A tick is attached to a sock.
Oliver Dodd, CC BY 2.0
Pathway Summary
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
The pathway begins with students exploring Lyme disease, its prevalence in their area, and its relationship to ticks. They observe that cases of tick-borne illnesses have increased since 2012 in Illinois and develop an initial model to explain why tick-borne illnesses are on the rise in their state. Students then create a Driving Question Board and identify ideas for further investigation.
Investigate lessons
Across three Investigate lessons, students gather evidence about the causes of tick-borne diseases and about how ticks reproduce. They also learn about the ideal temperatures for tick reproduction and how temperature changes influence their life cycle.
Synthesize lesson
In the Synthesize lesson, students examine additional data about average temperature increases and coordinate evidence from their investigations to revise their models and construct an explanation for why tick populations and related illnesses are increasing.
Culminating task
In a culminating task that follows the Climate Education Pathways base unit, students are given an opportunity to create a presentation for an external audience: the local department of public health. In their presentations, students use the evidence gathered throughout their investigations to communicate their concerns and provide recommendations for actions that could help reduce Lyme disease in their region.
This local unit is adapted from the work of teachers and University of Illinois scientists and science educators as part of PAGES (Progressing through the Ages: Global change, Evolution, and Societal well-being). PAGES was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R25GMR129196 and the University of Illinois.
Phenomenon
Tick populations and cases of tick-borne illnesses are increasing in Illinois.
Community
Eureka, IL is a small rural-surburban community located east of Peoria in Central Illinois. Over the last several years, the Illinois Department of Health has noticed an increase in cases of tick-borne diseases throughout the state, including in the county Eureka is located in. Additionally, ticks are now seen during winter months, an uncommon time of year for them to be found.
Materials Available
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
3 Investigate lessons
1 Synthesize lesson
1 Culminating task
Key Features
Rural-suburban
Human health
Educator Insight
Teacher: Michelle Monk
Why I chose this phenomenon
We are in Central IL -- a rural area with a lot of opportunity for outside activities -- hunting, hiking, biking, etc. I've noticed a rise in the number of ticks and tick-borne infections locally. Upon a cursory research session, I realized the phenomenon was being investigated by the IDPH as well. Coincidentally, as our unit progressed in mid-February, we experienced a short-lived "heat wave" in central IL. Multiple students hiked that weekend and found ticks on their pets and themselves -- in February. This spurred even more interest as they realized that there should NOT be ticks in Central IL in February!
How my students responded
Upon completion of the unit, students verbalized how investigating a local phenomenon was more impactful than investigating the Pacific Northwest or Africa!!
