Project 5.1.6: Lines of Defense

Project 5.1.6: Lines of Defense

Introduction

In this lesson you were introduced to a mystery illness infecting Anna just ten days before her untimely death. When a body is attacked by foreign invaders, such as the bacteria infecting Anna, the body mounts a defense to fight off these unwanted pests.

Inside your body is an amazing system called the immune system that is made up of a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body. In this activity you will explore how the body’s immune system works to defend against the millions of bacteria, microbes, viruses, toxins, and parasites that are constantly trying to invade your body. You will design a board game or a children’s book that showcases how the immune system works to fight infection.

Equipment

· Computer with Internet access

· Laboratory journal

· Poster board

· Colored markers

· Dice

· Game pieces

· Colored construction paper

· Assorted modeling supplies

Procedure

1. Brainstorm all of the ways that the human body can be harmed. Share your ideas with a partner.

2. As a class discuss all of the ways that the human body protects itself from harm.

3. Use appropriate research techniques to investigate the basic structure and function of the immune system. Take notes in your laboratory journal and properly document all sources.

4. With a team of three or four, create a board game or a children’s book that showcases what happens when an antigen (foreign invader) enters the body and how the body’s immune system fights off this invasion. Make sure, at minimum, to include the following terms in your book or game.

o Non-specific defense

o Specific defense

o Skin

o Nose hair

o Mucus

o Inflammation

o B-cells

o Antibodies

o T-cells

o Phagocytes

5. With your team members, decide what type of game or book you want to create. If you decide to make a game, discuss how players will advance or win the game. Create basic rules for game play. If you decide to make a children’s book, decide on the overall “plot” of your story. Make sure that your game or book showcases the science behind protection in the human body.

6. Write an outline of how the game will be played or how the story in the book will progress and make sketches of the various components of the project in your laboratory journal.

7. Determine what materials your team will need to produce the game or the book.

8. When you have a complete sketch of your project, work together to produce a full-size version of your game or a bound copy of your book.

9. Note that a game should include any necessary game pieces or game cards, as well as an instruction sheet on how to play the game. A children’s book should include a front cover, an “about the authors” paragraph on either the inside of the front cover or on the back page, and color graphics. All work should be neat and professional.

10. Follow your teacher’s directions to share your final product with members of your class.

Conclusion

1. Provide an example of both non-specific and specific defense in the body. Pick an invader or injury and describe how the body may respond.

2. What events took place in Anna’s immune system when invaded by the S. marcescens infection? Be specific in your response.

3. Reflect on all of the illnesses Anna Garcia has experienced. Did any of her illnesses studied this year result in a breakdown of her body’s ability to protect?

4. How could a breakdown of the immune system have led to Anna’s untimely death?

Principles of Biomedical Science Project 5.1.6: Lines of Defense – Page 1