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Overview:
This lesson asks students to investigate the role of fleas, a well-known parasite, in the European Black Death of the 14th century. They will research this topic on the Web and create posters or multimedia presentations showing how fleas spread the disease.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, life sciences, world history
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 3: "How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface"
Standard 17: "How to apply geography to interpret the past"
Time:
Three to four hours
Materials Required:
- Computer with Internet access
Objectives:
Students will
- define the word "parasite";
- see an example of a parasite life cycle on the Web, and explain this process from the parasite's point of view;
- research and answer questions about the flea's role in transmitting the Black Death; and
- create posters or multimedia presentations showing the flea's role in transmitting the Black Death.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Write the word "parasite" on the board, and ask if anyone knows what it means. Have students look it up in a dictionary and come to a decision as a class about its definition.
Development:
Have students look at the picture of the flea on the Parasites photo gallery (click through to slide 4). What does it look like up close?
Ask students to describe what they know about fleas. Do their cats and dogs have fleas? How do pets react to fleas? What do people do to keep fleas off their pets?
Have students visit the following Web sites to learn more about fleas. As they go through the sites, have them answer the questions below.
Bug Facts: Fleas
The Common Cat Flea
Featured Creatures: Cat Flea
Questions:
- How high and far can a flea jump?
- How does being able to jump help a flea that's looking for blood?
- Do cat fleas only like cats, or do they like dogs, too?
- What are the stages in a flea's life cycle, and how long does it take a flea to become an adult?
- Why do fleas need to find blood?
- Why do fleas like pets so much?
- What can be done to keep fleas away from pets?
Closing:
Discuss the reasons fleas like cats and dogs. From a flea's perspective, what's so great about our pets? What do fleas want?
Suggested Student Assessment:
Have students write stories in the first person from the perspective of a flea. They should describe the flea's life cycle, the reasons fleas enjoy the company of cats and dogs, the ways cats, dogs, and people react to fleas, and the ways fleas react to animals and people who are trying to get rid of them.
Extending the Lesson:
Have students research the role of the flea in transmitting the plague that caused the infamous European Black Death. The Black Death Web site will be helpful. Have them create posters or multimedia reports showing what they have learned and highlighting the importance of the flea in transmitting this disease.
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