19-6
1. THE ANTIBIOTICS: First make a series of cardboard figures representing the
different antibiotics. Each figure has a number of strange shapes that stick out from
it. These represent ‘weapons’ for attacking specific kinds of bacteria. (The shapes
of these projecting ‘weapons’ have no special meaning. However, they must match
appropriately with the cut-out parts of the disease cards shown below.)
If there are few weapon
sticking out, it is a
narrow-range antibiotic
that attacks few kinds of
bacteria.
Black weapons mean
the antibiotic kills the
bacteria.
If there are many
weapons, it is a broad-
range antibiotic that
attacks many kinds of
bacteria.
White (or yellow)
weapons mean the
antibiotic only slows
down the bacteria.
Make small tabs like these to represent
the various side effects and reactions.
These tabs fit into small cuts in the
antibiotic figures.
allergy poisonous very
diarrhea
(toxic) poisonous & thrush
Students put together
the side effect tabs and
antibiotic figures, using
what they learned in the
first game.
For example, ampicillin,
a broad-range antibiotic,
can cause allergic
reactions or diarrhea.
Another lab can be used for
tetracycline, to show that it
can stain the teeth of young
(or unborn) children.
2. THE INFECTIONS: After preparing the antibiotic figures, make cards to represent
infections found in your area. For each card, cut out shapes to match the ‘weapons’ of
the antibiotics that can fight that infection.
In this way, the ‘weapons’ of antibiotics that attack certain diseases will fit into
them like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
A wide selection of figures and cards for this learning game are shown on page
19-11. Use the ones that are appropriate for your area, or make up new ones as
needed.