Life's Tiny Wee Hings

1. Life's Tiny Wee Hings (c) Hamster Flu = +

2. Hamster `Flu • A new strain of influenza (HA-MMY) is spreading It started in the pet hamsters but soon crossed over to Humans • The disease has severe `flu like symptoms • Though not yet shown to be deadly, it can leave people with a permanent nose twitch!

3. Hamster `Flu • To contain the spread of the disease, people are asked to follow good hygienic practices including “catch it, bin it, kill it” • this means sneeze into a paper handkerchief and throw it away • You are also advised to wash your hands afterwards • But how good is this advice?

4. Hamster `Flu - procedure • The class will be divided into 3 groups (benches) of 5 pupils • The pupils will stand in a row behind (or beside) each other with groups designated as follows • No hankie – no wash • Use the same hankie – no wash • Use hankie – dispose – wash hands

5. Hamster `Flu - procedure Results • Copy and complete the table below as each experiment is carried out

6. Hamster `Flu - results • Hands will be examined using UV light to establish contamination of groups • Worksheet completed YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WASH YOUR HANDS UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE WORKSHEET!

7. Hamster `Flu – procedure 1 • 3cm3 Cream (snot) will be applied to the hands of the first pupil • He/she will turn around and shake hands (FIRMLY) with the person behind them • The second person should then shake hands with the third person and so on until everyone in the group has shaken hands with the person in front of them

8. Hamster `Flu - results • Hands will be examined using UV light to establish contamination of groups • Worksheet completed YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WASH YOUR HANDS UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE WORKSHEET!

9. Results

10. Hamster `Flu – procedure 2 • 3cm3 Cream (snot) is applied to a paper towel and wiped on 1st pupils hands for 20s. • He/she will shake hands with pupils as described in #1.

11. Hamster `Flu - results • Hands will be examined using UV light to establish contamination of groups • Worksheet completed YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WASH YOUR HANDS UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE WORKSHEET!

12. Results

13. Hamster `Flu – procedure 3 • 3cm3 (snot) Cream is applied to a paper towel and wiped on 1st pupils hands for 7s • The paper towel is discarded • He/she will then wash hands for 10s • Pupils shake hands as described in #1.

14. Hamster `Flu - results • Hands will be examined using UV light to establish contamination of groups • Worksheet completed YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WASH YOUR HANDS UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE WORKSHEET!

15. Results

16. Hamster `Flu – results discussion • The method that spread the most microbes was…? • The method that spread the fewest microbes was…? • What is the best way of preventing the spread of Hamster flu? • What difference does using a disposable hanky make? • What difference does washing our hands make?

17. WAIT! • We all washed our hands after the experiment didn’t we? • Lets check how well we have washed by shining the torch on our hands again? • Explanations?

18. Hamster `Flu – results discussion • Summarise (describe) the results of each of the procedures underneath your table

19. Hamster `Flu – Conclusion • Your results are a simulation of the transmission of a viral disease called Hamster Flu • Explain what your results show in terms of disease transmission and discuss what should be done to lessen the spread of disease

20. Further Activity • Design an experiment to compare using a disposable hankie no washing hands with using a disposable hankie AND washing hands • Design an experiment which examines the effectiveness of washing hands

21. Homework - literacy Write a newspaper article on Hamster Flu • What is it? • How is it spread • How can it be contained?

22. Additional activity – Numeracy 1 Use the completed worksheet to find the percentage of the class population that… • Showed symptoms of flu (A, B or C) • Caught full blown Hamster flu (A) The school has a population of about 400 people. How many people would we expect to • Show symptoms of flu • Catch full blown Hamster flu

23. Additional activity – Numeracy 2 A cure is available. It costs £1 million to cure a person • How much will need to be spent to cure the class? • How much will need to be spent to cure the school (400 people)

24. Additional activity – Numeracy 3 A vaccine has been produced. It costs £1 million to vaccinate a person • How much will need to be spent to vaccinate the class? • How much will be needed to vaccinate the school?

25. Additional activity – Moral Dilemma 1 The class is a small country with a budget of £3million to spend on health. How much should be spent on curing Hamster Flu? • Who should get the cure (if any)? • How much should be spent on vaccination? • Who should be vaccinated?

26. Additional activity – Moral Dilemma 2 Hamster flu has mutated and is now causing deaths in full blown cases. The class is a small country with a budget of £3million to spend on health. How much should be spent on curing Hamster Flu? • Who should get the cure (if any)? • How much should be spent on vaccination? • Who should be vaccinated?