The development of magic bullets and antibiotics
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can evaluate the impact of antibiotics on modern medicine.
Key learning points
- Magic bullets provided cures for some infections.
- Alexander Fleming discovered that penicillin can destroy some bacteria.
- Florey and Chain received government support to help develop penicillin into an antibiotic.
- There were fewer deaths from infectious diseases in the 20th century.
- Antibiotic resistance has increased the modern threat posed by infections.
Keywords
Antibiotic - medicine which destroys or limits the growth of bacteria in the body
Resistance - in this context, the ability to fight something or not be affected by it
Common misconception
Alexander Fleming developed penicillin as an antibiotic.
Fleming did not believe penicillin would work as an antibiotic. Florey and Chain developed penicillin as an antibiotic.
Teacher tip
Ask pupils what other factors, other than the development of antibiotics, could have contributed to the decline in deaths from infectious diseases between the 20th and 21st centuries. You may prompt pupils to consider methods of prevention which may have also helped.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. is the process of saying what is wrong with someone who is sick.
Q2.What technology is often used to try and identify tumours in the body?
Q3.What type of samples are taken during a biopsy?
Q4.In which decade were MRIs developed?
Q5.What are sphygmomanometers used to measure?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following practices into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. Medicines which destroy or limit the growth of bacteria in the body are known as .
Q2.Before Salvarsan 606, what was commonly used to try and treat syphilis infections?
Q3.Which statement is correct?
Q4.Write the missing word. MRSA is an example of an antibiotic bacteria.
Q5.Which statement about Alexander Fleming's work on penicillin is incorrect?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following developments into chronological order.
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: The development of magic bullets and antibiotics, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: The development of magic bullets and antibiotics, 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 Medicine in Britain, c1250–present unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.