Skip to content
Pragmatic Mom
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
    • Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright
    • KidLit Blogroll
  • My Book Lists
    • My List of Lists
    • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
    • #OwnVoices
    • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids
    • Asian American Children’s Books
    • African American Children’s Books
    • Arab American Children’s Books
    • Latinx American Children’s Books
    • Native American Children’s Books
    • LGBTQIA+ Children’s Books
    • Diverse Books for Kids
    • Best Books for Kids
  • Education
    • STEM/STEAM
    • Math
    • Social Studies
    • Art Projects for Kids
    • Applying to Art School
    • Applying to College
    • Book Club for Kids
    • 70+ Free Educational Games
  • Controversial
    • Sexual Misconduct in Children’s Book Publishing #MeToo #TimesUp
    • Rethinking & Examining Dr. Seuss’ Racism
    • Blood Feud over YA #BloodHeir
    • Tulsa Race Massacre: What They Don’t Teach You in History Books
    • The Chinese Exclusion Act – What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • Segregation in California Schools: What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • SCBWI Minnesota Racist Illustration and Gaslighting Response
  • My Books
    • My Book Announcements
    • The Traveling Taco book trailer!
    • Cover Reveal of my latest picture book … FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!
    • Picture Book Announcement! BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • Book Announcement! Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist
    • Kirkus Reviews My Newest Picture Book: THE TRAVELING TACO
    • We Sing From the Heart is a Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner!
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART wins California Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
    • Dorktales Podcast: Simon Tam, Hidden Hero of History
    • Food for the Future Wins Nautilus Silver Book Award
    • Food for the Future makes Mass Book Award Long List!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE Makes Green Earth Book Award Long List!
    • Food for the Future is a finalist for 2023 INDIES Book of the Year!
    • New! Food for the Future Activity and Discussion Guide!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection!
    • ‘Food for the Future’ selected for Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best books
    • Scholastic Purchased CHANGING THE GAME!
    • Starred Review for FOOD FOR THE FUTURE from School Library Journal!
    • Sumo Joe makes Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list!
    • How To Coach Girls wins Silver Award!
    • Posts on My Books
  • My Book Events
    • My Book Events
    • Read Your World’s AAPI Virtual Panel + 5 Book Bundle Giveaways!
    • I’m doing a Storytime at the 3rd Annual Greater Roxbury Book Fair
    • The Traveling Taco Storytime and Craft at Ten Trees Books
    • NCSS Virtual Presentation: Farm to Table to Book
    • How Stories Can Help Students Feel Brave and Take Risks – NCTE Boston Presentation
Menu
Flu Season Science for Kids

Flu Season Science for Kids

Posted on December 22, 2014May 15, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

PickyKidPix 7th grade science started off with microbes and how the immune system works. Despite this information, she still doesn’t understand why she needs to get an annual flu shot. I found some great videos and a picture book to help kids understand Flu Season Science!

Flu Season Science

PickyKidPix’s 7th Grade Science Unit on Micro-Organisms.

How do vaccines work with our immune systems to keep us from getting sick? Watch this 2-minute video from NOVA PBS, Immunity and Vaccines Explained, to learn how germs get killed by our immune system. After you watch this video, see if you can answer the question below.

Flu Season Science

How cells reproduce from PickyKidPix’s 7th Grade Science Class.

Vaccine Vocabulary for Kids

White blood cells: White blood cells (WBCs), also called leukocytes or leucocytes, are the cells of the immune system that are involved in defending the body against both infectious diseases and foreign invaders.

Flu: Influenza, commonly known as “the flu“, is an infectious disease caused by the influenza virus.

Clone: A clone is a group of identical cells that share a common ancestry, meaning they are derived from the same cell.

Antibodies: An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large Y-shape protein produced by plasma cells that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses.

 

What does a vaccine do?

a) Makes us sick

b) Creates memory cells

c) Pre-arms the immune system

d) All of the above

How Does a Virus Attack The Human Body?

When you get the flu, viruses turn your cells into tiny factories that help spread the disease. In this 3-minute animated video, NPR’s Robert Krulwich and medical animator David Bolinsky explain how a flu virus can trick a single cell into making a million more viruses.

Best Way to Protect Against Viruses: Wash Your Hands … but how to dry?!

This 2-minute video is from AsapSCIENCE. This is a great video to remind kids of the importance of washing their hands. Did you know that 80% of infectious diseases are spread by our hands?!

Watch the video and then see if you can answer this question:

When you wash your hands, which is better: Paper Towels vs Hand Dryers?

a) paper towels

b) hand dryers

c) both are good

d) neither is good

Games to Learn About Cell Division

I found a great free game on cell division suitable for 7th grade.

Germ Game from Sid the Science Kid is suitable for ages 5 and up.

 

Non-Fiction Picture Book on Microbes

Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies

I loved how Tiny Creatures can take something unseen — microbes — and make it real and concrete, even slipping in mathematical concepts like visualizing what a billion looks like. With charming illustrations and a storyline that shows the reader what microbes are and where they exist without freaking them out. Because … you know, “there are more microbes living on your skin than there are people on Earth”!! [picture book, ages 5 and up]

 parts of the cell 7th grade science projectPickyKidPix’s 7th grade science project on the parts of the cell made of cake and candy.

I hope everyone stays well this holiday season! What are you doing to stay healthy? I swear by Odwalla Monster C Juice, exercise, and hand washing!

To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

Science of Flu for Kids

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Answer Key

Question 1: D All of the Above

Question 2: Paper Towels

 

 

p.s. More fun and educational videos for kids:

Coronavirus Primer for Kids

Fun and Educational Videos with a Matching Book

My Son’s Favorite Fun and Educational Videos

The Kid Should Really See This Videos

Amazing Videos to Share With Your Kid

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Science Fun on Pinterest.

