, the students should have an excellent idea of the importance of this body system.
Curriculum Standards
Since the immune system plays a major role in aiding our bodies to fight off infections, learning to manage resources and practice behaviors that contribute to students' physical health and well being is critical.(Learning standard 7) It is crucial for students to be able to identify diseases and health conditions that can be prevented. (Learning standard 8)
Process
You will be assigned to work in groups of 4. You will be writing a book and each group is responsible for one chapter in the book. The book is called A Journey Through the Immune System. Clicking on the words in blue will link you directly to the worksheets you need to complete your chapters. You can be as creative as you wish drawing illustrations where appropriate. You will not be penalized, however, if there are no illustrations.

Group 1 will write Chapter 1 (Definitions and Terms) This is necessary information in order to understand the terminology used throughout the rest of the book. Please be as concise as possible and all definitions must be in complete sentences.

Group 2 is responsible for Chapter 2 (Components of the Immune System). Give a description of each component in complete sentences and answer the other questions on the worksheet.

Group 3 is writing Chapter 3 entitled (The Role of the Immune System in Certain Diseases). Your worksheet includes a list of diseases that have some Immune System involvement. Your major task is to describe each disease and to relate the role of the Immune System in the disease process. There other related questions you are responsible for answering on your worksheet.

Group 4 is responsible for Chapter 4. This is entitled ( The Importance of Vaccines and Antibiotics). You are responsible for defining the importance of vaccines and antibiotics in managing communicable diseases. You are also accountable for the other questions on your worksheet which include the importance of blood typing. You will also be discussing the various kinds of immunity .

Variations
Each group will be given a list of questions that must be answered in their chapter. You will be allowed to work on this in class but some out of class time may also be necessary.
Resources Needed
You will need access to a computer to complete this assignment. You will also need pencil and paper to take notes. Textbooks will also be available. You will also be directed to specific websites to help answer your questions. You may only use the websites listed below. The following websites will be helpful:

www.niaid.nih.gov/final/immun/immun.htm

http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/BUGL/immune.htm

www.immunecentral.com/immune/general.cfm

www.cancer.gov

www.molbiol.ox.ac.uk/pathology/tig/gloss.html

www.innerbody.com/text/lympov.html

http://rex.nci.nih.gov/PATIENTS/INFO_TEACHER/immune_sys/Title.html

www.bbc.co.uk/health/immune/

www.medterms.com

www-micro.msb.le.ac.uk/MBChB/2b.html

http://www.bio.umass.edu/immunology/poisoniv.htm

www.howstuffworks.com/immune-system4.html

www.intelihealth.com/

www.cancerresearch.org/immresp.html

www.nih.gov/news/pr/sep2002/nichd-09.htm

www.bio.umass.edu
Evaluation
Category
4
3
2
1
Neatness
 The final draft is readable, clean, neat, and attractive. It is free of erasures and crossed-out words. It looks like the authors took great pride in it. The final draft of the story is readable, neat and attractive. It may have one or two erasures, but they are not distracting. It looks like the authors took some pride in it. The final draft of the chapter is readable and some of the pages are attractive. It looks like parts of it might have been done in a hurry. The final draft is not neat or attractive. It looks like the students just wanted to get it done and didn't care what it looked like.
Focus on Assigned Topic The entire chapter is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic. Most of the story is related to the assigned topic. Some of the chapter is devoted to the assigned topic, but the reader does not learn much about the topic. No attempt has been made to relate the chapter to the topic.
Organization The chapter is well organized and one idea follows another in a logical sequence. The story is pretty well organized. One idea may seem out of place. The chapter is a little hard to follow.
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