Incredible Medical Advances: How Science is Helping Us Stay Healthy
Learning Goals:
- Learn new words about medicine and health.
- Talk about new medical discoveries and treatments.
- Read about the history of vaccines.
- Listen to a scientist talk about creating new medicines.
- Write about why medical research is important.
Key Words:
- Vaccine: A type of medicine that helps protect you from getting sick.
- Cure: Something that makes a disease go away.
- Surgery: An operation where doctors fix something inside your body.
- Technology: Tools and machines that help us do things.
- Research: Studying a topic to find out new information.
Medical Vocabulary:
- Disease: An illness that affects people, animals, or plants.
- Antibiotics: Medicine that kills bacteria and helps you get better from infections.
- Robot: A machine that can do tasks that humans usually do.
- Patient: A person who is receiving medical treatment.
Let’s Talk About It!
- Have you ever gotten a vaccine? What was it for?
- What are some diseases that scientists have found cures for? (Examples: polio, smallpox)
- Do you think robots will ever be able to do surgery? Why or why not?
Let’s Read!
Vaccines are an important part of staying healthy. They help your body fight off bad germs that can make you sick. One of the first vaccines ever created was for smallpox, a very dangerous disease. Thanks to vaccines, smallpox is gone now!
Listen and Learn!
(Teacher plays a short interview with a scientist who works on developing new medicines. Focus on the words “research,” “clinical trials,” and “medicine.”)
Talk with a Partner!
One of you is a doctor, and the other is a patient who has just been diagnosed with a serious illness. The doctor explains how new treatments and technology can help.
Example:
- Patient: “I’m scared. Is there anything you can do to help me?”
- Doctor: “Absolutely! There are many new medicines and treatments available. We can even do surgery with tiny robots now. Let’s talk about the best options for you.”
Homework:
Write a short paragraph about why you think medical research is important. How can it help people?
Extra Fun:
If you can, research a recent medical advancement. Share what you find with the class!
