Flattening the Curve Discussion Prompts and Pause Points

Before the Movie:

You may have heard the phrase “flatten the curve” on the news. What do you think this means?   (Explain; Predict)

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 1:02: Why is social distancing important in stopping the spread of the new coronavirus? (Draw conclusions)

Timecode 1:26: What causes  exponential growth of the virus? (Identify cause/effect)

Timecode 2:10: What does “flattening the curve” mean? (Explain)

Timecode 2:53: What extreme measures did China take to flatten the curve, and what were the effects? (Identify cause/effects)

After the Movie:

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

How does flattening the curve ensure that sick people get better care? (Draw Conclusions)  

What are some ways you can physically distance yourself from others, but stay socially connected? (Reflect)

BrainPOP recommends reading  the movie description that appears on the Flattening the Curve news story 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.