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bundle.

© Tangstar Science

More articles can be found in the COMPLETE BUNDLE of Science Reading Articles for 35% OFF.

This bundle drops the price of each article down from

$ 2.99 to $ 1.94. Article #1: Why We Love and Hate Spicy Foods (Gr.7-12) Article #2: Tears Tears Everywhere (Gr.7-12) Article #3: Beyond the Appendix: Vestigial Structures (Gr.8-12) Article #4: Dung Beetles: Where Did All the Poo Go? (Gr.7-12) Article #5: Cancer Sniffing Dogs (Gr.7-12) Article #6: Hyponatremia: Death by Water (Gr.9-12) Article #7: Body Fat: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly Truth (Gr.8-12) Article #8: Photosynthetic Animals (Gr.8-12) Article #9: Diamonds, the Truth behind the Bling (Gr.8-12) Article #10: Facebook Blues: Is Facebook Making you Unhappy (Gr.7-12) Article #11: The Making of Human Hermaphrodites (Gr.9-12) Article #12: Are Bed Bugs Keeping You Awake? (Gr.8-12) Article #13: Miraculous Medical Maggots (Gr.7-12) Article #14: How Anabolic Steroids Work (Gr.8-12) Article #15: The Science of Sleep (Gr.7-12) Article #16: Parasites Create Zombie Snails (Gr.7-12) Article #17: Breathing and Peeing in Space (Gr.7-12) Article #18: Is it Ironman? No, it’s Alloyman! (Gr.8-12) Article #19: Immortal Cancer Cells (Gr.9-12) Article #20: Endangered Soil (Gr.7-12) Article #21: Sex-Changing Fish (Gr.7-12) Article #22: Fecal Transplants (Gr.7-12)

Article #23: Human Cyborgs vs. Bionic Humans (Gr.7-12) Article #24: Black Holes Explained (Gr.9-12)

Article #25: The Science and Evolution of Skin Color (Gr.8-12) Article #26: Tanning, UV Radiation and Skin Cancer (Gr.7-12) Article #27: Lobotomies, Who Needs All that Brain? (Gr.7-12) Article #28: The Importance of Bees (Gr.8-12) Article #29: Antibiotics, Penicillin and Beyond (Gr.9-12) Article #30: Addicted to Sugar (Gr.7-12)

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Science Classroom Uses All Grades:

1) Sub plan – no prep printable; easy to assign and collect. 2) In school suspension plan – have something ready for these difficult

days 3) Independent work for early finishers – always have a set of printable

articles with questions handy. 4) No prep extra credit assignment – easy to assign and mark. 5) Warm up at the beginning of class – start your day with science

literacy 6) Assign at the beginning of the week and take up at the end of the

week – get a reading routine going. 7) Assign as homework and take up next day.

Younger Grades: (Gr. 7-10)

1) Read along with the class or with student volunteer readers. Give time for students to work on answers individually or in small groups. Take up answers after. (30-45 minutes)

Older Grades: (Gr. 11 & 12)

1) Individual warmup work at the beginning of the class. Take up answers at the end of the warm up period or at the end of class. (15-25 minutes in class)

2) Individual warmup work at the beginning of the class. Assign questions for homework and take up the next morning. (10-15 minutes in class)

ELA Classroom Uses

Use the article as a non-fiction informational text for close reading. Questions have been provided but you can choose to include your own reflection questions for more in-depth analysis.

© Tangstar Science

SCIENCE READING ARTICLES

© Tangstar Science

Article Number • Easy for keeping track of articles

Science Disciplines Covered in Article

• Simplifies choosing articles for specific subject areas

Images • At least one image to

help draw interest and reinforce concepts

Useful Features of this Article

Numbered Paragraphs • Useful for referencing

sections of the article • Numbers are also

referenced in the answers to easily find the passages containing the correct answers

SCIENCE READING ARTICLES

© Tangstar Science

There is a call for increased science literacy in NGSS and TEKS as well as in most science classes globally. Engaging science articles, which are interesting and relevant to students, are a

great no-prep way of meeting these science literacy requirements. They also make for great sub plans.

NGSS: Science Reading Standard #1 (Grade 6-12) – “The notion of close reading in Reading Standard 1 emphasizes the use of asking and refining questions in order to answer them with evidence that is either explicitly stated or implied.” NGSS: Science Reading Standard #2 (Grade 6-12) – “That ability to determine and clearly state or summarize a salient scientific concept or phenomena lies at the heart of Reading Standard 2.” NGSS: Science Reading Standard #7 (Grade 6-12) – “Reading Standard 7 speaks directly to the importance of asking questions about and evaluating data presented in different formats.” NGSS: Science Reading Standard #10 (Grade 6-12) – “Reading Standard 10 asks students to read complex informational texts in these fields with independence and confidence.” NGSS: Science Writing Standard #2 (Grade 6-12) – “With a focus on clearly communicating complex ideas and information by critically choosing, arranging, and analyzing information, Writing Standard 2 requires students to develop theories with the end goal of explanation in mind.” TEKS for Science in Middle School - Knowledge and Skills – 3.A “in all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning.....so as to encourage critical thinking by the student.” TEKS for Science in High School - Knowledge and Skills – 3.B “The student is expected to communicate and apply scientific information extracted from various sources such as current events, news reports, published journal articles, and marketing materials.”

