Viral Structure Teacher Resources

Create a protective protein shell as a package. Using the included template, pupils tape together 20 triangles to create a 20-sided shape to represent the protective shell of a virus. The model of the protein shell incases the nucleic...

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...

Viruses might be deadly, but they appear beautiful when analyzed geometrically. View the shapes, colors, and structures of a few viruses. The repeating structures and genes help to identify them along with genomic information.

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

How do reverse transcriptase inhibitors work? Young virologists examine the function of azidothymidine, a drug doctors use to treat HIV patients, during a hands-on modeling activity. Groups create a strand of DNA from an HIV RNA strand...

The dengue virus looks like a ball with multiple layers. View an animation of each layer while hearing a description of its properties, from the outer symmetrical units to the lipid envelope, the capsid, and finally the RNA genome.

A brief presentation introduces viewers to the world of viruses. Viral structure, virus categories, and the lytic cycle are displayed. The first slide needs to include actual diagrams of viruses to make the structure clear. The final...

Students are organized into groups of four. On Day 1 they are given a worksheet about viruses and their effects on the evolution of a rabbit population. After about 30 minutes of group work, a class discussion of the material begins. ...

High schoolers investigate the structure and adaptability of viruses. In this viral diseases instructional activity, students play a game to introduce viruses and disease. They conduct computer research and complete interactive...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

This PowerPoint summarizes details about the virus from the structure and reproduction methods to the different modes of infection.  Various viral diseases of animals and plants, viroids, prions and genetic origins of viruses are...

Students explore the hidden world of microbes and how our bodies spring into action in response to diseases. This ten lesson unit presents data on several microbial diseases and the reaction of the body's immune system.

Students study the characteristics of living things and explore the characteristics of viruses including their structure, function, and reproductive cycles. They also explore the impact of viruses on human health by discussing common...

In this nervous system worksheet, students review the structure and function of the central nervous system. This worksheet has 1 drawing and 17 fill in the blank statements.

Students research one of the many types of viruses. They create a 3-D model of the virus they researched with graphics software.

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,...

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...

AZT, developed in the 1960s to treat cancer, actually treats HIV as well. Viewers observe how AZT blocks the reverse transcriptase of HIV. Then they see what happens when the virus mutates to be immune to AZT.

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...

Young scholars identify basic similarities and differences between B- and T-lymphocytes, stressing function, location, and role. They complete a worksheet that requires them to apply knowledge about ELISA and antibodies.

When they do, they learn. Using this resource, young mathematicians learn about platonic solids by actually building, touching, and examining the shapes. They connect their observations about the shapes to Euler's formula.