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Opening

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

One symptom. Two explanations.

Learning intention

Distinguish communicable and non-communicable disease using cause and transmission evidence.

Mission: solve disease evidence cards without guessing a diagnosis.

You may point, discuss quietly or write.

Success looks like

  • Classify a disease from its cause and transmission route.
  • Explain an indirect transmission route and how an intervention could interrupt it.
  • Explain why a shared symptom or risk factor is not proof of a diagnosis.
Retrieval

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Cause, symptom or risk?

R1. Are all microorganisms harmful?

R2. Is a symptom the same as its cause?

R3. Does a higher chance mean certainty?

I do

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

I follow the causal evidence

My first question: is there a transmissible infectious cause?

I do not classify from how unwell someone looks.

Classify using the cause, not the symptomA branching comparison: communicable disease involves a transmissible infectious cause; non-communicable disease is not transmitted. Cough is deliberately shown with both tuberculosis and asthma.Classify using the cause, not the symptomCommunicableTransmissible pathogenNon-communicableNot transmittedTuberculosis: bacteriumCan involve coughingAsthma: airway conditionCough can occurThe same symptom can have different causes.
Classify using the cause, not the symptom
Diagram description

A branching comparison: communicable disease involves a transmissible infectious cause; non-communicable disease is not transmitted. Cough is deliberately shown with both tuberculosis and asthma.

I do

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Transmission can be indirect

A vector can carry a pathogen between hosts.

Follow the arrows and name the pathogen.

Malaria: a vector connects hostsA simplified malaria transmission model. An infected person may infect a mosquito feeding on them; an infected mosquito can pass the malaria protist to another person when biting. Not every mosquito is a malaria vector; this is a route model, not a forecast.Malaria: a vector connects hostsInfectedpersonMosquitovectorAnotherpersonPathogen may entermosquito during feedInfected mosquitomay pass pathogenA route through a vector is still communicable.A bite does not automatically mean infection.
Malaria: a vector connects hosts
Diagram description

A simplified malaria transmission model. An infected person may infect a mosquito feeding on them; an infected mosquito can pass the malaria protist to another person when biting. Not every mosquito is a malaria vector; this is a route model, not a forecast.

I do

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

A careful explanation of risk

Several factors can affect disease risk.

“More likely” is different from “will happen”.

Risk is not a single switchA conceptual risk diagram with inherited, environmental and behavioural factors converging on the probability of a non-communicable disease. No numerical prediction or blame is implied.Risk is not a single switchInherited andbody factorsEnvironmentand exposuresBehaviour andcircumstancesCan alter the chanceof diseaseRisk is not certainty. Illness is not a blame label.
Risk is not a single switch
Diagram description

A conceptual risk diagram with inherited, environmental and behavioural factors converging on the probability of a non-communicable disease. No numerical prediction or blame is implied.

We do

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Case-board challenge

Go to interactive investigation

W1. Sort A–F into communicable or non-communicable.

Use the cause column as evidence.

Supplied teaching summaries; not diagnostic guidance.
CaseCause/categoryTransmission clue
A: tuberculosisBacteriaAir
B: choleraBacteriaContaminated water/food
C: malariaProtistMosquito vector
D: asthmaNon-communicableNot transmitted
E: coronary heart diseaseNon-communicableNot transmitted
F: influenzaVirusBetween people

Case board: predict, test, explain

A scientific classification model, not a diagnosis or infection forecast.

Decision 1 of 3

Which group contains malaria?

Choose, test, then explain together. Evidence diagrams appear only after your test. Diagram transitions explain the model; they do not represent real elapsed time. Use Pause model to stop transitions and model controls, or your device’s reduced-motion setting. The printed We do activity provides the paper route.

We do

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Interrupt one route

W2. Choose a route: cholera or malaria.

Match it to safer water/food or a mosquito barrier.

Explain the link rather than naming a cure.

Malaria: a vector connects hostsA simplified malaria transmission model. An infected person may infect a mosquito feeding on them; an infected mosquito can pass the malaria protist to another person when biting. Not every mosquito is a malaria vector; this is a route model, not a forecast.Malaria: a vector connects hostsInfectedpersonMosquitovectorAnotherpersonPathogen may entermosquito during feedInfected mosquitomay pass pathogenA route through a vector is still communicable.A bite does not automatically mean infection.
Malaria: a vector connects hosts
Diagram description

A simplified malaria transmission model. An infected person may infect a mosquito feeding on them; an infected mosquito can pass the malaria protist to another person when biting. Not every mosquito is a malaria vector; this is a route model, not a forecast.

We do

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Repair the false headline

W3. “Both people cough, so both have the same communicable disease.”

Use A and D to improve the headline.

Hinge

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Which statement is scientifically sound?

Choose, then justify with a card.

You do

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Build an evidence-based explanation

Choose your agreed response page.

Use the supplied cards, not personal health examples.

You do

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Independent case report

Classify → cite a clue → trace a route → check a claim.

Aim for accurate reasoning, not a long answer.

Review

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Let evidence change a decision

L1. Offer one classification and your strongest clue.

Your audience asks: “Does that clue identify the cause?”

Review

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

A defensible case report

Name the category and causal evidence.

Keep probability separate from certainty.

Exit

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Three scientific distinctions

E1. Define communicable.

E2. Name malaria’s pathogen type and vector.

E3. Why can cough alone not classify a disease?

