LESSON PLAN OVERVIEW | ACTIVITIES | VIDEO SEGMENTS
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GRADE LEVELS: 9-12
TIME ALLOTMENT: Two to three 45-minute class periods
OVERVIEW:
In this media-enhanced lesson, students will learn about the history and state-of-the-art of one of the world’s most commonly performed surgical procedures—eye cataract removal and replacement. Using clips from the public television documentary Through My Eyes: The Charlie Kelman Story—a biography of one of the ophthalmologists most directly responsible for developing the modern surgery used to treat cataracts—this lesson traces the scientific progression from primitive “couching” treatments in antiquity to the modern use of phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lenses in the present day. This lesson is recommended for use with students who have recently completed a unit on the anatomy of the eye.
SUBJECT MATTER: History of Science, Biology
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to:
• Describe how the cornea, lens, and retina of the eye work together in the human eye
• Define a cataract
• Summarize the history of cataract treatment from antiquity to the present day
STANDARDS
National Science Education Standards
Content Standard G
As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of
• Science as a human endeavor
• Nature of scientific knowledge
• Historical perspectives
World History Standards for Grades 5-12: World History
Era 9: The 20th Century Since 1945: Promises and Paradoxes
Standard 2E: The student understands major worldwide scientific and technological trends of the second half of the 20th century.
Therefore, the student is able to assess the social and cultural implications of recent medical successes.
MEDIA COMPONENTS:
Video:
Clip 1:
“What is a Cataract?”
Clip 2:
“Hammer and Chisel Surgery”
Clip 3:
“The Eureka Moment”
Clip 4:
“The Mazzocco Taco”
Clip 5:
“How Charlie Kelman Changed the World”
Access the streaming and downloadable video segments for this lesson at the Video Segments Page.
MATERIALS
For the class:
Three computers with internet access.
PREP FOR TEACHERS
Prior to teaching this lesson, you will need to:
Preview all of the video segments and websites used in the lesson.
Download the video clips used in the lesson to your classroom computer, or prepare to watch them using your classroom’s Internet connection.
Bookmark the Web site used in the lesson on each computer in your classroom. Using a social bookmarking tool such as del.icio.us or diigo (or an online bookmarking utility such as portaportal) will allow you to organize all the links in a central location.
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The International Retinal Research Foundation; Alcon; The American Academy of Ophthalmology; Bausch and Lomb; Wills Eye Institute; James B. Carty, Jr., M.D.; Aker Kasten Eye Center; Jerre Minor Freeman, M.D., of Memphis Eye & Cataract Associates; and BWD Group, LLC.
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We would be very interested in adapting this lesson to be viewed through our website by people with corneal dystrophies who also often have cataract surgery linked with corneal transplants. We would like a contact person to whom we could speak about this further. We are a patient initiated all volunteer patient advocacy IRS 501 c 3 THE CORNEAL DYSTROPHY FOUNDATION
Please respond by email Robert Bellizzi, Executive director