Host Cells Teacher Resources

What do you really know about the common cold? Introduce learners to viruses, their components, and how they use host cells to replicate and infect more cells. Pupils identify the type of virus that causes the common cold and get...

How do viruses hijack our cells to produce more viral particles? Junior immunologists model how viral RNA integrates into a host cell's DNA using pop beads and use interactive tools to explore a virus' genome. The teacher's guide...

An informative video explains viruses' genetic information and their protein coats as well as the envelopes that allow entry into host cells. 

The parts of HIV are pointed out while the steps of the virus to overtake a cell are listed. Highly scientific terms make this resource appropriate for an advanced placement or college level biology course.

Curing cancer with ... another virus? Chemotherapy and radiation are not the only ways to treat cancer. Now, there is a unique treatment involving infecting cells with viruses. Viewers discover why the innovative treatment does not...

The spread of an infectious disease can be a complicated process. Using a game approach, learners reenact the spread of the West Nile virus. They learn the need for the vector in transmitting the disease and how different organisms react...

In this viruses and bacteria worksheet, students will read information comparing the characteristics of bacteria and viruses. Then students will match 8 statements as either describing a virus or a bacteria.

In this viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi worksheet, students will review the basic characteristics of each of these groups. Students will complete 7 fill in the blank questions about viruses, 6 true or false questions about...

Cell membranes contain many contradictions; for example, they are both oily and strong. The video explains the parts of a cell membrane, the function of each part, and discusses the contradictions. It highlights what happens when...

Germs, parasites, and viruses, oh my! Facilitate a instructional activity on viruses as individuals explore functions of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. They learn how viruses compare with other organisms in nature and how they...

Most pupils know about the flu, HIV, and other viruses, but they don't know what each actually looks like. This interactive shows their relative size, structure, and allows for comparisons. It stresses the similarities and differences...

How do some viruses spread so quickly, and why do they make us feel terrible? Answer these (and many more) questions through a simple yet impactful lessons. Pupils observe demonstrations that show the two methods viruses use to escape...

Are viruses living or non-living? According to the presentation, they are both and neither. Clearly, this requires clarification and an in-depth look at viruses, viroids, and prions. Young scientists learn about the history, structure,...

While most strains of E. coli exist harmlessly inside our digestive tracts, some strains cause serious illness and even death. Watch the infection strategy of E. coli as it attacks a cell. The animation shares both what happens inside...

Dengue Virus leads to the deaths of around 25,000 people, mostly children, every year. Scientists understand how the virus gets into cells and replicates, but they still struggle to prevent it. Curious scholars view an animation of the...

Almost half of the global population infected with HIV cannot afford treatment. To better understand this devastating disease, young scientists observe the life cycle of HIV.  Through animation, they see the cell infection, replication,...

Bacteria are pesky little organisms that can often easily infect us. But how? Salmonella bacteria literally gets under our skin. Viewers see how the dangerous bacteria protects itself from defense mechanisms inside the cell.

For as small as they are, there sure is a lot of information for young scientists to learn about bacteria. Help simplify the subject with this instructional presentation that explores the structure, nutrition, and reproduction of...

Where would we be without bacteria? As it turns out, we owe them everything! Introduce young biologists to endosymbiotic theory using an amazing video from an extensive biology playlist. Scholars discover the bacteria that may be...

Chromosomes contain keys to history including links from royalty to Neanderthals. Young scientists learn about Ivan Wallin's research into chromosomes with an animation and videos. Then, the concept connects to mysteries related to...

Everything evolved from a common ancestor, but how did modern plants and animals develop so many more genes? Scholars use an online interactive to learn about the process. They begin to understand common genes with an animation, multiple...

How do doctors fight a virus that's constantly mutating? Show science scholars how we fight HIV using one of its own most fundamental processes through a thoughtful demonstration. The lesson focuses on how protease inhibitors prevent HIV...

More than 144 sub-types of influenza A exist today. How is that possible? Scholars view an animation of a cell being attacked by two different strains of the flu. Then the strains mix, creating an entirely new third strain. The idea of...

Not all viruses are bad, but are all retroviruses groovy? The lesson plan starts with a detailed presentation before scholars create their own model of a virus. The resource incorporates many worksheets and practice questions to...