The Science of Coronaviruses
Part 1: What Are Coronaviruses?
5. The Structure of Coronaviruses
Paper Modeling Activity: Build a Coronavirus
Coronaviruses are envelope viruses surrounded by a spherical membrane with a viral genome inside and a spike protein outside. In this activity you will create your own coronavirus. Our paper model provided below can be printed, cut and folded into a 3D physical representation of the virus that you will modify as you move through parts 2, 3 and 4 of the Science of Coronaviruses series. You can also draw your own coronavirus.
Coronavirus Drawing Guide PDF (Use this guide to draw your own coronavirus. You will need paper, pencil and a ruler)
Black and White Coronavirus Model PDF (Use colored pencils to color your model if you wish)
Paper Model Instructional Video
RCSB Protein Data Bank Resources
Molecular Watercolor Landscapes by scientist and artist David Goodsell, Ph.D.
Coronavirus Landscape By David Goodsell, Ph.D. 
Printable Coronavirus Coloring Sheet
Coronavirus Life Cycle By David Goodsell, Ph.D.
Respiratory Droplet Molecular Landscape
Additional Protein DataBank COVID-19 Resources
Additional Resources
- For a good general description of a virus: "What's a virus, anyway?" Scope Blog published by Stanford Medicine
- For a passionate virus presentation: "What Is A Virus" virology course video lecture by Dr. Vincent Racaneillo of Columbia University (Don't let anyone tell you that this is too high a level for high school students. Undergraduates are simply slightly older versions than yourselves, who have already jumped through a few more hoops on their way to becoming scientists.)