In this lab, students will be given an unknown (to them) “Simulated Bodily Fluid”. This fluid is clear and represents the droplets from a cough or sneeze, blood, saliva or the fluids exchanged during intercourse. Students will simulate the exchange of bodily fluid with three other students. After three exchanges have taken place, students will then test their own sample for the disease. Once the testing is complete, the students will find out which student samples in the entire class turn out to be positive. Using this information, students will then trace the route of transmission by using a flow chart to find the original carrier.

This activity can be used to discuss the spread of the COVID-19 Virus and how measures such as reducing travel and contact tracing can help to keep the number of infected people down.

• The companion resource, The Smallpox Epidemic of 1862 is highly recommended as a cross-curricular connection that highlights the impact that previous epidemics and pandemics have had on the First Nations of the northwest coast.