Penicillin Discovery: Lab Notes vs Medical Journal - Reading Passage with Quiz for Teachers, Parents & Homeschoolers

About this printable Discovery of Penicillin science reading passage, NGSS-aligned (Grades 4-5)

This passage compares Alexander Fleming's firsthand laboratory notes on the discovery of penicillin with a secondhand account from a medical journal. Fleming's notes capture the immediate observations and potential significance of the accidental discovery, focusing on the specific details observed in the lab. The journal article provides a broader historical context, explaining the development of penicillin into a usable drug and its impact on modern medicine. This comparison allows students to analyze how firsthand and secondhand accounts differ in focus, detail, and perspective, particularly in scientific discoveries. The passage aligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.6 standards and enhances understanding of how scientific breakthroughs are reported and contextualized.

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Sample passage and quiz from Discovery of Penicillin

Discovery of Penicillin

"Alexander Fleming 2018 stamp of Moldova" by Post of Moldova / Wikimedia Commons

Firsthand Account: Alexander Fleming's Laboratory Notes September 3, 1928: Upon returning from holiday, I noticed something unusual in one of my Petri dishes containing Staphylococcus bacteria. A mold had contaminated the dish, and around this mold was a clear area where no bacteria were growing. This is most curious. I have isolated the mold and will investigate further. This accidental discovery could potentially lead to something significant in the field of antibacterial substances.

Secondhand Account: Medical Journal Article, 1945

The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 revolutionized modern medicine. Fleming noticed that a mold contaminating one of his bacterial cultures had created a bacteria-free circle around itself. He identified the mold as belonging to the Penicillium genus and found that it produced a substance with antibiotic properties, which he named penicillin. However, it wasn't until the late 1930s and early 1940s that a team of scientists, led by Howard Florey and Ernst Chain, developed penicillin into a usable antibiotic drug. This discovery has since saved millions of lives and opened the door to the development of many other antibiotics.

Comprehension quiz (4 questions)

1. How does the focus of the firsthand account differ from the secondhand account?

The firsthand account emphasizes the immediate observations and potential significance, while the secondhand account provides historical context and long-term impact.

The firsthand account discusses the development of penicillin as a drug, while the secondhand account focuses on Fleming's initial discovery.

The firsthand account provides statistical data on lives saved, while the secondhand account describes the laboratory conditions.

The firsthand account mentions other scientists involved, while the secondhand account only discusses Fleming's role.

2. What information is unique to the secondhand account?

The date of Fleming's discovery

The name of the bacteria in the Petri dish

The involvement of Florey and Chain in developing penicillin as a drug

The observation of the bacteria-free circle around the mold

3. Which aspect of the discovery is emphasized more in the firsthand account?

The accidental nature of the discovery

The global impact on medicine

The chemical properties of penicillin