How the Body's Immune System Responds to a Virus

Margaret Mikel                   Robert Fulton Elementary School
                                 5300 South Hermitage
                                 Chicago IL 60609
                                 312-535-9000
                               
Objectives:
                                             
l.  Students will be able to make and explain illustrations that show how
    viruses can appear as foreign invaders in the blood.
2.  Students will be able to show how certain cells can recognize and
    attack the foreign invaders in the blood.
3.  Students will be able to show and explain how certain cells can 
    track down and devour the virus.
4.  Students will role play how the immune system responds to a virus.      

Materials needed:

1.  Large red cloth 
2.  Construction paper
3.  Chalkboard
4.  Double sided magnets
5.  Markers
6.  Scissors

Strategy:

  A.  Background:            
      1.  Discuss the meaning of the human immune system.
      2.  Discuss what the human immune system consist of and where it is
          located.
      3.  Discuss how the healthy body's immune system works.  Use the
          chalkboard and other bulletin board drawings.
      4.  Discuss approximately when and where the AIDS-like virus was
          discovered.
      5.  Name some viruses that can break down the body's immune system.
      6.  Draw and cut out the following large letters in multicolors.
      7.  The letter V will represent the VIRUSES.
      8.  The letter T will represent the T-CELLS.
      9.  The letter B will represent the B-CELLS.
     10.  The letter K will represent the KILLER CELLS.
     11.  The letter A inside a circle will represent the ANTIBODIES.
     12.  The letters "SOS" will represent the emergency call sign.
     13.  One child should be the narrator for the role playing.

Performance Assessment:

      1.  Three children will place their VIRUS signs on the red cloth which
          represents the BLOOD.
      2.  One child will place his/her T-CELL sign on the blood and scream out 
          "VIRUS-VIRUS." 
      3.  Three more children will appear with their T-CELL signs and place them 
          around the VIRUS sign. 
      4.  Two of the children who had the T-cell signs will place the "SOS" 
          signs around the virus and scream out "Emergency-Emergency, B-CELLS, 
          KILLER CELLS."               
      5.  The child with the T-CELL sign begins the attack on the virus. 
      6.  A child with a B-CELL sign comes first and, with an arrow, shoots the 
          A-ANTIBODY at the virus which binds to the virus. 
      7.  Three children with the K signs (KILLER CELLS) move around the blood, 
          track down the viruses, then DEVOUR THEM. 
      8.  The children should remove the VIRUS SIGNS and thus ends the 
          virus in the blood.
      9.  Everything goes back to normal with one exception, the ANTIBODIES stay 
          in the blood.  The antibodies remember the VIRUS and are ready to 
          attack immediately, should the virus ever appear again.  Therefore, 
          once you get a disease, you are immune from getting it again. 

Multicultural Aspects:           

      AIDS -  Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease that breaks down 
      the body's immune system, which is the body's defense against  disease.  
      Therefore, making a person vulnerable to opportunistic infections. 
     
      AIDS infects all ethnic cultures.  The latest research indicates that all 
      ethnic groups around the globe are evenly divided in their involvement 
      with this disease. 
                                                                               
References:                                                             
      
      1. Resource Unit for Family Life Education, 1988.  The Board of Education 
         of the City of Chicago.            
       
      2. The Software Toolworks Illustrated Encyclopedia (TM) (c) 1991 Grolier 
         Electronic Publishing, Inc. 
    
      3. Library in a Book: AIDS,  Flanders, Stephen A. and Carl N.  Copyright 
         1991 by Stephen A. Flanders and Carl N. Flanders.