A teaching sequence from the A&E unit Birth Activity 1: Fertility A teaching sequence from the A&E unit cracking science! version 1.0

7E Learning Cycle Darcy realises the fertility clinic is the last hope for childless couples. What could stop a couple having a baby? Darcy explains the test results to the childless couple. How an egg and sperm come together. Many things can prevent sperm from fertilising eggs.

Its your first day at your next placement. Engage Elicit Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Its your first day at your next placement. While you are searching for the fertility clinic, you get chatting to a couple headed for the same place. You realise how important your next job will be. The clinic is our last hope. We’re desperate for a baby, but I can’t seem to get pregnant.

Hi, I’m Suzanne – the nurse coordinator here. Engage Elicit Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Hi, I’m Suzanne – the nurse coordinator here. You’ll be helping me find out why couples can’t have babies.

Let’s start your training. Take a look at that picture on the wall. Engage Elicit Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Let’s start your training. Take a look at that picture on the wall.

This is where it all begins. Engage Elicit Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate This is where it all begins. What are these cells and where have they come from? What will happen next?

What could go wrong to stop Chloe getting pregnant? Engage Elicit Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Student Sheets 1 and 2 What could go wrong to stop Chloe getting pregnant? Study the diagrams and data. I want to hear your ideas. ovary where eggs develop uterus where baby grows testes where sperm develop

Chloe and Jack have come in for tests. Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit Student Sheet 3 Chloe and Jack have come in for tests. Choose two that will check your ideas. Initial checks Sperm check Blood tests Ultrasound scan Tube X-ray

Collect your results from the lab… Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit Collect your results from the lab… ..and see if you need to run more tests. If so, choose two more initial or follow-up tests. Initial checks Sperm check Blood tests Ultrasound scan Tube X-ray

The lab phoned. Your results are ready. Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit The lab phoned. Your results are ready. See if you can tell what’s wrong now. Initial checks Sperm check Blood tests Ultrasound scan Tube X-ray If not, choose two more tests.

Your test results are ready. Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit Your test results are ready. I hope you have an answer now! If not, you’d better run more tests.

Let’s just clarify what patients need to know. Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit Let’s just clarify what patients need to know. A new life begins when a sperm cell nucleus combines with an egg cell nucleus during fertilisation.

...and can get inside the egg cell. Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit Fertilisation This only happens if a sperm reaches an egg soon after it leaves an ovary… ...and can get inside the egg cell.

...and what we’ve learned from our tests. Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit You’ll need to show Jack and Chloe how eggs and sperm normally get together… ...and what we’ve learned from our tests.

..and can explain what happens in each place. Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit Make sure you know the scientific name for each part of their reproductive systems… Student Sheet 5 ..and can explain what happens in each place. ovary where eggs develop uterus where baby grows testes where sperm develop I’ve got some diagrams you can make notes on.

Chloe and Jack will be here in a minute. Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit Chloe and Jack will be here in a minute. Plan what to tell them.

Our next task will be to suggest a solution. Do you have any ideas? Engage Explore Explain Elaborate Extend Evaluate Elicit Our next task will be to suggest a solution. Do you have any ideas?

Picture credits Picture Slide Credit Background 3 Alice Elizabeth Still Fertilised egg 12 Elmar Breitbach