Thank You Research Lesson

The Statewide Public Education Campaign and Coordinated Lesson Plan for Middle School Students

Dear Arizona Teacher:

The Southwest Association for Education in Biomedical Research, SwAEBR, is glad to bring you the Thank You Research Lesson Plan to introduce your students to the extensive medical and scientific research taking place in research institutions across Arizona.

The mission of the Southwest Association for Education in Biomedical Research is to develop and implement a strong proactive campaign to educate school children, as well as the general public, in the vital role biomedical research plays in their everyday lives. The Association disseminates information necessary to improve the public's understanding of how responsible and humane animal research has led to significantly improved health for humankind and its animals companions.

This lesson plan will help heighten awareness and appreciation for the work of biomedical researchers and acknowledge the thousands of people engaged in basic, applied and clinical studies to improve the health of humans and animals.

Your students may have heard about the Nobel Prize, but how many know that Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, was troubled by the destructive nature of his invention. Consequently, he established a series of prizes in the arts and sciences to reward human ingenuity for peaceful and constructive contributions to society. The Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology is regarded as the highest honor a person in the field of bioscience can receive.

October 21, the birthday of Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), is celebrated as National Biomedical Research Day.

This lesson and its related activities can accomplish many things from learning how the scientific process answers questions through a highly methodical approach to motivating students to considering a research career. Ultimately, and perhaps the most gratifying part for your students, will be the opportunity to write an Arizona researcher whose work has the potential of benefiting them directly.

This year Governor Napolitano has signed a proclamation naming October 21, 2004 Biomedical Research Day in Arizona.

We invite you and your students to join us in this special celebration.

Send your student letters to:
SwAEBR
Thank You, Research
P.O. Box 210101
Tucson, AZ 85721-0101

Letters will be delivered to biomedical scientists at their research institutions and through Thank You, Research events.

Background

We invite you and your students to get involved in this celebration of the people and institutions dedicated to improving the health and safety of people and animals.

Through this special statewide celebration, your students will connect their own health with the innovative work done in the laboratory.

This lesson will:

Introduce students to the field of biomedical research and its career opportunities
Foster pride in Arizona's contributions to world health
Enhance student appreciation for those who dedicate their lives to the improving human and animal health through biomedical research
Encourage students to identify their own family health issues and associate their findings with the medicines or treatments currently available or which still need to be developed through scientific research
Give students the chance to connect with scientists by writing personal thank you letters which SwAEBR will collect and deliver to our state's research community

Lesson Plan

for Grades 5-8

Research: The first step in finding cures and treatments
TIME: 45 minutes

MATERIALS NEEDED

Background; Lesson Plan; Definitions
Personal survey chart
Nobel Laureates chart
Master for "Thank You, Research" letters
Pre-addressed return envelope for letters

PRE-LESSON ASSIGNMENT

Using the health survey chart as a guide, ask students to identify the illnesses or conditions which affect them, their family members or pets and fill in the chart as they are best able. [Students should have the option of reviewing a disease or condition which does not necessarily affect them or anyone associated with them.]

OBJECTIVE

Students will increase their knowledge of the role that research plays in their lives.

MOTIVATION

Ask about illnesses or conditions that affect the students, family members or pets:

Q: Who has ever been sick or injured?
Q: How were you treated?
Q: Do all illnesses or conditions have cures or treatments?
Q: Discuss treatments and medicines: insulin (diabetes), antibiotics (throat infections).
Q: Discuss treatments and medicines such as insulin (diabetes), antibiotics (throat infections)

CONTENT

Q: How do researchers find cures and treatments?
Q: How do they know if the medicines are safe and effective?

Discuss the following:

The major areas of the research process: basic, applied and clinical research
The benefits research delivers to people and veterinary medicine
Why Arizona should proudly celebrate THANK YOU, RESEARCH each October

ACTIVITIES

Ask if anyone knows someone who has benefited from biomedical research?
- Explain what biomedical research is (See definitions)
Copy survey sheets. Distribute one survey to each student.
Explain how to complete the survey.
Allow no more than 10 minutes to complete the worksheet after you go through examples.
Ask again if anyone knows someone who has benefited from biomedical research. (Everyone should raise his/her hand!)

OPTIONAL

Check out the brief biographies in Curiosity Is the Key to Discovery: The Story of How Nobel Laureates Entered the World of Science. Ask students to write a report on the life of a scientist whose research has contributed to our understanding of disease.