Resources

Breathing Country has been developed in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering
and supported by the Wellcome Trust and Central YMCA.

The materials are designed to complement the science curriculum for 11–16 year olds (key stages 3 and 4),
but can be used as revision or extension activities with other key stages.

How to download the Resources. You can download each file individually by selecting the relevant links
for each file. You will need a version of Acrobat Reader in order to read and print the files.
If you don't have it on your machine, download a free copy from the Adobe Acrobat web site.

Preparatory Lessons

The preparatory lessons are to support the use of the ‘Breathing Country’ audio play/podcast in your school.
The suggested lessons are designed to provide your students, with an opportunity to clarify and deepen their understanding of the issues raised by the podcast.

Breathing Country podcast prep Pack 22_10_09

Lesson 1 – English Key stage 4

This lesson uses an extract from the play as a stimulus

Objectives

To identify examples of subjective and objective language
To understand the effect of bias in written communication
To explore different modes of communicating one idea
To write persuasively.

1 Breathing Country English Lesson

Lesson 2 – PSHE and Citizenship Key Stage 4

This lesson uses drama techniques to explore issues of mental wellbeing as presented in ‘Breathing Country’.

Objectives

To understand the nature of panic attacks
To engage emotionally with issues that the individual may not have experienced

To use research to inform dramatic exploration
To work as a group to explore sensitive issues
To develop performance skills.

2 Breathing Country PSHE Lesson

Lesson 3 – ICT Key stage 4

This lesson requires students to use the internet to research a topic and to transfer information from the web into a PowerPoint presentation.

Objectives

To select relevant information from online sources
To develop presentation skills
To learn to use PowerPoint as an aid to public presentation.

3 Breathing Country ICT Lesson

Lesson 4 –Drama Key Stage 4

This lesson uses drama techniques to explore the emotional life of the characters from Breathing Country.

Objectives

To explore the text and to devise work based on Breathing Country
How to create, interpret and communicate a role or character
Work collaboratively and creatively to achieve shared dramatic intentions
Drama within its social, cultural and historical context.

4 Breathing Country Drama Lesson

Lesson 5 – Science Key Stage 4

This lesson requires students to conduct a research exercise.

Objectives

To enable students to gain an understanding of what role research plays in the development of science
To enable students to gain insight and knowledge of the issues surrounding the Electronic Patient Record and its practical application.

5 Breathing Country Science Lesson

Lesson 6 - Religious studies Key Stage 4

This lesson gives students the opportunity to explore what the major religions have to say about suicide.

Objectives

To explore the emotional effects of suicide on the characters in Breathing Country
To develop an understanding of the religious perspectives on suicide and how these may or may not help people suffering with mental illnesses
To engage empathetically with issues surrounding mental health.

6 Breathing Country RS Lesson

Article 1 - Use with Lesson 1

An unhealthy invasion of privacy for use with Lesson 1
Article 1 An unhealthy invasion of privacy

Article 2 - Use with Lesson 1

Researchers are not a threat to NHS patient privacy for use with Lesson 1
Article 2 Researchers are not a threat to NHS patient privacy

Article 3 - Use with Lesson 2

Panic attacks for use with Lesson 2
Article 3 Panic Attacks

Article 4 - Use with Lesson 5

Sample questionnaire for use with Lesson 5
Article 4 Sample Questionnaire

Article 5- Use with Lesson 6

Religion and suicide for use with Lesson 6
Article 5 Religion and suicide

Discussion trigger 1

Does approaching someone to ask them to take part in research invade their privacy?
Discussion Trigger 1 Privacy

Discussion trigger 2

Is the security of our medical history compromised by EPR?
Discussion Trigger 2 Security

Discussion trigger 3

Do we have a responsibility to the NHS?
Discussion Trigger 3 Responsability

Discussion trigger 4

Should we think more carefully about the information we share about ourselves?
Discussion Trigger 4 Sharing

Discussion trigger 5

How do stigmas surrounding mental illness affect us?
Discussion Trigger 5 Stigma

THEATRE OF DEBATE

DIGITAL DRAMA