NOTE ON PRINTING: I have provided the article with and without questions. Included is also options for optimized single-sided or double-sided printing. Choose which one you prefer.

• For Single-Sided Article Printing with Questions Print pages #6 & 7 • For Single-Sided Article Printing without Questions Print pages #6 & 8 • For Double-Sided Article Printing with Questions Print pages #6 & 9 • For Double-Sided Article Printing without Questions Print pages #6 & 10 • Suggestions for Implementation are on Page #2

• Answer Key is on Page #11

Science Reading Articles: I love using articles to help support classroom resources, however, it is often a challenge to find good articles that engage students as well as ones written in a language that they can understand. Online sources are sometimes risky because the links to them may fail in the future. Formatting online articles to print is also sometimes a challenge and can waste a lot of paper. Text books usually have case studies that are too short to be useful. Due to these types of frustrations, I have written a collection of engaging science reading articles to help make no-prep articles ready at your disposal. They are also great for sub plans. Please enjoy this free sample!

SCIENCE READING ARTICLES

© Tangstar Science

(1) Every year the medical community urges the public to get the flu shot to prevent people from getting sick with the flu during the flu season. In North America, the flu season typically goes from October to May and peaks in February. Many people choose to get the flu shot but have no idea what it is, how it was created or what it actually does. (2) The flu is a disease caused by the influenza virus or flu virus for short. A virus is a small but non-living infectious particle. There are many strains of the flu virus. A strain is a variation of the flu virus. These strains all tend to do similar things like give you a runny or stuffed up nose, sore throat, fever, body aches, chills and fatigue. (3) Some influenza strains are more virulent than others. Virulence determines the ability of the virus to cause disease. A virus with greater virulence is more dangerous. You may catch two different strains of flu virus, but one may be able to make you sicker than the other. The Spanish Flu of 1918 was caused by an extremely virulent strain of the H1N1 influenza virus. Unlike most flu strains that target young, old and sick individuals, the 1918 strain targeted healthy individuals and killed them instead of just giving them the typical flu symptoms. The Spanish flu virus killed 3-5% percent of the world’s population (50 million – 100 million people), making it one of the largest infectious disease disasters to date. (4) Some strains of the flu virus prefer certain hosts over others. A host is the organism that the influenza virus infects. For example, there are different strains of swine flu virus. Most of these strains prefer pigs as hosts. If a cat gets infected by the swine flu virus, it most likely won’t get sick because it is not the preferred host. In some cases, the influenza virus can change by mutating and this makes it capable of infecting more than its typical host species. In 2009, there was an outbreak of the swine flu within human populations. When it mutated, swine flu H1N1 developed the ability to jump from its usual pig hosts to human hosts. (5) Since the influenza virus can mutate, this also allows it to confuse and trick the immune system. Normally, when your body is exposed to

immunology public health medical

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FLU SHOT 0

© Tangstar Science

Scien

ce Literacy

Warm

Up

to new viruses or bacteria, your immune system will memorize the outside coatings of these microorganisms. Each coating contains a very unique set of proteins called antigens that allow the immune system to recognize the same virus in the future. For example, when children get the chicken pox for the first time, they usually never get it again because their immune systems will be able to memorize the chicken pox virus antigens. If exposed to this virus again in the future, the immune system recognizes the virus immediately and can destroy it before it has a chance to multiply. However, when a virus is capable of mutating, it can change its antigens making it hard for the immune system to recognise it. The chicken pox virus mutates very slowly so the immune system can recognize this virus year after year. The influenza virus, however, mutates quickly and this causes frequent antigens changes, making it difficult for the immune system to detect the virus. This is why a new flu shot needs to be made yearly to deal with the new antigens. (6) A flu shot is a vaccine that contains antigens from flu virus strains. A vaccine works by “introducing” the immune system to the possible antigens that belong to viruses it has not encountered yet, but may encounter in the future. When the antigens in the vaccine are detected, the immune system will create memory cells which will be able to detect these antigens on real viruses in the future. (7) The typical flu shot contains vaccines for three strains of influenza virus. Every February, the World Health Organization (WHO) announces the three most likely strains of influenza virus that will hit the public in the upcoming flu season. This will give flu vaccine manu

manufacturers several months to create a vaccine with the proper antigens for these three strains. The strains are typically Type A H1N1, Type A H3N2 and a Type B strain. Since there are three strains, this flu shot is called the trivalent vaccine. There is also a quadrivalent vaccine that covers an additional Type B strain. If the WHO correctly predicts which strains will hit the public, the flu shot will be more effective. If they don’t predict correctly, then the flu shot is less effective. (8) The flu vaccine is made by injecting the flu virus into fertilized chicken eggs. Eggs that are 11 to 12 days old are chosen and disinfected. A

