E$$ENTIAL MEDICINE$ in Schools

 
 

2023 Offerings

In 2023, the E$$ENTIAL MEDICINE$ IN SCHOOLS team is able to offer a fully resourced, ten lesson science or STEM unit suitable for year 9, 10 or 11 classes.

In this unit, students are introduced to the chemical structures and biological functions of a range of medicines and learn about how our understanding of diseases and their treatments have advanced through scientific discoveries. They investigate the way that scientific knowledge is refined over time by the scientific community as new evidence becomes available, and how the values and needs of societies can influence the focus of research. Students examine diverse perspectives in relation to how societal pressures influence research priorities, and the nature of individual decisions about medicines. Once students understand some of the competing factors which may influence the accessibility and availabilities of medicines, they participate in a citizen science project by conducting research into the specific variables which have influenced the accessibility and availability of one essential medicine over time.

Teacher working with students to make 3D models of essential medicine molecules.

This unit can be used to engage students in a real-world context that enforces the importance of chemistry and biology in everyday life. It is a carefully scaffolded problem-based unit of work which empowers students to identify problems in society that interest them, and conduct research which will contribute towards solving these problems at a systemic level. Due to the chemistry and biology content contained within this course, this unit will also prepare students for engagement in senior chemistry and biology studies.

 

Inquiry Questions

  • What information is used to determine whether a medicine should be considered ‘essential’?

  • How does scientific understanding about medicines change over time, and what impact does that have?

  • What factors influence the availability and accessibility of medicines? Why, and how?

  • What tools and techniques are useful for communicating scientific information?

What we provide

10 x 60 minute fully resourced lessons with lesson plans, worksheets and teaching notes

  • Assessment scaffold, including a portfolio of assessment items throughout the unit and accompanying marking rubric

  • Teaching support:

    • One hour meeting with the teaching team prior to implementation with the E$$ENTIAL MEDICINE$ team, which includes research chemists, science communicators and an experienced science teacher

    • One hour debrief with the team after implementation.

Extension options

For embedding in a year 9 to 10 science course, the Breaking Good team is able to work with your teaching team to develop extensions to this unit which engages with:

  • The functioning of the endocrine and nervous systems, and medicines which address diseases that affect these systems

  • The evolution of antibiotic resistant pathogens

This unit may also be appropriate for a year 11-12 biology course. Please get in touch with the team if you’d like to find out more. 

For embedding in a year 9 or 10 STEM course, the Breaking Good team is able to work with your teaching team to develop extensions to this unit which engage in:

  • The Design Thinking Cycle, to identify a problem and develop a solution or research program which address an issue related to the availability or accessibility of medicines

Interested? Please get in touch!