Edward Jenner and vaccination
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can evaluate the significance of Jenner's vaccine for smallpox.
Key learning points
- Smallpox killed many people in Britain.
- Inoculation could provide immunity, but also carried some risks.
- Edward Jenner discovered an effective and safe vaccine for smallpox in 1796.
- There was considerable opposition to Jenner's vaccine.
- The British government provided increasing support for smallpox vaccination over the 19th century.
Keywords
Immunity - the state of being unable to catch a specific disease
Scientific method - approach to testing and gaining knowledge based on observation and experimentation
Compulsory - something which people must do because of a rule or law
Common misconception
Jenner's vaccine became widespread and popular almost immediately.
There was considerable opposition to Jenner's smallpox vaccine which delayed widespread use of vaccination in Britain until later in the 19th century.
Teacher tip
After reading through section B of the Additional Material, ask pupils why it would make a difference to people's attitudes towards inoculation if they knew the children of the Royal Family had undergone the procedure.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What invention helped new scientific ideas to spread more quickly during the Renaissance?
Q2.Which new Renaissance method of learning encouraged observation and experimentation?
Q3.The , invented in the 1590s, allowed people to see tiny living organisms?
Q4.What kind of metal was often used to treat the disease syphilis, even though it was poisonous?
Q5. were hospitals that isolated plague victims.
Q6.What process in the 1530s caused many Church-run hospitals to close?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the state of being unable to catch a specific disease known as?
Q2.What was King George III's attitude towards inoculation?
Q3.Who discovered the smallpox vaccine?
Q4.When did smallpox vaccines become compulsory in the UK?
Q5.Which of the following groups were initially most opposed to smallpox vaccines?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Edward Jenner and vaccination, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Edward Jenner and vaccination, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Britain: Health and the people - c1000 to the present day unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.