KS3 Sample Lesson Plans - Macmillan Cancer Support

Talking about cancer toolkit – lesson planssampleKey Stage 3 / S1–S2wiseup

Key Stage 3 / S1–S2Curriculum links PSHE/Health and Wellbeing /PSE/Personal Development; ScienceWhat is cancer?Get the factsStart the lesson by setting the ground rulesfor class discussions. Then introduce thetopic. Start with a brief question and answersession to find out what pupils know, orthink they know, about cancer. Record theiranswers or ask pupils to spend a minutelisting their responses, including facts,feelings and opinions. It could start‘Cancer is ’.sampleThe bigpictureBreaking the iceThis lesson will help pupilsunderstand: the basic facts about cancer common fears and misconceptionsaround cancer.For this lesson you’ll need DVD clip Talking about cancer(secondary version) activity sheets 1a What is cancer?The facts, 1b Fact or fiction? andFact or fiction? The answers scissorsTalking pointsWatch the Talking about cancer DVD clipand/or ask pupils to read through activitysheet 1a, What is cancer? The facts, whichexplains what cancer is and how it can betreated. Discuss any information that is newto pupils. Do they find any facts surprising?Class activityChecking understandingHand out activity sheet 1b, Fact or fiction?Working in small groups, ask pupils toread through the statements and decide ifthey’re true or false, giving reasons for theirdecisions. Give pupils 10 minutes or so andthen hand out or go through the answers forthem to check.Refer back to pupils’ initial ideas aboutcancer to correct any misconceptions theymay still have. Let them know where theycan go if they have concerns or questionsabout any issues that have been raised inthe lesson.Using statement G hold a class discussionand get pupils debating: It’s best not to talk about cancer. It’s uncomfortable and depressing.Remember, the Macmillan Support Line ishere for anyone who has questions aboutcancer or just wants someone to talk to.It’s free to call on 0808 808 00 00(Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm).sampleLesson 1What do pupils think? What are the benefitsand drawbacks of talking about ‘difficult’subjects like cancer?DigGingGet moreIf pupils want to find out more aboutcancer they can visit macmillan.org.uk. Ask them to use their findingsto produce an information leaflet orbooklet to give other young peoplethe key facts about cancer.Why not request a Macmillan talk?Macmillan speakers can give directinformation to your pupils about howwe help people affected by cancerand give hands-on support withfundraising or awareness events.Simply send details of your requestto schools@macmillan.org.ukdeeperinvolved

Key Stage 3 / S1-S2Curriculum links PSHE / Health and Wellbeing / PSE / Personal Development;Scienceeat well, keep fitStay healthyStart by getting your class to share theirideas about what makes up a healthylifestyle. In pairs, give them one minute todiscuss or list as many reasons as possiblewhy looking after our bodies and keepinghealthy is important.sampleThe bigpictureBreaking the iceThis lesson will help pupilsunderstand: that lifestyle choices can help uskeep healthy and reduce our riskof getting cancer and other seriousillnessesGo on to explore the idea that our healthaffects most areas of our lives, includinghow we feel on the inside. Explain thatlooking after yourself when you’re young canhelp keep you healthy when you’re older. that health and well-beingdepends on information andmaking responsible choices.Talking pointsFor this lesson you’ll need DVD clip Keeping healthy (secondaryversion) activity sheet 2, Get the message outthere.The main focus of the lesson is to explainthat, although no one knows exactly whysome people get cancer, there are things youcan do to help reduce the chances of gettingit. Some of them such as our genes, we maynot be able to change. But others, such asour lifestyle, we can do something about.Show your class the DVD clip Keepinghealthy. Afterwards, ask them to recall thelifestyle choices that can help us stay healthyand reduce the risk of getting cancer.These are:Eat a healthy diet Eat at least five portions of fruit andvegetables every day. Avoid fatty and processed foods.Be active Try to do one hour of exercise a day.Stay safe in the sun Sunburn damages your skin and canincrease your risk of developing skincancer. Use sunscreen with a factor of 15 orhigher. Stay in the shade during the hottest partof the day.Don’t smoke Cancer is more common in people whodrink alcohol than people who don’t.Building on these answers each group couldthen plan a mini health campaign usingactivity sheet 2, Get the message out there.They’ll need to think about the messaging,images and media channels that would bemost appropriate for their audience. Thiscould be developed further so groups canproduce creative content for their campaign,such as posters or adverts.Checking understandingAsk each group to present their campaignideas. Other pupils could offer feedback.Which campaign do they think would bemost effective? Why? Do your pupils thinkthey will make healthier choices knowing theeffect it can have on their future health andwell being?sampleLesson 2Class activityWorking in groups, ask pupils to discusswhich of the six areas they think youngpeople are least likely to follow. Why dothey think this is? What could be done topersuade them to make healthier choicesand change their behaviour?DigGingdeeperTo take the lesson further, ask yourpupils to evaluate national or localhealth campaigns that have targetedyoung people.Pupils could also plan and carry out asurvey to see how much other youngpeople know or care about keepinghealthy.Get moreinvolvedWhy not get active and take partin a Miles for Macmillan sponsoredwalk? March to macmillan.org.uk/walks for everything you needto organise your own walk or joinyour nearest organised walk forMacmillan.

