Overview

Essential Purpose

The complexities of today’s world are in part a consequence of changes that have been in the making for centuries, even millennia. Important historical continuities can be discerned that link one period with another. And even though history may not repeat itself in any precise way, certain historical patterns do recur. Studying one development in world history in the light of an earlier, similar development can sharpen our understanding of both.

The avian bird flu is one of the latest viruses that has caused
wide spread concerns over a possible pandemic.
source - http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/03/20/azerflu.shtml

National History Standards

World History Across the Eras

Standard 1: Long-term changes and recurring patterns in world history

The student will be able to trace major changes in world population from paleolithic times to the present and explain why these changes occurred, including the effects of major disease pandemics.

State/Local Standards

States should align these modules to their own state/local standards as appropriate.

Essential Questions

What can be learned from studying the effects of a pandemic in one time and place?
To what extent can a pandemic disease affect a society?
To what extent are pandemics inevitable?

Essential Content

Effects of a pandemic on a society:

Black Death
Influenza
AIDS

21st Century Skills

Standards in Historical Thinking

Standard 5: Historical Issues - Analysis and Decision Making

Marshall evidence of antecedent circumstances and contemporary factors contributing to problems and alternative courses of action
Identify issues and problems in the past
Evaluate alternative courses of action

Summative Assessment

This summative assessment is a transfer task that requires students to use knowledge and understandings to perform a task in a new setting or context.

The assessment and scoring guide should be reviewed with students prior to using the lessons in the module. Students should do the assessment after the lessons have been completed.

Essential Questions Addressed by the Summative Assessment

To what extent can a pandemic disease affect a society?
To what extent are pandemics inevitable?

Printable Student View

Prior Knowledge

Now that you have learned about how different populations have been changed by a devastating pandemic and how societies explained its causes, you are ready to apply that knowledge.

Problem

Fears of avian influenza spreading rapidly around the world have led members of the United Nations Security Council to convene a special session to study its potential effects.

Role/Perspective

You are a member of the United States Center for Disease Control. You will address the United Nations Security Council on the threat of avian influenza to human populations.

Product/ Performance

Prepare a multi-media presentation that includes historical patterns of responses to pandemics; comparisons to past efforts to halt the spread of a disease; relevant graphs, charts, and other appropriate data; predictions concerning the potential effects of the pandemic; and suggests a plan for how the pandemic problem might best be solved.

Your presentation should reflect the most current research involving any cooperative efforts, national or international, already underway to address the problem of avian influenza.

Criteria for an Exemplary Response

Be sure to include in your report:

historical patterns of responses to pandemics;
comparisons to past efforts to halt the spread of a disease;
multi-media presentation that includes relevant graphs, charts, and other appropriate data as needed;
predictions concerning the potential effects of the pandemic;
a plan for how the pandemic problem might best be solved.
an annotated bibliography for Security Council members wishing to conduct further research.

Scoring Guide