1) A _________________ is a non-living infectious particle. The different varieties of flu viruses are called _________________. The Spanish flu outbreak occurred in _________. The ________________________________ determines which strains of influenza virus will most likely be those that are the most active during the flu season. An __________________ is a part of the viral coating that the immune system recognizes. _________________ flu shots contain antigens from three strains of flu virus.

2) When are you the most likely to get the flu if you live in North America?

3) If a certain strain of bacteria was called “highly virulent”, what does this mean?

4) How was the Spanish flu different from the regular flu?

5) What is a host?

6) How does your immune system remember a virus that you’ve been exposed to?

7) Why does a new flu shot need to be made each year?

8) What host is used to make the flu vaccine and why can this host be a problem for some people?

Article Questions

© Tangstar Science

Scien

ce Literacy

Warm

Up

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FLU SHOT 0

A small hole is poked into the egg shell and the flu virus strains are injected inside. The hole is then sealed with wax. The virus incubates within the egg at 37C/99F for 48 hours during which time the virus will multiply. After 48 hours, the egg is cracked open and the flu virus is obtained in the fluid. The flu virus is then deactivated and the antigens in the viral coating are isolated and purified. The antigens are then used to make the vaccine which is put into an injectable needle or nasal spray. There are also methods to grow viruses in cell cultures that don’t involve chicken eggs. This is to prevent some allergic reactions that can occur in people who may be allergic to eggs.

immunology public health medical

manufacturers several months to create a vaccine with the proper antigens for these three strains. The strains are typically Type A H1N1, Type A H3N2 and a Type B strain. Since there are three strains, this flu shot is called the trivalent vaccine. There is also a quadrivalent vaccine that covers an additional Type B strain. If the WHO correctly predicts which strains will hit the public, the flu shot will be more effective. If they don’t predict correctly, then the flu shot is less effective. (8) The flu vaccine is made by injecting the flu virus into fertilized chicken eggs. Eggs that are 11 to 12 days old are chosen and disinfected. A

© Tangstar Science

Scien

ce Literacy

Warm

Up

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FLU SHOT 0

A small hole is poked into the egg shell and the flu virus strains are injected inside. The hole is then sealed with wax. The virus incubates within the egg at 37C/99F for 48 hours during which time the virus will multiply. After 48 hours, the egg is cracked open and the flu virus is obtained in the fluid. The flu virus is then deactivated and the antigens in the viral coating are isolated and purified. The antigens are then used to make the vaccine which is put into an injectable needle or nasal spray. There are also methods to grow viruses in cell cultures that don’t involve chicken eggs. This is to prevent some allergic reactions that can occur in people who may be allergic to eggs.

immunology public health medical

manufacturers several months to create a vaccine with the proper antigens for these three strains. The strains are typically Type A H1N1, Type A H3N2 and a Type B strain. Since there are three strains, this flu shot is called the trivalent vaccine. There is also a quadrivalent vaccine that covers an additional Type B strain. If the WHO correctly predicts which strains will hit the public, the flu shot will be more effective. If they don’t predict correctly, then the flu shot is less effective. (8) The flu vaccine is made by injecting the flu virus into fertilized chicken eggs. Eggs that are 11 to 12 days old are chosen and disinfected. A

1) A _________________ is a non-living infectious particle. The different varieties of flu viruses are called _________________. The Spanish flu outbreak occurred in _________. The ________________________________ determines which strains of influenza virus will most likely be those that are the most active during the flu season. An __________________ is a part of the viral coating that the immune system recognizes. _________________ flu shots contain antigens from three strains of flu virus.

2) When are you the most likely to get the flu if you live in North America?

3) If a certain strain of bacteria was called “highly virulent”, what does this mean?

4) How was the Spanish flu different from the regular flu?

5) What is a host?

6) How does your immune system remember a virus that you’ve been exposed to?

7) Why does a new flu shot need to be made each year?

8) What host is used to make the flu vaccine and why can this host be a problem for some people?

