Adaptation 3: Linking Patient Pictures

To allow students to better organize the large amounts of clues and data necessary to solve the mystery of the cause and carriers of the disease, I developed a Linking Patient Pictures activity and packet.

Patient profile descriptions were laminated and given to each team as directed in the Teachers Guide, but adaptations were made for those students who are poor or non-readers.

1. "Colorful Clues"

Patient Profiles were read aloud while students listened for clues. Using color coded highlighters (blue for location clues; yellow for symptom clues; pink for transportation clues; and green for other clues) each student highlighted those clues as he heard them. In summation, and to check for understanding, students shared their clues as the teacher completed a group profile on the board based on student responses. In order to share a clue, a student has to explain why he thinks that this information is significant.

2. "Hear the Facts"

Profiles were read and recorded on tape by skilled student readers for those less skilled to use for reference as needed.

3. "Patient Pictures"

As homework, students were asked to sketch each patient based on details from the readings. Upon completion, each class voted on the best cartoons or drawings of the patients to be displayed in our classroom "Gallery of Disease." Pictures selected were enlarged on the copy machine and mounted at the top of a large chart paper for display. They were also made smaller on the copy machine, and copied on the top of a letter size page. Each student received a packet of the letter-size version for recording clues and data as collected.

4. "Get the Facts"

As the students completed various parts of the module and heard presentations by other classmates in their role playing, all completed the following worksheet:

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Linking Patient Pictures

Directions:

I. For each patient picture in the packet

1. Identify the name of the patient.
2. List clues, symptoms from the picture that helped you guess the name.
3. List any other connections you can make to link this patients with others in the packet.

II. On each picture, copy the following list and write answers for each item:

1. Patient name______________________
2. Patient number_____________________
3. Clues and symptoms________________
4. Other connections __________________

III. After identifying the patients and completing each patient page, use the Thinking Guide to help solve the mystery disease and find patient zero, the person who first had the disease.