Exit

LAUNCH · SCIENCE · Lesson 4 of 10

Your next useful step

Circle one: cause • route • risk.

Keep one explanation you improved.

Continue within this stage’s shared time.

My science task sheets

Choose one route with your teacher. Shared evidence and the exit sheet appear in every route. Your work stays here while the page is open; save it before closing.

Shared evidence | Disease case board

Teaching summaries for classification. Do not use these cards to diagnose yourself or anyone else.

A | Tuberculosis

Caused by bacteria. The infectious cause can pass through the air. Coughing can occur.

B | Cholera

Caused by bacteria. People can become infected through contaminated water or food.

C | Malaria

Caused by protists. Certain mosquitoes can carry the pathogen between people.

D | Asthma

A non-communicable airway condition. Coughing can occur; asthma is not passed between people.

E | Coronary heart disease

A non-communicable disease. Inherited, environmental and behavioural factors can affect risk.

F | Influenza

Caused by influenza viruses. Infection can spread between people; antibiotics do not treat the virus.

Supported route | Follow the evidence

Word bank: communicable; non-communicable; pathogen; bacteria; protist; vector; not certain.

Standard route | Write the case report

Use the shared cards. Short, precise scientific sentences are enough.

Stretch route | Challenge the conclusion

Optional transfer. New fictional cases: G is caused by a fungus whose spores pass through air. H is an inherited blood condition with no infectious cause.

Exit and reflection | Cause, route, risk

Use accurate scientific words or annotated arrows.

My next useful step
Slide 1

TA Brief

Current stage

Objective

Distinguish communicable and non-communicable disease using cause and transmission evidence.

Preparation

Method precautions

Practical alternative

All evidence is included. Point, annotate, dictate or discuss quietly instead of writing or using a device.

Access and regulation

Supported: Same core scientific goal, with word bank, short prompts, read-aloud or pointing/dictation. Do not assign a route from diagnosis.

Standard: Use the supplied evidence to explain and justify an independent scientific decision.

Stretch: Optional challenge after secure core: evaluate a limitation and transfer the science. Higher-tier-only material, where present, is labelled explicitly.

Regulation: Preview the sequence. Offer solo or partner work, a pass and quiet response. Allow a brief reset and re-entry at the next numbered task; no compulsory disclosure, performance or speed competition.

Teacher answers

Retrieval R1–R3

R1 no. R2 a symptom is not its cause; different causes may produce a similar symptom. R3 increased chance is not certainty.

W1–W3

W1 A/B/C/F communicable; D/E non-communicable. W2 safer water/food interrupts the cholera ingestion route; a suitable mosquito barrier reduces malaria-vector bites. W3 cough alone cannot establish cause: A and D provide a counterexample.

Hinge A–D

A false: indirect vector spread is communicable. B correct: a transmissible infectious cause defines the category. C false: shared symptoms do not prove shared cause. D false: a risk factor does not guarantee disease.

S1 / M1

A/B/C/F communicable; D/E non-communicable. C: protist carried by mosquito. D: airway condition not transmitted. Examples of different routes: airborne tuberculosis versus contaminated water/food in cholera.

S2 / M2

An infected person can infect a feeding mosquito; an infected mosquito can pass the protist to another person through a bite. Protist = pathogen; mosquito = vector. A barrier reduces opportunities for infectious bites; it does not treat infection.

S3

Safer water/food reduces exposure to cholera bacteria entering through contaminated water/food. A mosquito barrier does not target this transmission route.

S4 / M3

A and D can both involve coughing but have different causes/categories. Cough alone cannot establish the infectious cause or diagnose either condition.

M4

A risk factor can increase the chance of disease, not guarantee it. Genetic/body factors, environment and behaviour/circumstances can combine. Do not accept blame or certainty as an explanation.

T1

G communicable: fungal spores carry the infectious cause through air. H non-communicable: an inherited condition is passed through genetic information at reproduction, not transmitted as an infection.

T2

No. Dust exposure can cause irritation or trigger airway symptoms. Additional evidence could include appropriate clinical/pathogen testing or exposure histories; pupils do not perform these tests. A temporal association alone cannot establish the cause.

T3

False: antibiotics may be used against some bacterial infections; they do not treat influenza viruses. Classification as communicable alone does not determine a treatment. Clinical decisions are outside this task.

T4

Barriers may not remove every exposure and effectiveness depends on use/context; reducing the chance of transmission does not make it impossible.

Exit E1–E3

E1 a disease whose infectious cause can spread directly or indirectly. E2 malaria protist; mosquito vector. E3 similar symptoms can have different causes.

L1 and assessment

Accept any specific evidence-led revision or justified confirmation. Secure core = correct causal classification, vector/pathogen distinction, and no symptom-to-diagnosis leap. Re-teach with A versus D if a pupil uses cough as the category rule.

Sources checked for this lesson

Word help

communicable
A disease whose infectious cause can spread between organisms, directly or indirectly.
non-communicable
A disease that is not transmitted between organisms.
pathogen
A disease-causing agent, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or protist.
vector
An organism that carries a pathogen between hosts.
risk factor
Something associated with a higher chance of a disease; it does not guarantee it.
symptom
A change experienced by a person that may be associated with illness.

Cold Call

Give thinking time. Invite a response by voice, pointing or showing work. A pupil can pass; check in privately when useful.

Pause

Take a quiet pause.

You can look away from the screen. Come back when you are ready.

The lesson and your work are still here. Close this box to return.

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