6th Grade · Science · Activity · shared by Luke Morgan
Explore beneficial viruses and bacteriophages with this 6th Grade Science activity. Students sort facts vs. opinions about the human virome.
📋 Fact vs. Opinion Sort
Name: _________________________ Date: _____________
Topic: Distinguishing between harmful viruses and the beneficial human virome.
Introduction:
In science, it is important to distinguish between facts and opinions. A FACT is a statement that can be proven true or false through scientific evidence, data, or direct observation. An OPINION is a statement that expresses a personal belief, feeling, or judgment that cannot be proven by scientific measurement.
Key Facts: The World of Human Viruses
The human body contains a vast collection of viruses known as the human virome. While some viruses like the influenza virus (the flu) cause illness by attacking human cells, many others are beneficial. Bacteriophages are a specific type of virus in our virome that only target and destroy bacteria. These "phages" help maintain homeostasis by preventing any single type of bacteria from growing too large and causing an infection. Unlike many medicines that kill all bacteria, bacteriophages are highly specific and only attack one type of bacterial host. Through a process called lysis, the phage causes the target bacterial cell to burst open, which releases new phages to continue the hunt. Without these helpful viruses, our internal ecosystem would fall out of balance.
Directions: Read each statement below. Write F for Fact or O for Opinion on the blank line.
1. _____ Bacteriophages are the most interesting part of the entire human body.
2. _____ The influenza virus is a type of virus that causes illness by attacking human cells.
3. _____ Bacteriophages are highly specific and only target one kind of bacterial cell.
4. _____ It is much more fun to study the flu than it is to study helpful viruses.