Go to our For Teachers page to check out our Lesson Plan Maps, Glossaries and Backgrounders designed specifically for teachers, which detail the order in which the lessons should be taught, and provide background information and additional resources on certain topics about cancer.

Module 1: What is Cancer?

Lesson 1- Cancer: Before & After

15-20 minutes

Description: This lesson is meant to start and end the cancer unit. Students will first articulate what they know about cancer, and after all the modules (or specific lessons to meet your time frame) have been taught, students will demonstrate their understandings and correct any misconceptions they may have had.

Supplementary Materials (click to download):

Lesson 2- Cells & Cell Division

40 minutes

Model both healthy and cancerous cell division using Play-Doh

Model both healthy and cancerous cell division using Play-Doh

Description: Stations and a group discussion help students understand the basics about cells, and how cancer arises with uncontrolled cells division. Since these concepts are the foundation for all other cancer lessons, it is intended to be one of the first biology lessons taught to students. Cells & Cell Division can either be taught as a whole class or students divided into stations. 

Three stations include:

  • interactive cards for students to organize to explain that there are lots of tiny cells in their bodies
  • play doh to model cell division
  • analogy of different jobs to explain that cells have specific jobs just like people

Supplementary Materials (click to download):

Lesson 3- Mutations: Changes in the Instructions

30 minutes

Easy-to-follow instructions for making the best paper airplane!

Easy-to-follow instructions for making the best paper airplane!

Description: Students will follow instructions carefully to build and fly their own paper airplanes. Then, students will be instructed to make one change to their instructions to see how this "mutation" will affect their plane's flight. Will their mutations make their planes better or worse?

Supplementary Materials (click to download): 

Module 2: Types of Cancer

Lesson 1- A Model for Leukemia

15-20 minutes 

Compare a healthy patient's blood to a leukemia patient's blood using these candy models  

Compare a healthy patient's blood to a leukemia patient's blood using these candy models  

Description: Create models of blood using various candies to represent red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and leukemic cells for students to recognize the difference between healthy blood and leukemic blood.

Supplementary Materials (click to download): 

Lesson 2- Skin Cancer

30 minutes

Description: Coming soon! Students will participate in a reader’s theater about a group of kids who take a trip to the beach and learn about ways to prevent skin cancer. Students will learn the importance of protecting their skin and eyes when they go outside.

Supplementary Materials (click to download):

  • Sandy Goes to the Beach reader's theater
  • Skin Cancer Quiz

Lesson 3- Lung Cancer & Smoking

25 minutes

Description: Coming Soon! This lesson will teach students about lung cancer and smoking using the analogy of a sponge and dirty water. Students will understand how smoking can lead to lung cancer, and also begin to think about how lung cancer affects someone’s life.

Supplementary Materials (click to download):

  • Lungs & Oxygen Transport worksheet
  • What are the Effects? worksheet
  • Lung Cancer & Smoking video

Module 3: Cancer Treatment Options 

Lesson 1- Cancer Treatment Garden

30 minutes

Description: Compare cancer treatment to ways one might weed a garden: pull the weed (surgery), laser the weed (radiation), or spraying the entire garden with weedkiller (chemo). 

Supplementary Materials (click to download):

Module 4: Cancer Prevention

Lesson 1- Cancer Prevention & Healthy Habits

30+ minutes

Description: Coming soon! This fun and interactive lesson is designed to teach kids about healthy habits and cancer prevention now that they understand the biology of cancer and cells. Students will participate in a game involving marshmallows to model how genetics and lifestyle habits influence cancer.

Module 5: Coping & Caring

Lesson 1- Supporting Those with Cancer

20 minutes (or more with optional project)

Description: Students work together to identify challenges and feelings experienced by cancer patients as well as ways to support these individuals. Optional: Students select and participate in a project that supports cancer patients and their families.

Supplementary Materials (click to download):

Lesson 2- Cancer: Before & After

15-20 minutes

Description: This lesson is meant to start and end the cancer unit. Students will first articulate what they know about cancer, and after all the modules (or specific lessons to meet your time frame) have been taught, students will demonstrate their understandings and correct any misconceptions they may have had.

Supplementary Materials (click to download):

Other Resources

Glossary

This glossary encompasses all the cancer terminology used throughout the lesson plan modules. They include age-appropriate definitions that accompany the lesson plans to further aide kids' learning.

Word Search

This word search activity sheet utilizes vocab words found in our Glossary to help reinforce the learning of cancer vocabulary. While a fun activity, it is also a great way to assess kids' learning.

Crossword Puzzle

Coming Soon! This crossword puzzle activity sheet utilizes clues and parts of the definitions found in our Glossary to help reinforce the learning of cancer vocabulary. While a fun activity, it is also a great way to assess kids' learning.