Cooties

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cooties

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the transmission mechanism (game)?Acquired through stipulated close contact, often involving perceived gender differences between children
2. How do you play a cooties game?In a cooties game, one child is "infected" and others try to avoid touching them. If you touch the infected child, you get cooties and become infected.
3. Why do kids say the other gender has cooties?Kids often say the other gender has cooties because it helps them explore gender differences and social rules in a playful way.

Childlore: The body of folklore, traditions, and games specific to children, transmitted through peer groups.
Rejection Term: A phrase used in a playful or ritualistic manner to exclude an individual from a game or social group.
Infection Tag Game: A game genre where players are 'infected' by a designated individual and subsequently become infectors.
Social Contagion: The spread of ideas, behaviors, or attitudes through a group, often through imitation or social influence.