Teaching overview
Learning points
- Different animals have different characteristics, including senses that are adapted to their environments.
- It is not always easy to detect disease – and without detection, diseases can’t be treated.
- Scientists can find ways to use the characteristics of animals to help protect humans.
Curriculum keywords
- Animals
- Adaptation
- Body Systems
- Biology
- Health
Read the story
Scientists are battling the world’s deadliest disease with a little help from an unlikely ally… rats.
Share with students
Spark a discussion
- Why does a rat have a better sense of smell than a human?
- Is it fair that humans use animals to find landmines and detect disease?
- In what other ways can animal abilities help to protect human lives?
Twig Science: A Complete Pre-K–8 Program for the NGSS
Immersive Investigations with High-Quality Multimedia
- Investigating, designing, building, and understanding phenomena
- Hands-on, digital, video, and print investigations
- Synchronous/asynchronous distance learning