YES Enrichment
Engineering Antivirals
Youth engineer a model antiviral to stop a virus from attaching to a cell.
Unit Overview
Youth use the Engineering Design Process to design a working model of an antiviral that will reduce the number of successful attacks a model virus makes on a cell. Youth develop models of common viruses, collect data on how viruses get into cells, and modify their antiviral designs when the model virus mutates.
- 9 activities (5 core, 4 optional)
- 45–60 minutes per activity
- Youth materials available in Spanish
- Connects to Careers Exploration module: Health Careers Exploration
| Curriculum Line | YES Enrichment |
| Engineering Field | Biomedical Engineering |
| Science Domain | Life Science |
| Science Topic | Cells and viruses |
| Suggested Grade Level | Middle School |
Standards Alignment
YES Enrichment units connect with state and national standards.
Unit Resources
Digital Resources (FREE)
YES provides these materials free of charge! Use the link below to download resources from our Google Drive.
Download ResourcesPurchase Materials
- Full-color print educator guide, plus multiple sets of heavy-duty reusable color-print resources (ex. vocabulary cards, materials glossaries, station signs, and student instructions) for the class.
- Hands-on materials to support 30 learners.
Unit Map
Educator Preparation Videos
Activity 2 Preparation: Model Cell
Activity 2 Preparation: Testing Station
Videos for Youth
Activity 2: What Is a Virus?
Activity 3: What Is an Antiviral?
Activity 3: Model Virus
Activity 5: What Is a Mutation?
Activity 5: Model Mutant Virus
Activity A: A Visit to the Lab
Activity A: Test Procedure
Activity C: Career: Emergency Medicine
Exploring Health Careers
This unit is adapted from the previous Engineering Everywhere version, Outbreak Alert!: Engineering a Pandemic Response. To access the resources for the previous version, click here.