What to know
- These skill-based STEM lesson plans focused on public health topics can enrich your classroom.
- Tailor these lessons to your needs and help students learn public health skills they can use every day.
About these resources
In collaboration with CDC experts, STEM teachers helped the Science Ambassador Program develop public health lesson plans. Collectively, these lesson plans are titled, Teaching Tomorrow's Disease Detectives: Science skills for the problem-based world. These activities are designed to help students learn and practice skills a disease detective might know and use.
The lessons focus on five major skills:
- Scientific design
- Identifying trends
- Decision-making
- Implementing action plans
- Collaborative performance
Lessons address 5 overarching public health themes:
- Introduction to epidemiology
- Public health surveillance
- Investigating an outbreak
- Preparedness and response
- Careers and roles in public health
Activities were designed for teachers to use in the classroom. They have been aligned with the following:
- Next Generation Science Standards*
- CDC's Epidemiology and Public Health Science: Core Competencies for High School Students
We encourage teachers and other educators to tailor the activities to meet the needs of their students.
*Next Generation Science Standards is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards was involved in making this product. They also do not endorse this product.
STEM Lesson Plans
Search activities by targeted skill, or click on the Index if you prefer to search by topic.
Other Resources
Introduction to Epidemiology Curriculum (grades 6-12)
The Science Ambassador Program developed an eight-module curriculum—called CDC NERD Academy. It introduces basic epidemiology concepts, public health topics, and careers. It is based on the investigation of a fictional novel emerging respiratory disease (NERD). Access the curriculum and learn about NERD Academy.
Outbreak Graphic Novel & Lessons
The Science Ambassador Program collaborated with CDC's Influenza Division. The program created STEM lesson plans to complement their Operation Outbreak graphic novel. Download the graphic novel and lesson plans "Junior Disease Detectives: Operation Outbreak" page.
Older Lesson Plans
Additional archived lesson plans from 2003-2014 are available. The were developed by Science Ambassador program in collaboration with CDC experts and STEM teachers. They are available on the Archived Educational Activities page. These lesson plans have not been recently updated. They may contain outdated information.
Additional STEM at CDC Resources
Additional resources for teachers and students can be found at the CDC STEM web page.