[{"_1":2,"_191":-5,"_192":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4},"pages/Activity.page",{"_5":6,"_7":8},"origin","http://mizzen.org","dehydratedState",{"_9":10,"_11":12},"mutations",[],"queries",[13,42],{"_14":15,"_16":17,"_36":37,"_40":41},"dehydratedAt",1756465726877,"state",{"_18":-5,"_19":20,"_21":22,"_23":-5,"_24":25,"_26":25,"_27":25,"_28":-5,"_29":-5,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35},"data","dataUpdateCount",1,"dataUpdatedAt",1756465726810,"error","errorUpdateCount",0,"errorUpdatedAt","fetchFailureCount","fetchFailureReason","fetchMeta","isInvalidated",false,"status","success","fetchStatus","idle","queryKey",[38,39],"activity-collections","featured","queryHash","[\"activity-collections\",\"featured\"]",{"_14":15,"_16":43,"_36":187,"_40":190},{"_18":44,"_19":20,"_21":15,"_23":-5,"_24":25,"_26":25,"_27":25,"_28":-5,"_29":-5,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35},{"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_32":53,"_54":55,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":75,"_76":77,"_78":79,"_90":91,"_121":122,"_123":124,"_132":133,"_134":135,"_159":186,"_69":46},"id","ca227341-fe60-449b-9819-5a1c2c94f93d","createdAt","2025-07-28T19:34:52.152Z","updatedAt","2025-08-13T21:05:56.312Z","title","How Viruses Infect Cells","PUBLISHED","partner",{"_45":56,"_47":57,"_49":58,"_59":60,"_61":-5,"_62":-5,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":31,"_68":-5,"_69":56},"f3c582e9-3453-48bf-a918-5399d6672576","2025-07-28T19:03:42.435Z","2025-08-18T23:55:36.044Z","name","Mizzen Education, Inc.","contact","profilePhoto","logo","13f7c227-1e7b-4390-a552-412ae92cca5e","visible",true,"deleted","slug","slugOrId","overview","Students present skits in which they role-play the two infectious cycles that viruses undergo to attack cells: the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle. This activity combines biology and drama to teach skills in both disciplines.","duration",45,"gradeFrom",9,"gradeTo",12,"tags",[80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89],"biology","drama","theater","stem","team building","communication skills","presentation","creativity","science","collaboration","heroImage",{"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":93,"_59":94,"_95":-5,"_32":96,"_97":98,"_99":31,"_100":101,"_102":101,"_103":104,"_105":94,"_106":107,"_108":109,"_110":111,"_112":94,"_113":96,"_114":101,"_115":-5,"_116":-5,"_117":118,"_119":120},"3100eeed-ba84-486b-9d2a-c7891b8be24e","2025-08-05T16:29:35.704Z","hero-image-ck7tzebsk4do20713fnetkqv4","note","ACTIVE","type","FILE","isAttachment","fileUuid","74b4bdd2-29af-4af0-8567-66430f329f4c","fileS3Key","fileS3Bucket","mizzen-platform-asset-uploads-production","fileName","fileExtension","jpeg","fileMimeType","image/jpeg","fileSize",266919,"legacyFileKey","fileAutoThumbnailStatus","fileAutoThumbnailUuid","linkUrl","thumbnailUuid","fileUrl","https://ucarecdn.com/74b4bdd2-29af-4af0-8567-66430f329f4c/","thumbnailUrl","https://ucarecdn.com/74b4bdd2-29af-4af0-8567-66430f329f4c/-/resize/1000x/","template","DEFAULT","categories",[125,128],{"_45":126,"_59":127,"_69":83},"60f1b41b-bc3e-4b54-b4c3-b9e49a519625","STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore",{"_45":129,"_59":130,"_69":131},"d0751edd-5459-41ca-94b0-89953c105eeb","The Natural World","natural-world","learningStandards",[],"collections",[136],{"_45":137,"_47":138,"_49":138,"_139":140,"_161":162,"_183":-5,"_184":46,"_185":163},"cea493c2-b283-4e4f-a12e-7751afc525a0","2025-07-28T21:53:08.560Z","activity",{"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_32":53,"_54":56,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":75,"_76":77,"_78":141,"_142":143,"_144":145,"_146":147,"_148":149,"_150":149,"_151":152,"_153":149,"_154":149,"_155":156,"_90":92,"_121":122,"_123":157,"_132":158,"_159":160,"_69":46},[80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89],"learningObjective","

Research the two infectious cycles of viruses.
Present a group skit of the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle of a virus.

","materials","

For each student:

Notebook or writing paper
Pen or pencil

For the whole group:

(Optional) Smartboard or computer with projector
Construction paper, scissors, and markers (for making labels)

","preparation","

Read and familiarize yourself with the activity.

