Activity Introduction
Quick summary: During this lesson students will use scatterplots to investigate Australia’s organ donation and transplant data and the issues associated with this topic. They will follow the story of Allan Turner from the documentary film Dying to Live, who is raising awareness of organ and tissue donation in Australia through Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation. Students will find trends and compare Australian organ donation and transplant rates with those of the leading country, Spain, and investigate ways that Australia could improve outcomes. Students will communicate the issue and recommend ways for Australians to save more lives through organ donation through the creation of a poster.
Dying To Live is a documentary feature film that examines organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Australia through seven different stories that highlight the social, physical and emotional effects of being on the organ donor waiting list. The film also aims to dispel myths about organ and tissue donation while encouraging family conversations so that family members are aware of their loved ones’ donation intentions. Find out how to screen or view the film here.
Learning intentions:
- Students are able to analyse and compare data using scatterplots.
- Students are able to conduct research to identify trends.
- Students can make recommendations based on data, and communicate findings effectively.
- Students understand current issues associated with organ donation and transplants.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 10 Mathematics
- Evaluate statistical reports in the media and other places by linking claims to displays, statistics and representative data (ACMSP253)
- Use scatterplots to investigate and comment on relationships between two numerical variables (ACMSP251)
Syllabus outcomes: MA5.1-12SP, MA5.1-2WM, MA5.2-2WM
General capabilities: Literacy, Numeracy, Critical and Creative Thinking
Relevant parts of Year 10 achievement standards: They compare data sets by referring to the shapes of the various data displays. They evaluate statistical reports.
Topic: Social Issues, Learning Through Film
Unit of work: Dying to Live – Mathematics – Year 9 & 10
Time required: 75 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – lead students through a number of short tasks and offer support when required. There is flexibility for students to work independently, or for the teacher to provide more instruction and support during each step.
Resources required: Student Worksheets – one copy per student. Device capable of presenting a video and projecting images to the class. Student device to conduct research, and/or to make scatterplots. Scatterplot Worksheet – printed, one per student. Scatterplot Overview and Solutions Factsheet. Article: Spain is the undisputed world leader in organ transplants. Organ and Tissue Donation Resources Factsheet (optional). Poster board or A3 sheets of paper.
Related Professional Development: Exploring General Capabilities: Ethical Understanding
Keywords: statistics, data, data analysis, scatterplots, scatter plot, organ donation, organ transplantation, rate, Dying to Live
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
Cool Australia, Aquarius Productions and Intrinsic Story would like to acknowledge the generous contributions of GoodPitch² Australia, Shark Island Institute, and Documentary Australia Foundation in the development of these teaching resources.
Teacher content information: Organ and tissue donation are not always easy topics for discussion. However, with an average of 1,500 Australians on the transplant waiting list, increasing rates of donation is vitally important: a donation can both save and improve lives.