curricula designed for use in elementary school grades 3rd thru 5th

Foreword

As parents and educators, we know the significance of teaching our students important health and

safety lessons. We tell them to, “Look both ways when crossing the street,” “Wash your hands before

eating,” and “Never smoke.” However, in the last decade, medical research has shown that there is

another threat to the health and well-being of our children, one not as obvious. This threat is caused by

a tiny and often overlooked deer tick. This small creature can be the carrier of the serious and

debilitating Lyme disease that can affect our children both cognitively and physically.

This curriculum was designed through the collaboration of medical experts, educators and parents of

children with Lyme disease. It provides awareness and education as well as proactive, prevention

strategies that students can use to help protect themselves from this disease. Interactive materials

provide educators and students age appropriate goals, activities and measurable guidelines. They

include lessons on tick awareness, prevention tips, proper tick removal and signs and symptoms of Lyme

disease.

These curricula are designed for use in elementary (grades K and 3) middle, (grade 6) and high schools

(grade 9). The elementary level programs provide an introduction to ticks, their habitats and personal

safety. The 6th grade program includes a 20 minute film, Lyme Disease: A Guide to Prevention. This film,

narrated by Meryl Streep, outlines comprehensive personal and environmental strategies for prevention.

The 9th grade program introduces the psychological, emotional and social ramifications of Lyme disease,

which are poignantly addressed in the real life stories of students living with this disease in a 20 minute

film, Living the Lyme Life.

Our hope is that education will prevent Lyme disease in those who are well, and promote empathy,

understanding and compassion for those who are struggling to overcome their illness. We also look

forward to the day when we can find a cure for everyone afflicted by this disease.

-Sandra Mond, PhD – Educational Consultant Former Principal, Parkway School

Greenwich, CT

The enclosed information and materials are provided for information purpose only. The material (a) is not nor should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor (b) does it necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of Lyme Research Alliance, Inc. or any of its directors, officers, advisors, or volunteers. Advice on the testing, treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.

Lyme Research Alliance, Inc. Lyme Disease Curriculum

Terms of Use

Lyme Research Alliance, (LRA) provides the information and materials in this Lyme Disease Curriculum (the “Curriculum”) under the following terms and conditions. By using the Curriculum, you indicate your acceptance of these terms and conditions. Introduction The Curriculum contains learning materials for use inside and outside the classroom. These Terms of Use are designed to help pupils, parents, schoolteachers and other educators make maximum use of the Curriculum, while still observing LRA’s rights in the Curriculum. Copyright The Curriculum is, unless stated otherwise, the property of LRA and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. The Curriculum is for informational, research or teaching purposes only. The information is not to be copied for the purposes of re-sale or to be used for commercial use without prior written consent by LRA. The pages are not to be distorted in any way. Any copy of a substantial part of these pages must include a statement as to copyright ownership. The name of LRA is not to be used in advertising or publicity without specific prior written consent of LRA. Use of Curriculum Teachers, pupils, and parents may make a copy, including a print-out or photocopy, or any part of the Curriculum for their own personal, non-commercial use, including for private study or research. Any other use, unless specified below, requires the prior written permission of LRA. Teachers may print and make multiple copies of the pages described in this manual as “Handouts” for use in the classroom or for in-school teacher training. Students may also take home the copies provided to them in the classroom for their own private use or study. Disclaimer This Curriculum is provided “as is” without any warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to the implied usefulness of the publication as a source of reference and as a teaching aid. The material in the Curriculum may include views or recommendations of third parties that do not necessarily reflect the views of LRA or indicate its commitment to a particular course of action. While every effort will made to ensure that information contained in the Curriculum is accurate and up to date, it may include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes may be made to the Curriculum without notice at any time. Limitation of liability LRA and its affiliates, Officers, Directors, Members, Employees, Agents, Consultants or Licensors thereof shall not be liable to any Curriculum user, or third person for the accuracy or completeness of the information, nor for any direct or inconsequential losses, special or consequential damages, or costs arising from or occasioned by use of the Curriculum, or from the reliance on the information contained in the Curriculum.

Acknowledgements

This education program is dedicated to Lauren F. Brooks for her longstanding and steadfast commitment to education, personal support and community awareness about tick borne diseases. Special Thanks Greenwich Public Schools — For establishing Health and Safety Curriculum Goals for Lyme disease Colleen Morey — Program Coordinator for Health, Greenwich Public Schools Kim Gillick — Health Teacher, Greenwich Public Schools Julie Ricciardi — President, Neighbor to Neighbor — Greenwich, Connecticut Dr. Sandra Mond — Former Principal of Parkway School and author of Program Foreword Dr. Maria Melendez — Former Deputy Superintendent, Greenwich Public Schools LRA would also like to express our thanks to the following dedicated team of contributors: Professional Consultants Caroline Baisley — Director of Health, Greenwich Department of Health Sandra Berenbaum, LCSW, BCD — Clinical Social Worker,

