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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

State/Local Standards

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

Essential Questions

Essential Content

Effects of a pandemic on a society:

21st Century Skills

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

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