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The History of Dentistry

 

Subjects

  • Arts & Humanities
    --Language Arts
    --Literature
  • Educational Technology
  • Health
    --Our Bodies
  • Science
    --History
  • Social Studies
    --History
    ----World History

Grade

  • 6-8
  • 9-12

Brief Description

Learn about dentistry's ancient roots. Student work sheet provided.

Objectives

Students will

  • learn about dentistry's ancient roots and modern history.
  • read a brief history and answer questions on a comprehension work sheet.

Keywords

dentist, teeth, Dental Health month, Herodotus, Egypt, comprehension, ancient

Materials Needed

Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students learn about the history of dentistry by reading History of Dentistry (alternate source), either online or in printed form. Then they complete the The History of Dentistry work sheet.

 

Work sheet answers appear in the Assessment section below.

Extend the Lesson
Students might put together a timeline of dental history. The History of Dentistry Web page offers individual pages that go into much greater detail about dentistry through the ages. You might arrange students into pairs or small groups and assign each group a different era in dental history:

  • Dentistry in Ancient Times
  • Greek Rationale Theories
  • Etruscan Practical Approach
  • Arabian Contribution
  • Decline in the Dark Ages
  • The Guilds
  • The Renaissance
  • The Nineteenth Century
  • Dentistry Becomes a Science

For students who work well independently, you might have them explore some of the additional sections of the History of Dentistry Web page:

  • Experimental Dentures
  • The Biting Truth About Dentures
  • History of Toothpaste

Additional Resource
Dental History Timeline

Assessment

Students correctly identify 12 of the 15 statements on the work sheet.
Answers: 1.T, 2.F, 3.T, 4.T, 5.F, 6.T, 7.T, 8.T, 9.T, 10.F, 11.T, 12.F, 13.T, 14.T, 15.F.

Lesson Plan Source

Education World

Submitted By

Gary Hopkins

National Standards

LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding
NL-ENG.K-12.3 Evaluation Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.8 Developing Research Skills

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH: Health
GRADES 5 - 8
NPH-H.5-8.1 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
NPH-H.5-8.2 Health Information, Products and Services
GRADES 9 - 12
NPH-H.9-12.1 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
NPH-H.9-12.2 Health Information, Products and Services

SCIENCE
GRADES 5 - 8
NS.5-8.7 History and Nature of Science
GRADES 9 - 12
NS.9-12.7 History and Nature of Science

SOCIAL SCIENCES: World History
GRADES 5 - 12
NSS-WH.5-12.1-8 All Eras

TECHNOLOGY
GRADES K - 12
NT.K-12.1 Basic Operations and Concepts
NT.K-12.5 Technology Research Tools

Click to return to this week's Lesson Planning article, Sink Your Teeth Into These Dental Health Month Lessons.

 

Updated 1/23/2012