Vaccines and misinformation Lesson Plan

In a thought-provoking lesson plan tailored for Key Stage 2 pupils, the focus is on understanding vaccines and tackling misinformation, particularly around COVID-19 vaccines. The lesson kicks off with a brief starter activity where pupils examine comments about the vaccines and try to guess the lesson's topic. This is followed by a discussion on the relevance of the subject, setting the stage for an informative session. The class then delves into the core question, "Do we need to learn more about how vaccines work?" by exploring what a vaccine is and its role in combating viruses. This foundational knowledge is crucial for the subsequent discussions.

The lesson progresses to address the spread of misinformation. Pupils are encouraged to share any incorrect information they have encountered about Coronavirus vaccines. They engage in a critical conversation about the origins and spread of such misinformation and reflect on the potential consequences it can have. Further, the pupils assess the danger level of various statements regarding COVID-19 and vaccines, categorising them and then discovering the actual facts. The lesson plan includes a call to action, prompting pupils to extend their learning beyond the classroom, and a voting activity where they apply their understanding by considering arguments for and against the posed question. Supporting materials are provided for SEND learners, and keywords such as 'Vaccine', 'Misinformation', and 'Coronavirus' are highlighted to reinforce learning. The lesson encourages the use of resources like Full Fact to verify information and explores the impact of social media on the spread of information.