Key Stage 3 / S1–S2Curriculum links PSHE / Health and Wellbeing / PSE / Personal Developmentsupportingeach otherA nice way to break the ice and warm upthe class is with a game to relax and focuspupils. For example, Pass it on.sampleThe bigpictureBreaking the iceThis lesson will help pupilsunderstand: some of the ways cancer canaffect both individuals and thosearound them how they can support friendsgoing through a difficult timeFor this lesson you’ll need DVD clip Danielle’s story activity sheets 3a Supportingeach other and 3b How areyou feeling?Pass it onGet everyone stood or sat in a circle. Oneplayer starts by making a little gesture,perhaps with a little sound. His or herneighbour then tries and does exactly thesame. And so on. Ask pupils to watch outfor additional movements or noises playersmight make before or after their turn – theseshould also be taken over by the next player.Main talking pointsTo get the lesson going, ask pupils to recallwhat they know about cancer. Can pupilssuggest how someone may feel if they arediagnosed with cancer? Ask pupils to try andexplain their answers.Then use the DVD clip Danielle’s story todemonstrate the effect cancer can haveon teenagers and their families. The clipshows 17-year-old Danielle and her familytalking about her cancer experience.Afterwards, ask pupils to think about whatthey’ve watched and reflect on the followingquestions: How did a cancer diagnosis andcancer treatment affect Danielle’s life?(Encourage pupils to think about practical,physical and emotional effects.) Who helped Danielle cope when she wasgoing through this difficult time? How did they support her? Apart from Danielle, who else doyou think was affected by her cancerdiagnosis?Draw out the positive ways her sister,parents and friends supported Danielle.Explain that a cancer experience, or anymajor event, can have a ripple effect onfamily and friends. Often these peopleneed support too.and why. They could use activity sheet 3b,How are you feeling? which contains wordssome people have used to describe theircancer experience. Or pupils could addtheir own words. Remind them people cango through conflicting feelings during toughtimes. After five or 10 minutes ask pupils tofeedback to the class so each character canbe discussed.Checking understandingFocus on Jamil and the difficulty he’s havingknowing what to do and say to help hisfriend. Do pupils think it’s best for him toignore the issue or speak to Alex? Howcould he be a better friend? For example hecould let Alex know he’s there to listen if hewants to talk and make an effort to spendtime with him. Remind pupils it’s sometimesthe small things that can have a big impact.sampleLesson 3Class activityNow ask your pupils to read through activitysheet 3a, Supporting each other. Ask themto read the four character biogs. In pairs orsmall groups get them to discuss what oneor more of the characters might be feelingDigGingGet moreVisit macmillan.org.uk to find outhow Macmillan is there every step of theway for people affected by cancer, aswell as their family and friends.Pupils could plan a fundraising eventto help support people affectedby cancer. And what better eventthan our biggest of the year, theWorld’s Biggest Coffee Morning?The official date is the last Friday inSeptember but you can hold yourswhenever suits you best. Simply bake(or buy) some tasty treats, pour outthe drinks and ask pupils and staffto donate money for Macmillan.Register for your fundraising pack atmacmillan.org.uk/coffeedeeperYour fundraising can change lives. 25 could pay for a Macmillan nursefor an hour, helping families affectedby cancer to receive essential medical,practical and emotional support.involved