A complete, fully illustrated lesson exploring Florence Nightingale, nursing and the development of hospitals during the nineteenth century.

Students investigate the conditions inside early nineteenth-century hospitals, Nightingale’s work during the Crimean War and the changes she helped introduce at Scutari. The lesson also examines her use of statistical evidence, the professionalisation and training of nurses, pavilion hospital design and the influence of war, government and changing attitudes.

The lesson provides a balanced interpretation by considering Nightingale’s limitations and the contributions of Mary Seacole, scientists, government and hospital architects.

The enquiry question is:

“How far did Florence Nightingale transform hospital care?”

This resource includes:

• Illustrated title slide with DNA and learning intention
• DNA answers and lesson enquiry
• Clear contextual teaching
• Nightingale’s work at Scutari
• Statistical evidence and government reform
• Nurse training and professionalisation
• Changes to hospital design
• Attitudes, war and government factors
• Clearly modelled I DO, WE DO and YOU DO task sequence
• Two illustrated student information and activity sheets
• Worked examples and sentence scaffolds
• Assessment for Learning activity
• Independent 8-mark judgement question
• Final evaluative plenary

All teaching text uses Comic Sans MS and is a minimum of 20pt. The lesson is suitable for GCSE Medicine Through Time courses and can be adapted for different examination boards or higher-attaining KS3 classes.