Family Connections Center for Counseling, Brewster, NY Jody-Lynn M. Breakell — Director Health & Safety Services, Greenwich Chapter American Red Cross Brian A Fallon, MD, MPH — Assistant Professor — Department of Psychology Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Director — Columbia Lyme Disease Research Center Sandra Mond, Ph.D. — Former Principal, Parkway School Leo Shea III, Ph.D. — Clinical Neuropsychologist and Asst. Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation, NY Patricia Smith — President, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. Kirby Stafford III, Ph.D. — Vice Director, Chief Entomologist, State Entomologist Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Editorial Board Diane Blanchard, BS, MBA, LRA Co-President Lauren Brooks, BS — LRA Co-Vice President, Education Karen Gaudian, BS — Ridgefield Lyme Disease Task Force Fran Herzog, BS — LRA Treasurer David Hunter, BS, MBA, CFA, Committee for Education Reform for Children with Lyme Disease Harriet Kotsoris, MD — Diplomate American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Maggie Shaw, RN, ADN — Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force Contributors Julie Dumond, BS, MS Reading Barbara Edwards, BS, MS Ed — LRA Member-at-Large Deborah Siciliano — BS — LRA Co-President Dawn Wilson, BS — LRA Co-Vice President, Education Creative Design Mahshid Ehsani, BS, MS, MA — LRA Vice President, Communications Film Producer Mary Shanahan, LCSW — Dunraven Productions

This program was generously funded by Newman’s Own Foundation, The Herzog Foundation and Lyme Research Alliance, Inc.

Copyright © 2013 Lyme Research Alliance, Inc.

LYME DISEASE

THIRD GRADE

CURRICULUM

©2009 Lyme Research Alliance, Inc. | www.LymeResearchAlliance.org

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3rd Grade Lyme Disease Curriculum

Goal: To promote student knowledge and skills regarding

tick identification, tick bite, Lyme disease, prevention,

and necessary steps if a tick is found.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Describe the transmission and course of Lyme disease and recognize its signs and symptoms.

2. Identify preventable measures for Lyme disease, i.e. proper dress, use of tick repellents, body check.

3. Emphasize the importance of telling a trusted adult as soon as a tick is discovered.

Third Edition


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Topics of Discussion — Teacher’s Key

OBJECTIVE 1

Describe the transmission and course of Lyme disease and recognize its signs

and symptoms

1. Lyme disease is transmitted by the “deer” tick also known as the blacklegged tick.

2. Tick climb onto groundcover, tall blades of grass or weeds (including beach grass) where they wait patiently for an animal or person to brush against them so they can climb on and find a warm, moist place to begin feeding.

3. Ticks have 4 stages of life: egg, larva, nymph and adult. During the larval, nymphal and adult stage, the tick takes a blood meal from an animal or person, molts and develops into the next stage of life. If the tick feeds on infected animals such as mice, rats, chipmunks or birds, the tick becomes infected and may infect the next animal or person it feeds on.

4. Larval and nymphal ticks on students may not be detectable by visual inspection. Therefore, additional emphasis must be placed on having individuals feel their skin for any bumps that might indicate a tick, especially on the scalp. If a bump is found, do not press or squeeze.

5. If not detected early, a tick will become engorged (filled with blood) as it feeds. If infected, a student may develop a rash that can take on many forms and appearances, including the classic bull’s-eye presentation. The rash may look like a bruise on dark-skinned people.

6. Many students do not get a rash at all, yet may be infected. 7. Transmission time varies from a short attachment time to a long

attachment time, such as several days. The longer the tick is attached, the greater the chance of infection.

8. Early signs of infection: Flue-like symptoms, rash, joint pain, headaches, stiff neck, fatigue, fever and stomach aches.

Dear Teacher,

This program is flexibly designed to cater to your class schedule. Pages headed by

name and date are intended as handouts. Posters may be included as visual aids.


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9. Symptoms (at any stage of the disease) may include palpitations, speech difficulty, dizziness, numbness and tingling, and aching joints. Signs include partial facial paralysis, pink-eye, muscle spasms, motor tics and swollen joints. Students might notice changes in cognitive function, attention, memory, sleeping patterns, and behavior (violent outbursts, irritability) and onset of psychiatric symptoms (obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, psychosis, etc.). Symptoms may be present days, months or even years after a tick bite and may be intermittent.

10. You cannot catch Lyme disease from other people.

OBJECTIVE 2

Identify preventable measures for Lyme disease, i.e. proper dress, use of tick

repellents, body check

1. Blacklegged ticks may be carried by deer, mice, birds, squirrels, chipmunks (and other small mammals), dogs, cats and horses.