Review information on the viral life cycles, especially the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle. See the website linked below, or use a biology textbook or other reference. Be prepared to display diagrams of the lytic cycle and lysogenic cycle. Alternatively, download and print copies of two diagrams.

Lumen Microbiology: The Viral Life Cycle

","worksheets","","multimedia","steps","

Write the word virus on the board and invite students to name other words or phrases that come to mind. Record students’ responses in the space near virus. Examples include everyday diseases that viruses cause, such as chicken pox, the common cold, and the flu, as well as many serious diseases, such as AIDS.
Ask students if they know what exactly a virus is. Confirm or explain that viruses are small particles made of proteins and genetic material, such as DNA. Viruses cause diseases when they infect cells and take over cellular processes.
Tell students that today, they will be preparing and acting out skits to model 2 types of “life cycles” for viruses. (You may want to mime air quotes for “life cycles,” because viruses are not truly alive. Nevertheless, the concept of a life cycle helps explain how viruses are propagated.)
Display or distribute copies of the diagrams for the lytic cycle and lysogenic cycle, such as the diagrams from the Lumen Microbiology online textbook.
Begin by defining terms:
- Bacteriophage, or phage: A virus that infects bacteria
- DNA: Genetic material, the molecule that codes for all traits of the organism
- Capsid: A protein that surrounds or coats a virus particle
Next, invite volunteers to read the series of captions for the lytic cycle, and then for the lysogenic cycle. Discuss how the diagram illustrates the events the caption describes.
Have students work in groups of 6 to 8. Assign each group a life cycle to model, either the lytic cycle or the lysogenic cycle.
Have the groups begin by discussing ideas for modeling their assigned cycle. One useful strategy would be to have one group member act as narrator, and then have the other members represent bacteriophages, phage DNA, and host DNA.
Circulate among the groups and answer any questions as needed. Be sure to review their plans for a skit and offer suggestions. When students are ready, they may use the construction paper and other materials you supply to make signs or props for the skit.
Have groups rehearse their skits and then perform them for the whole group.
Discuss the activity with these questions:
- How do today’s skits show the harm that viruses can cause? (Each infected cell may release a large number of viruses, each of which could infect other cells.)
- Many of the most dangerous viruses always enter lysogenic cycles. How does the lysogenic cycle threaten the host organism? (The lysogenic cycle allows viruses to hide in cells and cause no damage. Then the viruses may be activated in large numbers.)
- Why do you think so many viral diseases are difficult to prevent or cure? (Viruses are smaller than cells, and they can be difficult for the immune system to recognize. Viruses also mutate quickly, meaning they change over time.)

","examples","versions","variations","

Have students prepare posters or computer presentations to illustrate viral life cycles. Students may also wish to research and report on viruses in the news, such as COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus of 2020,) or the viruses that cause AIDS, pneumonia, or other diseases.

",[126,129],[],"facilitationTips",[],"collection",{"_45":163,"_47":164,"_49":165,"_97":166,"_51":167,"_32":168,"_54":56,"_169":170,"_72":171,"_74":75,"_76":77,"_172":-5,"_90":173,"_181":31,"_39":31,"_78":-5,"_182":-5,"_68":-5,"_121":122,"_69":163},"0b830e9e-3527-441c-9a0d-9c3af4e680c3","2025-07-28T21:53:08.559Z","2025-08-05T18:13:06.687Z","MODULE","Medicine","ARCHIVED","introduction","Students learn about medicine and how you can stay safe, by learning how you could get infected. Students also learn about their medical checkups and how well they can see and hear.",225,"updatedBy",{"_45":174,"_47":175,"_49":175,"_59":176,"_95":-5,"_32":96,"_97":98,"_99":31,"_100":177,"_102":177,"_103":104,"_105":176,"_106":107,"_108":109,"_110":178,"_112":176,"_113":96,"_114":177,"_115":-5,"_116":-5,"_117":179,"_119":180},"30c8f0a7-197f-4310-b7cf-fa1b8b6a487d","2025-08-05T18:13:06.570Z","hero-image-ck9lmxhiva29d071397qq1hzn","5b5c322f-8cf6-429b-9acd-822ad181ffea",248604,"https://ucarecdn.com/5b5c322f-8cf6-429b-9acd-822ad181ffea/","https://ucarecdn.com/5b5c322f-8cf6-429b-9acd-822ad181ffea/-/resize/1000x/","hideListing","exploreOrder","order","activityId","collectionId",[],[188,46,189],"activities","preview","[\"activities\",\"ca227341-fe60-449b-9819-5a1c2c94f93d\",\"preview\"]","actionData","errors"]

How Viruses Infect Cells

How Viruses Infect Cells

How Viruses Infect Cells

Overview