AIDS Discussion Prompts and Pause Points

Before the Movie

What do you know about AIDS and HIV? (Tap prior knowledge)

What do you want to know about AIDS and HIV? (Set goals)

During the Movie (Pause Points)

Stop at the following times in the movie and ask questions or prompt a discussion to keep students focused and to assess their understanding before moving on:

Timecode 0:36: What is the role of our immune system? How does AIDS affect the immune system? (Apply new knowledge; Identify cause/effect)

Timecode 1:20: What happens to a person’s immune system when the HIV virus destroys its T cells? Why do ordinary illnesses, like the flu, become dangerous? (Apply new knowledge; Identify cause/effect)

Timecode 2:35: Why is routine testing important to prevent HIV from developing into AIDS? (Draw conclusions)

After the Movie

Look at the four related movies at the bottom of the page. Explain how each is connected to the AIDS topic. (Make connections)

Why might AIDS have been difficult to diagnose when the virus first appeared? (Apply new knowledge; Make inferences)

BrainPOP recommends reading the movie description that appears on the AIDS Topic Page to your class. Then show the movie once through without pausing.  Watch it again, this time using the discussion prompts.

*BrainPOP’s Discussion Questions and Prompts align to CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards.