Part 1 of 2 · Learning programme

VuxLore Tick Academy · Complete learning programme

Tick Smart

A structured primary and elementary programme covering tick biology, habitats, prevention, checking, safe action and reliable health information.

  • Ages 7–11 · Key Stage 2 · Elementary/Primary
  • 45–60 minutes · Six required modules · May be completed across sessions
  • 6 required modules

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Your learning journey

Welcome

Today you are going to learn the essential tick-awareness knowledge and practical habits covered in this programme. Work through each learning module and its short activities in order.

When you complete the learning programme, you can take the separate final assessment. Reach the required pass mark and you can create and print your VuxLore Tick Academy certificate.

Why tick awareness matters

Some ticks can transmit infections, including Lyme disease. Not every tick is infected and most tick bites do not result in illness, but awareness helps people reduce bites, find attached ticks and remove them promptly and correctly, and recognise when symptoms need appropriate health advice. The course teaches calm, proportionate action—not fear or self-diagnosis.

UKHSA tick awareness guidance · NHS Lyme disease guidance. Follow current guidance for your own country or region.

Programme outcomes

  • Explain what ticks are and how encounters happen
  • Plan layered outdoor habits
  • Complete a supported tick check
  • Choose safe action after finding an attached tick
  • Recognise reliable health guidance

Learning completion: Work through every module and use both supportive learning checks. These checks are not scored and do not contribute to the final assessment result. The separate assessment unlocks after the learning programme is complete.

Module 1 of 6 · 8–10 minutes

What ticks are—and are not

Simple enlarged illustration of a tick viewed from above with eight legs
Meet a tick. This simple illustration is enlarged so its body, mouthparts and eight legs are easier to see. Real ticks vary in size, colour, species and feeding state.
Enlarged illustration showing tick eggs, a six-legged larva, an eight-legged nymph and an eight-legged adult
The tick lifecycle. From left: eggs, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph and eight-legged adult. The stages are enlarged and are not shown to the same scale.

Want to see real-life ticks? Visit the Tick ID Centre to explore representative species and photographs for your region. Appearance alone cannot diagnose infection or replace medical, veterinary or public-health advice.

Some ticks can transmit infections, including Lyme disease. Not every tick is infected and most tick bites do not result in illness, but awareness helps people reduce bites, find attached ticks and remove them promptly and correctly, and recognise when symptoms need appropriate health advice. The course teaches calm, proportionate action—not fear or self-diagnosis.

Ticks are arachnids, related to spiders and mites. They do not fly or jump. A tick waits on low vegetation or moves on an animal, then attaches when a person or animal makes contact.

The lifecycle begins with eggs. A larva has six legs. After developing, a nymph has eight legs, and an adult also has eight. Ticks can be extremely small, and their colour, shape and size vary by species, life stage, sex and whether they have fed.

The illustrations are enlarged to make the stages easier to study. Most tick bites do not result in illness. Awareness is about practical habits, not fear of nature.

Learning check 1 of 2 · Not scoredWhich statement is a fact?
Learning check 2 of 2 · Not scoredWhich statement is responsible?

Your achievement

Complete both activities to achieve module 1 of 6.