Why do people live longer today than in the past?

The history of the modern use of antibiotics started eighty years ago, in 1928. Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin growing in a laboratory experiment. It was a discovery that would change the course of history.

The active ingredient in that mold, which Fleming named penicillin, turned out to be an infection-fighting agent of enormous potency. When it was finally recognized for the great discovery that it was, the most efficacious life-saving drug in the world, penicillin would alter forever the treatment of bacterial infections.

Fleming also discovered very early that bacteria developed antibiotic resistance when too little penicillin was used, or when it was used for too short a time period. Fleming cautioned about the use of penicillin in his many speeches around the world. He cautioned not to use penicillin unless there was a properly diagnosed reason for it to be used, and that if it were used, never to use too little, or for too short a period, since these are the circumstances under which bacterial resistance to antibiotics develops.

Activity: ProQuest has created a model BookCart to use with your students to learn more about this fascinating topic -- "Antibiotic Drug Resistance."

This BookCart includes examples of essential questions that will motivate your students to examine the topic in-depth and use critical thinking and learn more about the world of antibiotics.

Pathfinder:

1. Access eLibrary Science, then enter your eLibrary Science Teacher Edition by clicking here.
   
   
2. Select the BookCart Admin link at the top-right corner of the page.
   
   
3. Click the ProQuest Carts tab.
   
   
4. Open the eLibrary Science--BookCarts folder.
   
   
5. Locate: "Antibiotic Drug Resistance"
   
   
6. Select the Copy icon (eye) to the right of this Cart.
   
   
7. Select the Return to My Local Carts link.
   
   
8. The BookCart you copied should be edited for best use. Click the new BookCart title you just copied to open the BookCart Editor.
   
   
9. Delete "Copy of" from the BookCart title. Make any other changes you wish.
   
   
10. Add your name in the Author boxes, then add any other content you wish to the Cart.
    
    
11. Click Save button at bottom.

Students should use at least three resources in a written report (model) of 150-200 words.

Or, here's two models that you can share with students for a PowerPoint report: Model 1, Model 2.