Excite - epidemiology resources & activities from the CDC

EXCITE! is a program developed by the CDC to teach students about the causes and prevention of disease and injury while improving their research and analytic skills. Students learn the scientific method employed by epidemiologists—or disease detectives—and use what they have learned to solve real disease outbreaks on their own. The materials are geared towards grades 7-12 but can be adapted for the lower grades. 

There is a page on epidemiology in the classroom that explains epidemiology and how to track and investigate and outbreak. There are lesson plans and activities included. There is a resource library available with links to more information and resources. 

The outbreak investigation is a great activity that combines content knowledge and skills. 

This is a great resource for biology and health classes to use (as well as other classes in science, math, and other areas) that teaches content, scientific method, problem solving, critical thinking, and more. 

 

Related:

BAM - Great Education resources from the CDC

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Be The Beat - learn CPR in a fun way - from the American Heart Assoc.

Be The Beat is a great resource from the American Heart Association. The site has educational games and resources to learn CPR. It's a great resource to use with your students to teach them CPR and there are specific resources for educators on the site with lesson plans, posters, training resources, emergency planning resources, information about the challenge competition, and more. HeartTrek is a very cool, 3D exploration game on the site that allows students to learn about heart health, explore a 3D model of the heart, and a virtual cardiac arrest that they can play to try to save a life.

As a paramedic with over 23 years experience, I can tell you that bystander CPR is one of the most critical factors in helping a cardiac arrest victim to survive. Use this site to teach your students how to save a life!

Sudden Cardiac Arrest can strike anyone, anywhere—and when it does, a victim’s chance of survival depends on the people around them. That could mean you! Fast recognition, calling 911, immediate CPR and use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) can double—or even triple—a victim’s chance of survival. So how do we improve the odds?* 

We're Training a Team of Heart Heroes
Be the Beat is an online Sudden Cardiac Arrest awareness initiative to teach teens all across the country the simple steps that can save a life—and create the next generation of lifesavers. 

Don’t Just Stand There!
It only takes a few minutes to learn about a critical skill that could save a life. You can make a difference! Check out the games, music, videos and giveaways here and join the movement of teen lifesavers—just like you—who are ready to step in and Be the Beat if they ever need to.
Teachers and administrators can visit bethebeat.heart.org/schools to find free tools that can help start and sustain CPR and AED programs. 

About the American Heart Association
For more than 40 years, tens of millions of people—from new parents to advanced medical professionals— have trusted the American Heart Association to deliver their lifesaving CPR training programs and materials. We sponsor the international evaluation of current resuscitation science that leads to the American Heart Association Guidelines on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, for CPR training guidelines used by hospitals, schools and EMS systems in the U.S. and around the world.
* Statistics: Almost 80% of sudden cardiac arrests happen outside the hospital, less than 30% of victims receive bystander CPR and only 8% survive to hospital discharge.

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