St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School

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Values Project - Lesson Plan Title:

Charles Drew - Blood Bank Pioneer

Subject:
Science

Keywords:
Blood, blood bank, blood group

Resources:
Attached worksheet, any available research materials

Year Group:
    8

Values:
Valuing Others, Justice

Teaching and Learning Styles:
Worksheet, Group Discussion, Research
Context in which the lesson is set This lesson can be used whenever the heart and bloodstream are being studied. The work may well move away from the precise direction of the scheme of work being used, but if time is short, much of the work can be done as homework. However, doing the work in the classroom allows for greater verbal responses from pupils, and deeper discussion of the issues raised.
What the lesson is about The lesson allows pupils to study the history of blood transfusion and the development of our scientific understanding of blood groups, leading onto the development of blood banks. In the process of this work, students are confronted with racial issues which provoke an emotional response to the subject matter
Expected outcomes Pupils will begin to gain an understanding of blood goups, bloodbanks and their importance. They will begin to appreciate that studying blood is more than just a matter of knowing what it consists of, but that understanding blood can literally be a matter of life and death. They will begin to understand that scientific progress is something deeply embedded in society as a whole, and that it can involve matters of justice
Details of Teacher and Pupil Activities The activity is divided into sections, which should be carried out by the pupils on two or possibly three separate occasions. These could be in the classroom, homework, or both. The information is provided on the worksheet that is with this lesson plan. Each section comes with questions for written answers or discussion. The first is the Introduction, which contains the context and history of blood transfusions. This can be used to set the scene. The second part, "The Expurgated Version" begins the biography of Charles Drew, with no clues as to his racial identity. These two sections should be dealt with thoroughly before moving onto "The Unexpurgated Version". This third section then reveals the racial nature of the situation and the tragic outcome of Charles Drew's life. It is most important that this section is not revealed until pupils have formed opinions that are based on the earlier information.

Click here to see an example of pupil's work.
Extension Work Follow up to this exercise could engage the pupils in research either into finding out more about Charles Drew and his life, or other contributors to the development of our understanding about blood