Date: November 6, 1999

Grade Level(s): 5, 6, 7, 8

Subject(s):

• Health/Body Systems and senses

Duration: Independent study - 45 minutes to one hour sessions

Description: A WebQuest about Polio. The activities are Internet based. In the 1950's one of the most terrifying words to any parent was "polio". As a child of the fifties, I remember my mother being very careful about things like playing with the garden hose, splashing in the rain and stomping in mud puddles. No one knew where polio came from and parents were terrified of their children catching this crippling disease. Do you know who Dr. Salk is? Have you ever seen an iron lung? Come with me on a journey into the past and listen to survivors tell about their experience with this debilitating disease.

Goals: Students will gain an increased understanding of Polio.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Read and answer questions about polio
2. Learn about other microbes.
3. Using "real player" listen to a survivor tell his story.
4. Using a world map, list areas that are known transmission areas, high risk areas and low risk areas.
5. Visit other web sites to learn about polio.

Materials: Computer with an Internet connection.

Procedure:

All activities are done from this address: http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/sullivan/colonial/polio.htm

I recommend that students hand write their report to avoid cutting and pasting information from the web sites.

Students will engage in the following activities in the order provided:

1. Access the web site and read and write about the article "Will and Wits Defeat a Crippling Opponent" by Greg Henderson.
2. Play "fight the invaders" on this same web site to learn about other microbes.
3. E-mail experts with questions about polio.
4. Using real player, listen to the story of a polio survivor.
5. Using a world map, list areas that are known transmission areas, high risk areas and low risk areas.
5. Visit other web sites to learn more about polio.

Assessment: A grading rubric is included on the web site. Just a mouse click and print it out, if needed.

Useful Internet Resources: This whole activity is done on the internet from this address: