Modeling Malaria ControlModeling Malaria ControlWith Elementary StudentsWith Elementary Students

Erin FlanaganBBSI 2008

VCU Mentor: Ghislaine Mayer

The Model

ControlsMedicineBed NetsInsecticide

Unit Objectives

graphin

gresearch

scientific method

awareness

cause &

effect

lifecycle

s

economics

climategeography

Main Assumptions in Model

• Currently, mosquitoes and humans do not reproduce and/or die.

• Bed nets are 100% effective at preventing malaria.

• Mosquitoes and people interact homogeneously.

• Cured people cannot get sick again.• No delay between mosquito acquiring

parasite and being infectious.

Scenario Examples

• A person returns to Richmond, Virginia from a trip to Africa where he has contracted malaria. Should we be worried? Use the model to show why or why not.

• Malaria is endemic in places with tropical climates. Endemic means lots of people have gotten the disease and continue to get the disease today. Why would people living in tropical climates get malaria more often? Set up the model so that lots of people get the disease over time. What do you notice?

• What variables effect the number of sick people the most? Test different variables one at a time.

Graphical Analysis

• Set up the model so that the number of sick people does not change.

• Set up the model so the number of sick people increases over time.

• Set up the model so the number of sick people increases then decreases over time.

Challenge students

• What are some ways you can raise money to help control malaria in endemic areas? What if you can only raise enough to implement one control measure? Use the model to demonstrate which control measure is the best investment.

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