Henrietta Lacks: The Woman Behind the Cells — Science & Ethics Teaching Pack

Henrietta Lacks: The Woman Behind the Cells

A Teaching Pack for Science, Ethics & PSHE

Suitable for ages 11–16 | KS3 · KS4 · Homeschool

📋 What's included:

✓ 16-slide presentation with full notes

✓ Who was Henrietta Lacks? (biography & context)

✓ The science of HeLa cells

✓ Timeline: 1920–2026

✓ The ethics: informed consent & race in medicine

✓ Key vocabulary (10 terms)

✓ Discussion questions (3 levels)

✓ Classroom activities (4 options)

✓ Quiz with answers

✓ Curriculum links (GCSE Biology, PSHE, English, History, Homeschool)

✓ Further reading & resources

🎯 Why this resource?

Henrietta Lacks' story is one of the most important in science history — and it's often missing from classrooms. Her cells changed medicine. Her family's fight for justice teaches us about consent, ethics, race, and the human cost of scientific discovery.

This pack makes her story accessible and discussion-ready for secondary students and homeschoolers.

Perfect for:

- GCSE Biology lessons (cell division, cancer, disease)

- PSHE / RSE discussions (ethics, consent, rights)

- Interdisciplinary projects (science + English + history)

- Black History Month and International Women's Day

- Homeschool science curriculum

💾 Format: PowerPoint (.pptx) + PDF

Pay what you want — minimum £1. All proceeds support Advisory Science curriculum development.

Designed by Brenda Hayles, Advisory Science.

25+ years in education. Resources used in 150+ schools.