Usher’s New Look (UNL) and Johns Hopkins Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps are proud to present this timely and impactful COVID-19 Teaching Series to educate, support, and develop passion-driven youth leaders and advocates who are well informed on the current state of COVID-19 and well equipped to discuss ways to continue to keep themselves and others safe.

The COVID-19 Teaching Series includes eight (8) separate virtual sessions held each Wednesday from March 31 – May 19 from 5 – 6 pm. The sessions are meant to be interactive and informative for youth participants, increasing engagement between students and health care professionals, and developing a pipeline of health educators from diverse backgrounds.

1. 1. SESSION 1 – COVID-19 Biology​ (March 31, 2021)
      To understand the basic biology of COVID-19. Key terms: zoonotic, incubation period, symptoms. Hands-on Activity: Arts-and-crafts with regards to creating  COVID-19.
   2. SESSION 2 – Mathematical Models (April 7, 2021) ​
      To understand what variables are needed to create a pandemic. Key terms: reproduction number, R0, infection. Hands-on Activity: Models to discuss how to increase or  decrease the reproduction number.
   3. SESSION 3 – Physics Behind a Face  Mask (April 14, 2021)
      Importance of face masks in curbing the pandemic and how to make face masks that actually stop the spread of airborne microbes. Key terms: particulate matter, aerosol.
   4. SESSION 4 – Chemistry of Hand  Hygiene (April 21, 2021)
      To provide students with insight into how hand-washing and sanitizer impacts microbes. Key terms: oil, viral shell. Demonstration on how to create effective hand sanitizer.
   5. SESSION 5 – Vaccines (April 28, 2021)
      To understand how vaccines work and how the COVID-19 vaccine  arrived in time to manage the pandemic. Key terms: vaccines, infection, herd immunity. Understanding concerns around new medical breakthroughs.
   6. SESSION 6 – Mental Health & Wellness – Part 1 (May 5, 2021)
      To provide an understanding of mental health challenges during the pandemic faced by youth and adults. Note this module is divided over two lessons. Key terms: mental health, feelings, stress. Discussions on ways to promote mental  health awareness. 
   7. SESSION 7 – Mental Health &  Wellness – Part 2 (May 12, 2021)
      Continued discussion on ways to promote mental  health awareness. 
   8. SESSION 8 – Myth-Busters (May 19, 2021)
      To provide insight into understanding causality, which is often a  challenge in science outcomes during infectious crises. Key terms: cause-and-effect, science literacy, alternative theories. Review certain headlines and identify what is myth and what is truth.