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RICE Web Adventures: MedMyst Games - Viruses and Vaccines
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Activity Description
This site from Rice University offers seven different games to help students learn about microbiology and how scientific work is conducted in the real world. Assign these games to students who are learning about the scientific method, scientific research, microbiology, and careers in science.
Preparation
Choose and preview the game you want your students to play. In this example, we will play Nemesis in Neuropolis. This game teaches about viruses and vaccines.
Enter the For Teachers section, preview the group activities for students, choose the one(s) you want to do and print the necessary handouts and answer keys.
Once you introduce your students to the concepts, let them play the game on their own or in pairs. Emphasize that they should explore every option in order to get the most from the game.
How-To
- Introduce the concepts of virus and vaccine, and explain that you will learn how to identify a virus, and how to create a vaccine, and what the risks of vaccines are.
- You might want to preview the vocabulary before students play the game. There is a vocabulary worksheet provided on the teacher site under Teacher Materials, with an answer key.
- Assign students to play the game on the computer, alone or with a partner. The teacher resources offer a Mission Log which will help students take notes and remember what they learn.
- When students have finished the game (the site suggests this will take about 30 minutes), review key concepts such as virus, vaccine, RNA.
- The Teacher Materials offer handouts for small group projects related to the topic. For instance, for Nemesis in Neuropolis, there are two whole group activities that teach about viral transmission and about the body's defense against viruses. Both activities take some prep and should be previewed before using.
Teacher Tips
- Be sure to preview and choose your handouts before you send your students to the game.
- Best taught in a computer lab with Internet access, where students can work individually or in pairs.
More Ways
- The classroom activities handouts contain suggestions for extension activities.
- Teacher Materials for each game include an issue of MedMyst magazine with additional articles for practice reading scientific information.
Program Areas
- ASE: High School Diploma
Lesson Plan
1. Objective: Activate prior knowledge and engage students.
- Begin with a brief class discussion: “What do you know about viruses and vaccines?”
- Show a short, engaging video or animation about how vaccines work (e.g., a 2-minute video on the immune system fighting a virus).
- Use a quick interactive poll (e.g., Kahoot or Mentimeter) to gauge students’ familiarity with key terms like virus, vaccine, and immune system.
2. Interactive Element:
- Ask students to brainstorm examples of vaccines they’ve heard about (e.g., flu, COVID-19) and their importance. Write responses on the board or use a digital collaboration tool like Padlet.
1. Objective: Provide context for the activity and explain the learning goals.
- Introduce the topic: “Today, we’ll explore how scientists identify viruses and develop vaccines through an interactive game called ‘Nemesis in Neuropolis.’”
- Briefly explain the purpose of the activity: “You will act as a scientist, learning about viral transmission, vaccine development, and how the body fights infections.”
2. Pre-Teach Vocabulary:
- Distribute a vocabulary worksheet (available from the teacher resources).
Discuss terms like:
-
- Virus
- Vaccine
- RNA
- Immune system
- Use visuals or quick examples to clarify concepts.
Objective: Demonstrate the game and related activities.
- Show students how to access the MedMyst game and briefly demonstrate navigation.
- Emphasize the importance of exploring all game options to gather knowledge.
Interactive Setup:
- Divide the class into pairs to foster collaboration.
- Distribute the Mission Log handout so students can take notes during gameplay.
1. Objective: Allow students to engage actively with the content.
- Students play the game Nemesis in Neuropolis (individually or in pairs).
- As they play, they use the Mission Log to record:
- Characteristics of viruses.
- Steps for creating a vaccine.
- Risks and benefits of vaccines.
2. Teacher Role:
- Circulate the room to assist students, answer questions, and ensure engagement.
Objective: Assess student understanding of key concepts.
Conduct a whole-class discussion to review:
What is a virus?
How is a vaccine created?
How does the immune system respond to viruses?
Use a quiz (digital or paper) with questions based on the game content and vocabulary.
Group Activity:
Students participate in a hands-on activity from the Teacher Materials. For example:
Simulate viral transmission using a simple classroom game.
Model the immune system’s response with group role-play (e.g., assigning roles like virus, antibody, vaccine).
1. Objective: Extend learning beyond the classroom.
- Assign students to research a current vaccine (e.g., flu or COVID-19) and create a short presentation or infographic on:
- The virus it targets.
- How the vaccine works.
- Its impact on public health.
2. Interactive Extension:
- Provide students with the MedMyst magazine articles for additional reading and discussion on scientific careers or microbiology concepts.
Subjects
- Science
- Biology
- General Science
- Health and Life Science
Tags
Creative Commons License
