This video describes how climate change is increasing the risk of diseases carried by ticks due to their expanding regional and seasonal territory, brought about by warming winters.
The video discusses two tick-borne diseases in particular: Lyme disease and one that causes a meat allergy in humans.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The topic of this video is unique and will prompt curiosity in students.
This animated video is visually engaging and will hold students' attention.
The video includes multiple maps and graphs to aid in understanding.
Additional Prerequisites
There may be an ad before the video and the actual content of the video ends at 2 minutes, 30 seconds.
Students should already be familiar with climate change before watching this video.
Though the video mainly uses maps and data from the United States, the global relevance is highlighted.
Differentiation
This video could be used in a general science or biology class when studying vector-borne diseases, population dynamics, ecology, or the effects of humans on their environment.
This video could be used in a health class to discuss diseases transmitted by insects or to highlight the negative effects of climate change on human health.
Other resources related to ticks and climate change include this article about one woman's experience with Lyme disease and this video about the declining moose population in Minnesota.
Lone Star ticks and other insects are increasingly spreading as a result of warmer temperatures in North America. As the ticks bite animals and humans, it causes meat allergies and threatens public health. This resource is insightful and recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
MS-LS1-5 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-2 Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
HS-LS2-7 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.2 Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.
