COVID HACKS
A Science-based Curriculum for the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID Healthy Actions, Community Knowledge, and Science (HACKS) curriculum resources address critical science and health concepts and skills related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons are available for different grade bands: K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12.
COVID HACKS teaching resources engage students in key science and engineering practices, such as asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing or interpreting data, and communicating scientific information. Search the list below for topics relevant to your students.
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Which Fabrics Make the Most Effective Covid-19 Face Covering?
Lesson
Not all fabrics make equally protective face coverings or masks. The selection of material should not be left to chance. In this activity, students construct a mask tester to evaluate the filtering effectiveness of different fabrics.
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Eradicating COVID-19—Not Likely
Lesson
Students read an essay about the history of smallpox, the first case of human vaccination, and the eradication of smallpox as a naturally occurring viral disease in humans.
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How Close is Too close?
Lesson
The COVID-19 infection has made “social distancing” a common phrase. It means that we should keep a physical distance of at least six feet from other people. Why six feet?
Grades: K-2 -
Microbes and Disease
Lesson
Students investigate a sample of microbes and the diseases associated with them, learn how diseases are transmitted and impact society, and create art projects representing the diseases they have studied.
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Defending Against Microbes
Lesson
Students investigate the human immune system and solve a crossword puzzle featuring vocabulary related to the immune system and microbes.
Funding
The COVID HACKS curriculum project is made possible thanks to the support from Laura & John Arnold and Baylor College of Medicine. Scientists, educators, and physicians from Baylor College of Medicine provided content, feedback, and technical reviews.