2. Students should wear light colored clothing with long pants, and when possible, tuck pants into socks, wear long sleeved shirts tucked into pants, and a hat. Children should follow these guidelines when playing in tick habitats. This will increase the visibility of a crawling tick.

3. Walk on cleared pathways. Avoid playing in areas where ticks thrive, such as tall grassy areas (including beach grass), leaf litter, stonewalls and wood piles (where mice live that carry ticks), near bird feeders (Birds carry ticks that may drop off near a bird feeder.), and ground cover, such as pachysandra and honeysuckle (where small rodents carrying ticks live), where ticks wait patiently for an animal or person to brush against them.

4. Swing sets should be placed on well mowed lawns in direct sunlight away from areas where ticks thrive.

5. Adults should supervise to ensure proper use of tick repellents, which contain Deet or Permethrin. Do not put Permethrin on the skin.

6. Advise students to have their parent or trusted adult help them do a tick check on themselves and their pets, daily and immediately after exposure to potential tick habitat. Ticks love to hide in warm, moist places, such as the groin, back of the knees, armpits, the back of the neck, navel and ears. But the ticks will feed anywhere on the body, so look carefully.

7. Experts once thought that bathing within two hours of tick exposure would protect against bites and disease transmission. This is no longer the case.


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OBJECTIVE 3

Emphasize the importance of telling a trusted adult as soon as a tick is

discovered

1. If a student finds an attached tick, advise him/her as follows: a. Don’t panic b. Don’t touch the tick or try to remove it yourself c. Go to a trusted adult for proper tick removal with fine point tweezers.

DO NOT remove with fingers! d. Quick, early and proper removal of the tick may prevent Lyme

disease. 2. Demonstrate proper tick removal:

a. Use fine point tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull straight out. (Please demonstrate using the Red Cross tick removal kit.) Improper removal increases risk of infection by causing regurgitation of the tick’s stomach contents, which contain the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

b. Place tick in a zippered, plastic, sealed bag with a blade of grass or moist cotton and bring to your local health department or other private lab for testing, if they provide the service. It is important to keep the tick alive as live testing yields quicker results.


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All students take home an information packet for parents, which includes prevention and proper tick removal information.

MATERIALS: Teacher Resources: Topics of Discussions Handouts: Blacklegged (Deer) Ticks, Where Do Ticks Live, Dressing Safely, If You Find a Tick on Your Body…, Always Remember… Assessments: Hand Tracing and the Size of the Blacklegged Tick, Animals that Carry Ticks, Lyme Disease Quiz, Tick Life Cycle, Symptom Word Fine, What’s the Good Word, Lyme Disease Crossword Puzzle, The Female Deer Tick, Safe Play Areas, Which Child is Dressed the Safest, Word Search

OBJECTIVE & SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Objective 1: Blacklegged (Deer) Ticks, Hand Tracing and the Size of the

Blacklegged Tick, Animals that Carry Ticks, Lyme Disease Quiz, Tick Life Cycle, Symptom Word Find

Objective 2: What’s The Good Word, Lyme Disease Crossword Puzzle, The Female Deer Tick, Where do Ticks Live, Safe Play Areas, Dressing Safely, Which Child is Dressed the Safest?

Objective 3: If You Find a Tick on Your Body…, Always Remember…, Word Search, and Tick Checklist Demonstrate Proper Tick Removal

SUGGESTED PROJECTS: 1. Role Playing:

Situation: A group of friends are going on a hike. How should they prepare for the hike to prevent Lyme disease?

a. Review items in Red Cross Tick Removal Kit, such as proper tick removal.

b. Review proper dress. c. Review areas where ticks live.

2. Lyme Disease Awareness Bulletin Board: Include four sections:

a. What ticks look like and where they live. b. Symptoms of Lyme disease. c. Proper dress to prevent tick bites. d. Animals that carry ticks (deer, mice, birds, chipmunks, squirrels,

rabbits, etc.) If the bulletin board is centrally located in the school it will serve as an educational tool for all students.


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f

DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE BLACKLEGGED TICK

OBJECTIVE 1

Blacklegged (Deer) Ticks These ticks cause Lyme disease.

They are called Blacklegged (Deer) Ticks.

They are as big as poppy seeds or sesame seeds.

The lower body of the adult female tick is reddish-brown.


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

What is the size of the tick you drew?

(Look at the tick on this page and circle the correct answer)

My tick is a…

Larva

Nymph

Adult Male

Adult Female

OBJECTIVE 1

Trace your hand in this box and draw a tick on it.


