John Hunter
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the significance of John Hunter’s medical work in the 18th century.
Key learning points
- John Hunter practised surgery in hospitals and in the army.
- Hunter was a supporter of the scientific method.
- Hunter made new discoveries through observation and experimentation, for example, about gunshot wounds.
- Hunter's incorrect ideas about venereal diseases were accepted for many years.
Keywords
Scientific method - approach to testing and gaining knowledge based on observation and experimentation
Venereal - caused or spread by sexual activity with another person
Common misconception
John Hunter's medical impact was entirely beneficial.
Hunter's ideas about venereal disease were incorrect but widespread respect for his expertise meant this mistake wasn't corrected for decades.
Teacher tip
Ask pupils to compare Hunter's impact to Thomas Sydenham's, another supporter of the scientific method. Ask whose work was more significant for medical progress in the 17th and 18th centuries. Pupils might be encouraged to consider possible links between the work of the two men.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Social refers to the practice of keeping away from other people as much as possible, in order to stop a disease from spreading.
Q2.An is when a large number of people get the same disease over the same period of time.
Q3.How did the death tolls of the Black Death and Great Plague compare?
Q4.How long were infected households quarantined for during the Great Plague?
Q5.Identify the examples of social distancing from the Great Plague.
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What word is used to describe something caused or spread by sexual activity with another person?
Q2.John Hunter worked as an surgeon which helped him correct ideas about gunshot wounds.
Q3.Some of John Hunter's work was published in the journal "Philosophical Transactions". Which organisation published this journal?
Q4. was encouraged to follow the scientific method by John Hunter, which helped him discover a new method for preventing smallpox infections.
Q5.Which two diseases did John Hunter believe were the same?
Q6.How did John Hunter's work negatively affect medical progress?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: John Hunter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: John Hunter, 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.