Lesson Plan Maps

These Lesson Plan Maps are to be used as a guide to organize the lessons in the appropriate order for teaching.

Full Course

For teachers who can spend a week of school (5 days, ~1 hr per day) teaching all of the Modules and Lesson Plans from Cancer Ed, this Lesson Plan Map is for you! It details which lessons should be taught in which order, and mentions about how long each lesson will take. View our Lesson Plans page to download all of our current curriculum! Be sure to also read the Backgrounder to each Module prior to teaching (download below).

Half Course

For teachers who can spend half a week of school (3 days, ~1 hr per day) teaching most of the Modules and Lesson Plans from Cancer Ed, this Lesson Plan Map is for you! It details which lessons should be taught in which order, and mentions about how long each lesson will take. View our Lesson Plans page to download all of our current curriculum! Be sure to also read the Backgrounder to each Module prior to teaching (download below).

Backgrounders for Teachers

Backgrounders are designed specifically for teachers to learn more information about any of the topics covered in the Lesson Plans and to find links to additional resources. Each of our 4 Modules includes a Backgrounder for teachers: What is Cancer?, Types of Cancer (What is Leukemia/Lymphoma?), Cancer Treatment Options, and Coping & Caring. Other topics include: Bone Marrow Transplants, Brain Tumors, Skin Cancer, and Lung Cancer.

Modules

Module 1: What is Cancer?

Key Concepts:

  • Cancerous cell growth is different from healthy cell growth because of its uncontrolled speeds, abnormal cell morphology (shape), and ability to migrate to new parts of the body.
  • DNA damage can be caused by environmental causes such as UV radiation, smoking, and other lifestyle habits; however, it can also stem from hereditary origins, which is why some families have higher instances of cancer.
  • Metastasis is the scientific/clinical term for the movement of cancer from a point of origin to other tissues in the body. This is normally an indication of an advanced stage of cancer.
  • Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are the body’s natural checkpoint against abnormal or damaged cells. Cancer cells lack these genes, allowing them to grow despite mutations and abnormalities.

Module 2: Types of Cancer

(What is Leukemia & Lymphoma?)

Key Concepts:

  • Leukemias and lymphomas are cancers affecting the blood and immune system and are the most common form of pediatric cancer diagnoses.
  • The bone marrow is the soft, inner part of bone that produces red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells.
  • Red blood cells carry oxygen to provide the body with energy. White blood cells, called lymphocytes, are responsible for fighting infection. Platelets are important in blood clotting—having too few of them results in frequent bleeding or bruising.
  • Lymphoma occurs in the lymphatic system, which involves the transport of a fluid called lymph to various parts of the body.
  • Leukemia and lymphoma are most commonly treated with chemotherapy, but they can also be treated with stem-cell transplants and other options, depending on the type of leukemia diagnosed or any special circumstances of the patient.

 

Module 3: Cancer Treatment Options

Key Concepts:

  • Four main treatment options for cancer diagnoses are: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and biological therapies.
  • Side effects of each vary from person to person, but often result in increased susceptibility to infections, fatigue, and nausea. This is because treatments often target fast-growing cells (i.e.–intestinal wall linings, hair follicles, skin, etc.), which is trying on the body and reduces the body’s ability to fight back.
  • Different treatments are used in different situations depending on where the cancer is located and the type of tissues affected. For widespread cancers, chemotherapy is often the go to treatment option. For localized cancers, surgery and radiation are most common.

Module 4: Cancer Prevention

Key Concepts:

  • Mutations arise randomly or can be acquired due to unhealthy habits; cancer prevention is aimed at limiting these acquired mutations.
  • Most kinds of cancer are preventable through healthy habits, including protecting yourself from the sun, avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting adequate exercise.

  • Forming healthy habits during childhood is the best way to ensure a person’s cancer risk is minimized later on in life.

Module 5: Coping & Caring

Key Concepts:

  • Every cancer patient has a unique battle with cancer and they cannot be compared to each other.
  • Flexibility is key when assisting someone who is fighting cancer.
  • Special considerations should be made in all stages of cancer, from diagnosis to post-treatment. Cancer is a life-long battle.

Other Topics

Bone Marrow Transplants

Key Concepts:

  • Bone marrow transplants treat patients with compromised/destroyed bone marrow due to cancer, or damage from radiation and chemotherapy.
  • Bone marrow can come from the patient itself, from a donor, or from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby.
  • Bone marrow transplant patients are extremely susceptible to infection and excessive bleeding for a while after treatment is complete.
  • Donors must be a correct match in order for the transplant to be safe for both the patient and the donor.

Brain Tumors

Key Concepts:

  • Brain tumors are classified based on order, origin, and rate of growth of the mass.
  • The brain is the command center of the body, so brain cancer can impact many bodily functions.
  • Brain tumors can cause problems associated with the specific location of the tumor as well as additional complications due to less room for extra matter in the skull.
  • Brain tumors are typically treated by surgery, but patients may need to undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy to reduce the size of the tumor before it can be removed.

Skin Cancer

Key Concepts:

  • The skin is made up of different types of cells (basal, squamous, melanocytes) and skin cancer can arise from each of these cells.
  • Melanoma is the most dangerous of the three types of skin cancer because it can metastasize quickly. Melanoma typically is caused by continued exposure to UV radiation (which results in damaged DNA).
  • Skin cancer can be prevented! Avoid sunburns, use sunscreen, and be safe.

Lung Cancer

Key Concepts:

  • Lung cancer is the most deadly form of cancer yet it is one of the most preventable cancers.
  • Lung cancer can be caused by smoking, secondhand smoke, asbestos and radon exposure, and familial predisposition.
  • Lung cancer is treated much more effectively if caught before it spreads. Once it spreads, lung cancer is very difficult to treat.

Glossary

These glossaries encompass all the cancer terminology used throughout the modules. They include age-appropriate definitions that accompany the lesson plans to further aide kids' learning.