Creator: Clark Freifeld and John Brownstein | visit site
Grade Range: 6 - 11
Use HealthMap (Powered by Google Maps) to view the status of different diseases around the world, compare between countries,and identify trends. HealthMap brings up to date data from multiple sources into one place for better visualizing. Click on the Blog link to access specific information about diseases including symptoms and treatment. Refine your search on the map by disease, category, or region of the world. This site can be viewed in French, Spanish, and several other languages.
In the Classroom
Use this site whether you are discussing illness and viruses, socioeconomic factors that affect disease rates, or looking to offer a critical thinking exercise for your students. Have groups of students choose a continent. As a group, have them investigate the diseases, where they are concentrated, and the factors involved in the transmission. Students can share findings on posters or using a wiki or blog. For quicker projects, create electronic "posters" or word graphics using tools such as Piclits (reviewed here) or Typogenerator (reviewed here).rn
rnAs the groups find information, they may find parallels to other group’s work that can spark discussions between the groups. Through use of this site, encourage student groups to look beyond the biology of diseases to research living conditions in other areas of the world.
At Home
When students read headlines of illnesses, it can cause them concern. Use this site to learn more information about where illnesses are or are not a problem. Use this site when students are assigned work on a particular virus or outbreak.