Article Questions

© Tangstar Science

Scien

ce Literacy

Warm

Up

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FLU SHOT 0

A small hole is poked into the egg shell and the flu virus strains are injected inside. The hole is then sealed with wax. The virus incubates within the egg at 37C/99F for 48 hours during which time the virus will multiply. After 48 hours, the egg is cracked open and the flu virus is obtained in the fluid. The flu virus is then deactivated and the antigens in the viral coating are isolated and purified. The antigens are then used to make the vaccine which is put into an injectable needle or nasal spray. There are also methods to grow viruses in cell cultures that don’t involve chicken eggs. This is to prevent some allergic reactions that can occur in people who may be allergic to eggs.

immunology public health medical

manufacturers several months to create a vaccine with the proper antigens for these three strains. The strains are typically Type A H1N1, Type A H3N2 and a Type B strain. Since there are three strains, this flu shot is called the trivalent vaccine. There is also a quadrivalent vaccine that covers an additional Type B strain. If the WHO correctly predicts which strains will hit the public, the flu shot will be more effective. If they don’t predict correctly, then the flu shot is less effective. (8) The flu vaccine is made by injecting the flu virus into fertilized chicken eggs. Eggs that are 11 to 12 days old are chosen and disinfected. A

© Tangstar Science

Scien

ce Literacy

Warm

Up

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FLU SHOT 0

A small hole is poked into the egg shell and the flu virus strains are injected inside. The hole is then sealed with wax. The virus incubates within the egg at 37C/99F for 48 hours during which time the virus will multiply. After 48 hours, the egg is cracked open and the flu virus is obtained in the fluid. The flu virus is then deactivated and the antigens in the viral coating are isolated and purified. The antigens are then used to make the vaccine which is put into an injectable needle or nasal spray. There are also methods to grow viruses in cell cultures that don’t involve chicken eggs. This is to prevent some allergic reactions that can occur in people who may be allergic to eggs.

immunology public health medical

manufacturers several months to create a vaccine with the proper antigens for these three strains. The strains are typically Type A H1N1, Type A H3N2 and a Type B strain. Since there are three strains, this flu shot is called the trivalent vaccine. There is also a quadrivalent vaccine that covers an additional Type B strain. If the WHO correctly predicts which strains will hit the public, the flu shot will be more effective. If they don’t predict correctly, then the flu shot is less effective. (8) The flu vaccine is made by injecting the flu virus into fertilized chicken eggs. Eggs that are 11 to 12 days old are chosen and disinfected. A

1) A _________________ is a non-living infectious particle. The different varieties of flu viruses are called _________________. The Spanish flu outbreak occurred in _________. The ________________________________ determines which strains of influenza virus will most likely be those that are the most active during the flu season. An __________________ is a part of the viral coating that the immune system recognizes. _________________ flu shots contain antigens from three strains of flu virus.

2) When are you the most likely to get the flu if you live in North America?

3) If a certain strain of bacteria was called “highly virulent”, what does this mean?

4) How was the Spanish flu different from the regular flu?

5) What is a host?

6) How does your immune system remember a virus that you’ve been exposed to?

7) Why does a new flu shot need to be made each year?

8) What host is used to make the flu vaccine and why can this host be a problem for some people?

Article Questions

© Tangstar Science

Scien

ce Literacy

Warm

Up

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FLU SHOT 0

A small hole is poked into the egg shell and the flu virus strains are injected inside. The hole is then sealed with wax. The virus incubates within the egg at 37C/99F for 48 hours during which time the virus will multiply. After 48 hours, the egg is cracked open and the flu virus is obtained in the fluid. The flu virus is then deactivated and the antigens in the viral coating are isolated and purified. The antigens are then used to make the vaccine which is put into an injectable needle or nasal spray. There are also methods to grow viruses in cell cultures that don’t involve chicken eggs. This is to prevent some allergic reactions that can occur in people who may be allergic to eggs.

virus (2) strains (2) 1918 (3) World Health Organization (7) antigen (6) Trivalent (7) Between October and May and of those months, most likely in February.(1)

It means that it has a high ability to cause disease.(3)

The Spanish flu targeted healthy individuals and could kill them whereas the regular flu targets young, old and sick people who mostly experience flu symptoms, but don’t usually die.(3) A host is the species that a virus infects.(4)

It will produce memory cells that will remember and recognize the antigens on the coating of a virus. If that virus is present in the future, the immune system will be able to recognize the antigens and destroy the virus before it can multiply.(5)

The influenza virus mutates quickly which changes its antigens, therefore a new vaccine containing the new antigens must be created to teach the immune system which new strains of the virus to identify during the flu season.(5 and 6)

Chicken eggs are used as hosts and this can be a problem for those with egg allergies.(8)

immunology public health medical

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Copyright © August 2015 by Anh-Thi Tang All rights are reserved by the author.

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