An activity you can use in the classroom
Viruses come in many shapes and sizes?all so small
they are measured in nanometers (nm). Many viruses,
such as the polio virus, are shaped like an isohedron,
a polyhedron that has 20 triangular faces. Rod-shaped
viruses, such as the tobacco mosaic virus, have spiral
strands of nucleic acids that run through a spiral-shaped
protein coat. In this activity, you?ll create
a larger-than-life virus model. 
- clay
- pipe cleaners
- construction paper
- foam balls
- wooden dowels
- tape
- general art supplies
- Review theinformation
sheet(Virus Sizes and Shapes) to learn what the
assigned virus looks like.
- Using the following scale, figure out how large
your model of the virus must be (the virus?
overall size and the size of its components).
1 mm = 1 nm
- Using the clay, pipe cleaners, and other art supplies,
build a scale model of your virus.
- Compare your finished virus model with those created
by your classmates. Describe the range of sizes and
shapes in this sampling of viruses.
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