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Lesson ideas

Blood Brothers

The purpose of this lesson is to promote understanding about:
the frequency of occurrence of blood types in particular racial/ethnic groups
the shared characteristics of blood in the overall population

Blood Brothers focuses on an examination of blood types in the human population to bring out the notion of shared human characteristics between people who may look different.

Scientific Overview
This lesson is set in the context of human populations, and involves a study of the blood characteristics of a number of distinct racial/ethnic groups. Students will build skills in observation, information gathering and processing. Student learning experiences strongly reflect the nature and intent of the current syllabus - especially the values and attitudes outcomes that explore the reasons why different cultures or groups within a society may have different views in relation to scientific issues.
Multicultural overview
Racial/ethnic groups may have readily seen (phenotypic) characteristics (eg colour of skin). When we are not thinking critically, we tend to rely on the most basic rules of social interaction (stereotypes). Sometimes we identify with a certain group, leading us to think that everyone outside our group is inferior and that the differences between "us" and "them" are greater than they are. We can create false associations between a group of people and certain attitudes, then act as if the associations were true. These stereotypes can be the focus for a great deal of prejudice against particular racial/ethnic groups.
Although we may have some things in common we are all individuals and do not fit neatly into stereotypes. This is true for all groups of people. No one is "normal"; we all have our own unique way of "being" yet we all share some characteristics, things that bind us together. We are all complex individuals who can identify with different groups at different times.
This is the case when we look at the blood compatibility of people from different racial/ethnic groups. A compatible person for an individual in terms of blood type may be someone who looks different - someone from a different racial/ethnic group.
It can be noted in discussion with students that other differences within any racial/ethnic group are always far greater than differences between racial/ethnic groups.

This lesson involves a "role play". Each student in the class assumes an identity consisting of a name, racial/ethnic group and blood type. Students mingle and talk and group according to their assumed racial/ethnic group. Students are then given information about blood group compatibility. They mingle again and using compatibility information prepare two lists. The first list will include all the individuals to whom they can give blood. The second list will include the individuals from whom they can receive blood.

Lesson procedure

• Download Sheet 1.
• Download the Activity Worksheet, Table 1 and Table 2. Copy one of each per student.
• Cut the identity list (Sheet 1) into strips. Each strip will have a name, racial/ethnic identity and blood group.
• Fold each strip and place strips in a box.
• Ask students to take turns at drawing a name.
• Give each student the Activity Worksheet and ask him or her to fill in the details of their identity.
• Ask students to mingle and then group according to their racial/ethnic group.
• Hand out and discuss information about blood group distributions (table 1).
• Give each student the blood compatibility sheet (table 2).
• Ask students to mingle, introducing themselves to others and exchange details about blood groups.
• Using compatibility information students decide between themselves whether or not they are compatible as a donor, a receiver or both.
• Ask students to enter the information gathered during the activity on their Activity Worksheet.

Follow up
Download the Assignment Sheet and distribute. Ask students to answer following questions:

1. What was your name in the role play?
2. What was your racial/ethnic background?
3. What was your blood group?
4. Within your racial/ethnic group, what percentage of citizens is in your blood group?
   a. Did the person you met from your own racial/ethnic background have the same blood group as you?
   b. Are you compatible with that person in blood type?
5. Can you receive blood from any people who are from outside your racial/ethnic group?
6. Can you donate blood to any people who are from outside your racial/ethnic group?
7. What do the answers to questions 5 and 6 tell you about the differences and similarities between people of different racial/ethnic groups?
8. People who are racist will often highlight the differences between the different racial/ethnic and cultural groups, and use these differences as a means of discrimination. Use the information you have gained in this lesson to write a paragraph on similarities between racial/ethnic and cultural groups and how these may be used to benefit humankind.

General Education at Australian Red Cross Blood Service