You Make Me Sick Board Game Teaches Students About COVID-19

COVID-19 is highlighted in a newly updated board game, You Make Me Sick, to teach students about the immune system, infectious diseases and good health practices.

Designed by Duquesne University's Partnership in Education, the game is available as a free download and optimized to print from the organization's website.

With funding from a Science Education Partnership Award from the National Institutes of Health, You Make Me Sick challenges players to successfully fight off and recover from common infectious diseases by learning about immunology and healthy habits. The game is designed for two to four players and recommended for children age 11-15 years old. The game provides a learning opportunity for the whole family and can be used by parents who are home schooling their children during the coronavirus pandemic.

"The game offers instructors and parents a fun, educational way to teach children steps on how to prevent the spread of diseases, including COVID-19," said Dr. John Pollock, professor of biological sciences at Duquesne University and the game's creator. "The game informs players about bacteria and viruses, and highlights the importance of healthy habits, such as good nutrition and exercise, to successfully fight and prevent disease."

An award-winning educator, Pollock originally developed the game in 2007 and updated it now with information about the coronavirus.

"Students, like many of us, have questions about how diseases spread and affect the body," he said. "This game helps to explain the importance of white blood cells and how they work to eliminate germs from your body."

As director of the university's Partnership in Education, Pollock has developed a wide range of educational and multimedia resources for school children, including Emmy Award winning educational television programs, apps, animated movies and teaching curriculum, most of which is available for free to educators.

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and horizon-expanding education. A campus of nearly 8,000 graduate and undergraduate students, Duquesne prepares students by having them work alongside faculty to discover and reach their goals. The University's academic programs, community service and commitment to equity and opportunity in the Pittsburgh region have earned national acclaim.

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