My books:

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

  • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
  • Massachusetts Book Award Long List
  • Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
  • Starred review from School Library Journal
  • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
  • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
  • Green Earth Book Award Long List
  • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

cover for Sumo JoeChanging the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia WenjenAmazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

How To Coach Girls by Mia Wenjen and Alison FoleyAsian Pacific American Heroes

8 thoughts on “Flu Season Science for Kids”

  1. maryanne @ mama smiles says:
    December 22, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    Great post! Understanding the science behind vaccines and hygiene really helps kids cooperate!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 8, 2015 at 5:37 pm

      Thanks so much MaryAnne,
      My kids still hate their annual flu shot but lately they’ve been able to get the nasal kind, which has helped with the fear and dread! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Globalmouse says:
    December 23, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    Great post – it’s so important to find a way to communicate to children in a way that they can understand. It makes it so much easier to get them to take steps towards prevention if they properly get it.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 8, 2015 at 5:39 pm

      Thanks so much GlobalMouse,
      I am hoping that learning about how to stay healthy will help kids do it more enthusiastically knowing why. Ditto for the flu shot but not sure if videos will do the trick LOL!

      Reply
  3. Mrs. AOK says:
    January 4, 2015 at 7:40 am

    Thanks for sharing. I will have to share this with my littles, during science.
    XOXO

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 8, 2015 at 6:39 pm

      Thanks Mrs. AOK,
      I hope this will motivate them to do a good job with hand washing! 🙂

      Reply
  4. lisa Nelson says:
    January 8, 2015 at 12:09 pm

    This is a good one. I like the simple way of explaining very complex topics. I think it’s really important these days that kids don’t do things blindly, but can make educated choices. Thanks so much for sharing, Mia.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 8, 2015 at 7:05 pm

      Hi Lisa,
      Glad you like it. I found those videos at about the same time and thought … this is calling out to me to be a post! Flu science lol!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking for something? Search here.

I’m Mia Wenjen!

Mia Wenjen Pragmatic Mom

Hi, I’m Mia Wenjen. Nice to meet you!

I blog excessively about diverse children’s books (picture books through middle grade). I am also the co-founder of Read Your World Celebrates Multicultural Children’s Book Day on Jan 25, 2024, our 11th year!

I’d love to chat with you. Let’s connect! PragmaticMomBlog (at) gmail (dot) com or through my social media handles.

Free Blog Updates in your Inbox (RSS feed)

Monthly Newsletter with Subscriber Only Giveaways in your Inbox

My Linktree (click for my links & socials)

my linktree

My Websites

  • How To Coach Girls
  • I Love Newton
  • Mia Wenjen (My New Author Website)

Camp Cody: Overnight Camp in New Hampshire

Read Your World LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch!

https://www.pragmaticmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Read-Your-World-FINAL-Merchandise-Video.mp4

Purchase Read Your World Merch

LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch.

Buy it here!

Search Amazon

Find Children's Books

Newton Children’s Book Festival 2025

Newton Children's Book Festival 2025

Get My Books Signed or Inscribed through my shop (click to purchase)

Mia Wenjen signed books

Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! (click to purchase)

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

We Sing From the Heart (click to pre-order)

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

FOOD FOR THE FUTURE (click to purchase)

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

CHANGING THE GAME (click to purchase)

Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia Wenjen

SUMO JOE (click to purchase)

Sumo Joe cover reveal

Asian Pacific American Heroes (click to purchase)

Asian Pacific American Heroes by Mia Wenjen

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures // I have 3 haiku poems (click to purchase)

GNOMES & UNGNOMES: Poems of Hidden Creatures 3 haiku by Mia Wenjen
Read Your World is Multicultural Children's Book Day

ClothingRIC- A Premium Coupon Website!

ThingsFromMars- The Wondrous World of Wacky Gift Products!

How to Get Kids Reading

  • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
  • Getting Kids to Love Reading
  • Summer Reading Lists for Kids By Grade
  • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids

Heim Nest Kid Mattress Exclusive Deal

Heim Nest Kid Mattress

AdvancedWriters.com is an expert writing service which helps students with academic writing.

educational toys

CEX.IO is a versatile crypto exchange platform where users can buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies, as well as access resources and tools to learn how to trade effectively.

MyPaperDone.com
is surely one of the best when it comes to paper writing assistance.

My Custom Essay
will guide you through academic life.

Essay Writing Services

If you ask "write my essay", Topessaywriting can help you with paper writing

TranslationReport can help you to choose the best translation service

If you are looking for the most trusted essay writing service, check this article about best essay writing service reviews at Econotimes

educational toys from dhgate stores

Assignment Writing Services Offer Assignment Assistance In UK Based Company 50% Discount Students

Playing at online casinos can be an exciting and rewarding experience, and you can find the best options at casinoszondercruksonline.com. 

For those seeking a safe and reputable gambling experience, the Meest betrouwbare buitenlandse casino lijst is an invaluable resource.

Archives

Categories

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship (click to purchase)

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

HOW TO COACH GIRLS (click to purchase)

How To Coach Girls silver award winner

Archives

I’ll be sharing WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED MY KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

HOW TO COACH GIRLS book trailer by Mia Wenjen & Alison Foley

https://youtu.be/j74M0bBxrGg

Recent Posts

  • 21 Children’s Books to Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month May 12, 2025
  • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE makes Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction! May 9, 2025
  • Today is My Book Birthday for The Traveling Taco & 10 Book GIVEAWAY! May 6, 2025
  • 7 Train Books to get Young Readers on the Right Track + GIVEAWAY! May 5, 2025
  • The Traveling Taco Storytime and Craft at Ten Trees Books May 2, 2025

Categories

© 2025 Pragmatic Mom | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT