Throughout this pandemic, society has come to accept one common theme- PERSPECTIVE. Our televisions, radios, newspapers, and conversations are consumed with the topic of Coronavirus or COVID-19. By now, we are now all aware that this illness is caused by a virus that spreads from person to person, but in the beginning, we were unaware of the drastic changes that would affect our everyday lives. Worldwide, the individual perspectives of this pandemic vary depending on certain factors and circumstances, but we (Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Lewis) wanted to shift the focus of this pandemic, widen the lens on COVID-19, and highlight the importance of SCIENCE during a world-wide battle against a nonliving enemy- a novel virus.
For the first semester of the 2019-2020 school year, our 6th grade science curriculum focused on Life Science. Our very first unit studied living vs. nonliving things, and to our surprise, the same objective is what brought our 2019-2020 school year to a screeching halt. In August, we learned that viruses have many of the same characteristics of living things, with the exception of requiring a host to reproduce or multiply. Without a host, the virus can’t survive because there are no new cells to invade and destroy. Viruses “jump” from host to host through contact of bodily fluids, either directly from sneezing and coughing, or indirectly by touching recently contaminated surfaces.
During this pandemic, our society has given recognition and shown appreciation for those working in the fields of Science and Technology. Both world leaders to our nation’s leaders have leaned on the expertise of scientists before making decisions regarding the management of this virus. Our news outlets have highlighted the scientists on the front lines, from first responders and nurses, to doctors and researchers. Nurses and doctors are applying their expertise to care for and make critical decisions regarding the lives of their patients. Medical researchers and biological engineers have been under intense pressure to both treat this virus successfully and create a reliable vaccine in a limited time span.
The field of technology has also been front and center during this pandemic, affecting every American in one way or another. During this quarantine, our ways of doing business and even schoolwork has relied on the use of technology! The way we search, gather, organize, and communicate information is possible through remote technology. Especially during this COVID-19 outbreak, the fields of Science and Technology have been synonymous partners. For example, hospitals rely on life saving devices that are intricate technical machines. The COVID testing process collects samples that are later analyzed by scientists using lab technologies. Finally, experts from a variety of fields take this information, collect data, and communicate the facts using charts and graphs in an effort to make predictions and decision regarding the health and safety of our nation.
Let’s give credit where credit is due and acknowledge how dependent we are on the fields of Science and Technology. Hopefully this world-wide battle against a non-living virus will inspire our young people to pursue a career in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Mrs. Lawrence and Coach Lewis – 6th Grade Science
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