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 1

Animals That Carry Ticks

Name the animal in each circle


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 1

Lyme Disease Quiz

Circle the correct answer

1. How do ticks get on people? a. They fly b. They jump c. They crawl onto them

2. What can ticks give you? a. Chicken pox b. Measles c. Lyme disease

3. Where do ticks live? a. On fallen leaves b. On plants c. On grass d. All of these

4. If you have Lyme disease, you may see a red rash on your skin.

a. Yes b. No

5. What does a tick look like? a. A tiny spider b. A butterfly c. A bee


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 1

Tick Life Cycle

What are the four stages of a tick’s life?

1._________________________________

2._________________________________

3._________________________________

4._________________________________


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 1

Signs and Symptoms Word Find

P Q M R A S H E T

A N U D O G L M A

C I R S T I R E D

H O W P A G U L S

Y N A L S O P N E

K C E N F F I T S

C W P Y K N U R F

H E A D A C H E B

ACHY

RASH

HEADACHE

STIFF NECK

TIRED


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 2

What’s The Good Word

One day I was walking in the park. I saw a rabbit. It looked like a mound

of dirt. A __________ deer ran off when I laughed out loud. A

__________ bird chirped in a tree. It looked like the color of the sky. A

__________ squirrel was busy burying a peanut. It was a fun day.

When I arrived home, my mother and I did a tick __________. We did

not find any ___________ on me. I’m so glad that my mother helped

me to remember to pull my _________ up over my long __________.

I’ll wear long __________ to __________ my arms and to __________ a

tick from biting me.

Word Bank

protect grey

sleeves socks

blue check

prevent white-tailed

pants Ticks


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 2

Lyme Disease Crossword Puzzle

KEY

1.

T 2.

W

E

E

Z

E 3.

R

O

A

O

S

4.

D

H

S

5.

T

I

C

K

ACROSS

1. Used to remove attached ticks from skin 4. Large animal that carries ticks 5. Small bug that causes Lyme disease

DOWN

2. A place with a lot of trees where ticks live 3. Round red area on the skin near the tick bite

WORD BOX

rash woods tweezers tick deer


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 2

Lyme Disease Crossword Puzzle

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

ACROSS

1. Used to remove attached ticks from skin 4. Large animal that carries ticks 5. Small bug that causes Lyme disease

DOWN

2. A place with a lot of trees where ticks live 3. Round red area on the skin near the tick bite

WORD BOX

rash woods tweezers tick deer


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 1

The Female Deer Tick Color in the deer tick below.

Which part of the tick is black?

Which part of the tick is reddish-brown?

Hint: Look at page 5 for tick colors.


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OBJECTIVE 2

Where Do Ticks Live?

Ticks like to live in:

Shaded areas

Moist areas

Weedy areas

Wood piles

Stone walls

Ground cover

Leaf litter and leaf piles

Ticks do not like to live in:

Sunny areas

Clear pathways

Well mowed lawns in sunlight


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 2 – Safe Play Areas

Look at these Pictures… Put an X in the box where a tick might live


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OBJECTIVE 2

Dressing Safely

WE MUST DRESS SAFELY TO PROTECT OUR

BODIES FROM TICK BITES.

This means that we have to wear proper clothes that

cover our skin to help protect ourselves when playing or

walking outdoors where ticks like to live.

What are some ways to dress safely?

☺ Wear light-colored clothing ☺ Cover as much of my body as possible with clothing

☻ Wear long pants ☻ Wear a cap or hat to cover my head ☻ Wear a long sleeved shirt

☺ Tuck in my pants inside my socks


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 2

Which Child is Dressed more

Safely to Protect Against Ticks?

Put an X in the correct box.


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OBJECTIVE 3

If you find a tick on your body… Don’t get upset or panic

Don’t touch the tick

Go to your parents or a trusted adult to have the tick removed properly

How a nymph tick could look when it’s on

your hand


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 3

Always Remember…

1. Play in areas where ticks don’t like to live

2. Dress safely to protect yourself from tick bites

3. Look for ticks on your body and clothes

4. Have your parents or an adult you trust check your whole body and head for ticks

5. Ask your parents to check pets for ticks


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NAME: _____________________________ DATE: _________________________

OBJECTIVE 3

Word Search

F J D O G R P A U B

A N Y M P H C P L I

T H W L Y M E U A T

H T V M F O L E R E

F I O J N U X B V G

M C N D P S Q I A S

S K R Y D E E R L K

W R D Y W O O D S B

DOG BIRD LARVA NYMPH BITE LYME TICK DEER MOUSE WOODS

2001 WEST MAIN STREET, SUITE 280, STAMFORD, CT 06902 LYMERESEARCHALLIANCE.ORG (203) 969-1333

Lyme Research Alliance (previously Time for Lyme)

funds cutting-edge research into the prevention

diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease in a

relentless campaign to end Lyme and other tick-

borne diseases

curricula designed for use in elementary school grades 3rd thru 5th

Documents

symptoms of lyme disease

debilitating lyme disease

lyme life

medical research

prevention strategies

parents of children

grade program

medical advice