Using Theater to Promote Understanding of the Immune System’s Response to Viral Infection

Using theater, students are led by peers into the world of a virus infection. Students actively participate in a play as narrator, props manager, actor, or audience member. The play is first performed as if a traditional viral infection has occurred. Students are posed questions pertaining to the immune response and what is happening to the virus. In a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) extension activity, the students predict what will happen if HIV is the infectious agent. The play is re-run to visualize the outcome.