How to Survive the Common Cold

Science

Students will identify symptoms in the stages of a common cold and then create a booklet about surviving the common cold.

What You Need

What to Do

  1. Have each student choose a partner, and have the partners write a step-by-step description of what they experience when they have a cold. You may wish to use the following structure to help students with their descriptions.
    • Identify and chart possible first symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, cough).
    • List equipment, products, or remedies used to alleviate the first symptoms (tissues, lozenges, cough syrup, extra vitamin C, bed rest).
    • List any second-stage symptoms as a cold worsens (headache, coughing up mucus) and jot down some remedies (aspirin, aspirin substitute, heating pad for the chest, hot drinks, bed rest, extra sleep).
    • List what happens when a cold does not get better and requires a visit to the doctor (fever, chest pain, wheezing, coughing up dark mucus, a “rubber band” sound in the lower back on each breath).
  2. Have student partners use their list to create a “How to Survive the Common Cold” booklet. Encourage them to illustrate the important parts.