Cell Wars Assignment (Grade 8)

1) Choose a disease (i.e. AIDS, common cold,

chickenpox).
2) Conduct some research on the disease (at least 3
websites please record in a bibliography bonus points for proper
formatsee here http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_mla_format_examples.shtml
3) Demonstrate the life of your disease using one of the following formats:
Comic strip (illustrate the life of your disease as it invades a healthy

human/animal and ultimately gets defeated by the immune system)

Length: at least 10 detailed panels with text & images
Story (describe the trials and tribulations of the disease as it works its
way through the body) Length: at least 500 words
News report (write an original news report detailing an outbreak of the
disease and including how it spreads and affects humans) Length: at
least 500 words + images/diagrams
Script (design an educational presentation i.e. Bill Nye OR a dramatic
presentation i.e. Osmosis Jones that would teach kids about your
disease) Length: at least 3 minutes
Other (ask Mrs Whyte before beginning)

You will be graded on:

Accuracy of your content (info about the disease)for example:
o How you get it
o How the immune
o How it spreads
system fights it
o Who usually gets it
o How it affects the cells
o Can you die from it?
o How it affects the
human/animal
Creativity of your project (Was your comic attractive? Was your story wellwritten? etc.)
Bibliography (sources accurately documented)
Learning skills (Did you use class time wisely? Was your project on time?)
o Note: You will receive only 2 weeks to work on this project. The rest
must be completed at home)

Good place to start:

- http://teenshealth.org/teen/ (look under Diseases and Conditions
or Infections)
Some good animations
- Virus (simple):
http://biology.about.com/od/virology/a/aa11108a.htm (go to
Animation E for the whole thing)
- Virus (complex): http://www.xvivo.net/zirus-antiviroticscondensed/
- White Blood Cell eating bacteria: http://www.edumediasciences.com/en/a82-phagocytosis
- White Blood Cell chasing bacteria:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnlULOjUhSQ
- Antibodies: http://www.edumedia-sciences.com/en/a84antibodies
- Antibodies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrYlZJiuf18
The textbook and your Toad River School Weebly site also have
some helpful resources and readings.
The Evaluation Criteria:
Criteria

Mark

Comments

Accuracy

/25

Creativity

/10

Bibliography

/5

Learning Skills

/10

Total

/50