Flu Lesson Plan: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

*Click to open and customize your own copy of the Flu Lesson Plan. 

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Flu, and supports the standard of constructing an explanation for real-world phenomena. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Prompt students to think of a time they were sick. Ask students:

• What do you think was happening in your body?
• What are some strategies for avoiding illness? ? 

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

• Read the description on the Flu topic page.
• Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
• Assign Related Reading. Have students read one of the three articles. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign the Flu Challenge and Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about the flu while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

• Make-a-Movie: Produce a video diary from the perspective of a white blood cell when the flu virus enters the body. Explain the role each part of the immune system plays in fighting the virus. 
• Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying the effects of the flu virus on different body systems. 
• Creative Coding: Code a story where one character explains to  another why they need to get a flu vaccine each year.  

More to Explore 

Related BrainPOP Topics: Deepen understanding of bodily structures and processes with these topics: Viruses, Swine Flu, Immune System, and Vaccines. 

Teacher Support Resources:

• Learning Activities Modifications: Strategies to meet ELL and other instructional and student needs.
• Learning Activities Support: Resources for best practices using BrainPOP.