Teaching About Viruses: Web Resources and a Reading Lesson

With all of the Ebola and Enterovirus news lately, I created a list of web resources for teachers looking for accurate information and teaching resources on viruses.  All of these links work as of 11/15/2014! 

Viral Life Cycle:
A HHMI Viral Life Cycle Animation:
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/viral-lifecycle

Herpes Life Cycle Animation:
http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/herpessimplex.html

Retrovirus Life Cycle Animation:
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072556781/student_view0/chapter18/animation_quiz_3.html

Flu Resources:

Here is a great NPR video that shows how the flu virus infects our cells.  Start here!  This video is fantastic and will let your students get an idea of how all viruses work: http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2011/06/01/114075029/flu-attack-how-a-virus-invades-your-body

Here is a great Daily Mail article about swine flu researchers.  The article is OK, but it has some great pictures of what a virus lab looks like.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1184455/Battle-killer-bugs-The-lab-viruses-arent-just-welcome--theyre-breeding-them.html

Ebola Resources:

CDC Information about Ebola:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/

A Washington Post showing how much of Africa is actually affected by Ebola. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/11/03/map-the-africa-without-ebola/?hpid=z3

A great info graphic from Huffington Post about Ebola's spread:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/20/ebola-map_n_5516406.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

Enterovirus Resources:
CDC Information about stopping the spread of Enterovirus:
http://www.cdc.gov/non-polio-enterovirus/about/EV-D68.html?s_cid=cdc_homepage_whatsnew_001

HIV Resources:
CDC Information about HIV:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/

This Science Daily article describes HIV infection in the gut and has some nice pictures as well.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140130190451.htm

Information from RED on preventing HIV in babies born to HIV+ mothers:
http://www.red.org/en/learn

Other Virus Resources:

This National Geographic article describes our "virome", the viruses that live inside us already and don't necessarily make us sick.  

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/02/08/your-inner-lions-get-to-know-your-virome/

If you would like a critical reading resource on H1N1 and its spread on airplanes, check out my learning resource below.  My students read this scientific journal article adapted to their reading level and analyze the data by drawing their own airplane seat schematic.  The study examines the first case of H1N1 in Great Britain and how the disease was spread to other airplane passengers.  This article brings up great discussions about health and safety on airplanes and will really get your students thinking!  It also works well as a sub plan and covers a lot of Common Core Science Informational text Standards.

Do you have any other great links you like to use when teaching about viruses?  Please add them to the list by commenting below!