PSAP – Physical Science and Algebraic Problems | 9th Grade
Our ninth-grade PSAP students recently completed an interdisciplinary unit on infectious disease that blended science, data analysis, and real-world problem solving. In this unit, students stepped into the role of epidemiologists as they investigated how diseases spread, analyzed patient information, and used evidence to determine whether fictional scenarios represented isolated illnesses or potential outbreaks.
Students began by working with detailed patient charts that included symptoms and medical histories. As Kendall R. explains, “For our project, we were given papers with patients’ symptoms and past medical history… we had to research and diagnose them… and figure out if we had an outbreak of one certain sickness, or just a bunch of people sick with different illnesses. This project has been a lot of fun as we problem solved with our groups.”
Throughout the unit, students used a variety of scientific tools and resources—computer simulations, microscopes, and realistic case studies—to explore how diseases spread and evolve. Luke M. shared, “Our class has been learning about the spread of diseases in real world scenarios… how different diseases are spread, how they mutate, and different strategies to stop them.”
This unit also helped students connect learning to future career interests. As Macie C. noted, “I am interested in going into the medical field… It gives me an idea of the things that I will have to go through working in hospitals… When the subject of an assignment is something that I am interested in, I always do better in class.”
Students also practiced analyzing patterns in medical data, comparing symptoms, and identifying illnesses using research tools. According to Holden G., “We have been looking at medical reports from our local areas to determine if there is an outbreak… Then we looked at their symptoms and used our computers to find illnesses in common. This project has been really fun and hard to work out.”
Overall, the infectious disease unit encouraged students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and apply both scientific and mathematical reasoning—core goals of the PSAP program. Parents can be proud of the thoughtful work and problem-solving skills their students demonstrated throughout this engaging and meaningful project.