Competency: Understand How To Read Prescriptions
Competency: Understand How To Read Prescriptions
Competency: Understand How To Read Prescriptions
Lesson Overview:
Students will learn vocabulary associated with prescriptions and pharmacies and will
be able to read and understand prescription labels upon completion of this lesson.
Prerequisite Skills: Students must be able to read and write simple sentences and be
familiar with basic health words. Much of the prerequisite vocabulary required in this
lesson is taught in the intermediate-level lesson plan entitled “Understand a Doctor’s
Directions.”
Prerequisite Vocabulary:
afternoon (PM)
cream(s)
doctor(s)
drug(s)
infection(s)/infected
medication(s)
morning (AM)
once a day
patient(s)
pill(s)
take medicine(s)
twice a day
apply/applies aspirin
capsule(s) brand name drug(s)
ointment(s) co-payment(s)
pharmacist(s) drowsy
pharmacy/pharmacies generic drug(s)
prescription(s) insurance card(s)
prescription label(s) over the counter drugs (OTC)
refill(s) prescription card(s)
tablet(s)
teaspoon(s)/teaspoonful
Equipment Needed: Multi-media computer with Internet access (for optional activities)
Activities:
2. Ask students what they already know about prescriptions. Write their responses
on the board or on a flip chart
3. Briefly review the prerequisite vocabulary. Go over the new vocabulary. You
may want to write the words on the board.
a. Make sure that each student can correctly pronounce the new words by
having them pronounce the words aloud as a group and then individually.
Assessment/Evaluation of Learning:
Optional/Follow-up Activities:
1. To challenge your students a bit more, give them Getting a Prescription Filled
Optional Vocabulary. Go over each word’s pronunciation and definition.
Answer any questions that the students may have about them.
2. For listening and writing practice give students Getting a Prescription Filled
Dialogue Listening Activity. Tell them that you are going to read the dialogue
to them. They are to listen and fill in the blanks with the words they hear. Read
from the Answer Key that is provided.
a. Read the dialogue at normal pace the first time. Read it again a little
slower. Read it a third time if necessary.
b. Ask two students to read the dialogue, supplying the missing words as
they read.
c. Write the words on the board so that students may check for spelling
accuracy.
3. For a writing activity, use Pharmacy Dialogue Writing Activity. This handout
gives students three scenarios from which to choose to write a dialogue about.
Circulate as the students write, offering spellings of words and correct grammar.
Give each student personal feedback on his/her writing. (As a variation, have
students create a dialogue in pairs. Have them read their dialogue to the class.)
5. The Oxford Picture Dictionary, by Oxford University Press, “Health Care”, pages
80 – 81.