Teacher guide to steps in the Human Gut Game.
| Introduce the lesson. | Use the slideshow (available in online Supplemental Material) to introduce the lesson to your students. I start this lesson by asking students if they knew that they have many bacterial species that live in their digestive systems. Play the video embedded in the slideshow, which introduces the idea that diet affects your gut bacteria. |
| Introduce the game, and set up teams of two to three. | Describe the game to your students and review the objectives. Assign students into teams, and pass out the student handout. |
| The game! | Teachers should familiarize themselves with the game as it is presented in the slideshow. Be sure to pause between each round for questions, to discuss side effects, and to discuss the effect of diet and life events on bacterial diversity. |
| Conclusion | At the end of the game, have each team share out loud the number of bacterial species they had in round 5 and some of the side effects they experienced. Give them quiet time to answer the analysis and reflection questions. |
| Discussion | Wrap up the lesson by having students share the answers to their reflection questions out loud. Discuss what types of foods increased the number of “good” bacteria and what foods led to more “bad” bacteria. Make sure that students understand the connection between healthy foods and higher bacterial diversity. |
| Homework and the next day | Start class by having students share out loud the answers to their homework assignment from the Human Gut Game handout. |
| Introduce the lesson. | Use the slideshow (available in online Supplemental Material) to introduce the lesson to your students. I start this lesson by asking students if they knew that they have many bacterial species that live in their digestive systems. Play the video embedded in the slideshow, which introduces the idea that diet affects your gut bacteria. |
| Introduce the game, and set up teams of two to three. | Describe the game to your students and review the objectives. Assign students into teams, and pass out the student handout. |
| The game! | Teachers should familiarize themselves with the game as it is presented in the slideshow. Be sure to pause between each round for questions, to discuss side effects, and to discuss the effect of diet and life events on bacterial diversity. |
| Conclusion | At the end of the game, have each team share out loud the number of bacterial species they had in round 5 and some of the side effects they experienced. Give them quiet time to answer the analysis and reflection questions. |
| Discussion | Wrap up the lesson by having students share the answers to their reflection questions out loud. Discuss what types of foods increased the number of “good” bacteria and what foods led to more “bad” bacteria. Make sure that students understand the connection between healthy foods and higher bacterial diversity. |
| Homework and the next day | Start class by having students share out loud the answers to their homework assignment from the Human Gut Game handout. |