A group of teachers attended a picnic; ten became sick and another four died. Young scholars must solve the mystery of what happened. They research the river, waste water treatment plant, each food that was served, and environmental factors to determine how to prevent future outbreaks. 

Concepts

diseases, pathogens, poison, bacteria

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Have regular and damaged cans of food on a shelf, but don't point them out to class members

Classroom Considerations

• Activity is a culmination of the first seven lessons, but it is best fitted for advanced students
• If you are adapting it for your school and using the names of people in the building, be sure to let all included teachers know about the lesson
• The final lesson in a series of nine

Pros

• Includes sheets you can customize for your school and teachers
• Activity is highly engaging and requires higher-level thinking skills
• Provides step-by-step instructions for presenting the mystery and a grading rubric

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.8