Websink Prep UKKS2 ScienceYear 6 chaptersScience textbooksYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6Year 7Year 8Year 9Browse allPast papersFind a tutorBecome a tutor
Primary Science · Year 6Chapter 4 · Diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle
Year 6 Science · Diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle · Lesson 4.4

Year 6 Science: Medicines and drugs

Part of the Year 6 Science diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

4.4

Medicines and drugs

Year 6
A2: recognise the impact of drugs on the way the body functions, including medicines used correctly and misused
Story. Aisha has a sore throat. Her grown-up gives her a medicine from the chemist, and reads the label with her. “Medicines help us get better, but only when we take them the right way,” her grown-up says. “Never take anything unless a grown-up or a doctor says it is safe.”

A drug is any substance that changes the way the body works. Some drugs are medicines, which doctors and pharmacists prescribe or recommend to help the body to recover from illness.

A medicine helps only when it is taken as advised, by the right person, in the right amount. Taking medicine without advice, or in the wrong amount, can harm the body. This is called misuse.

Children should never take any medicine unless a grown-up says it is safe. Medicines should be kept out of reach, and the label should always be read.

The table shows the general effects of medicines and of some other substances on the body.

Substance or medicineWhat it does to the body
Medicine taken as advised by a grown-up or a doctorhelps the body to recover from illness
Medicine taken without advice, or in the wrong amountcan harm the body, and can be dangerous
Tobacco smokedamages the lungs and the heart, and is very harmful
Alcoholaffects the brain and judgement, and can damage the liver
Caffeine, in tea, cola and some energy drinkscan make the heart beat faster and keep you awake

Key ideas

  • A medicine helps the body to recover only when it is taken as advised.
  • Misuse of a medicine, or taking it without advice, can harm the body.
  • Children should never take any medicine unless a grown-up says it is safe.
  • Always read the label, and keep medicines out of reach.
Worked example 4.4.1
Look at the table in section 4.4. Which substance helps the body to recover from illness when it is taken as advised? Write the words.

Method. Read the first row.

  1. Read the row. Medicine taken as advised helps the body to recover from illness.
    recover
  2. Write the words. So the answer is medicine taken as advised by a grown-up or a doctor.
    medicine taken as advised
  3. Write the answer.
    medicine taken as advised by a grown-up or a doctor

Check. Advice keeps the medicine safe. ✓

Worked example 4.4.2
Look at the table in section 4.4. What can misuse of a medicine do to the body? Write the words.

Method. Read the second row.

  1. Read the row. Medicine taken without advice, or in the wrong amount, can harm the body.
    can harm
  2. Write the words. So misuse can harm the body, and can be dangerous.
    can harm
  3. Write the answer.
    it can harm the body

Check. Misuse is dangerous, so it is never a safe choice. ✓

Worked example 4.4.3
Who decides whether a medicine is safe for a child? Write the words.

Method. Think about who is responsible for a child's safety.

  1. Think about the rule. Children should not take any medicine unless a grown-up says it is safe.
    a grown-up
  2. Write the answer. So a grown-up decides whether it is safe.
    a grown-up
  3. Write the answer.
    a grown-up

Check. A grown-up or a doctor makes the decision. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a medicine that helps one person can harm another, or harm you if it is taken in the wrong amount. Never share medicines.

Exam tip

Exam tip. When you write about drugs, say that medicines help when they are used as advised, and that misuse can harm the body.

Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With a grown-up, look at the labels on medicines at home, and find who says how each one should be taken. Do not open or taste any medicine. Talk about the rule that a child takes a medicine only when a grown-up says it is safe.

Exercise 4D  Medicines and drugs

1
FWhich kind of substance helps the body to recover from illness, when it is taken as advised? Write the words.
2
FWhat is a drug, in general terms? Write the words.
3
FWho should decide whether a medicine is safe for a child? Write the words.
4
FShould a child take a medicine that belongs to someone else? Write yes or no.
5
FWhat should you always do before taking any medicine? Write one word.
6
FWhere should medicines be kept, to keep young children safe? Write the words.
7
PSName the harm that misuse of a medicine can cause. Write the words.
8
PSAisha takes a medicine that her grown-up gave her, as the label says. Is this use of the medicine correct? Write yes or no.
9
PSRuby takes a medicine that a friend gave her. Explain why this is not safe. Write one sentence.
10
RExplain why a medicine can help one person but harm another. Write one sentence.
11
RChallenge: explain why the rule “a grown-up says it is safe” protects children. Write one sentence.

Websink Prep UK is an independent site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, SQA, GL Assessment, CEM or the Department for Education. All exam board names and trademarks belong to their owners. Past papers are linked from the exam boards' own websites and are not hosted here.

About Websink Prep UK · Find a tutor · Privacy · Terms · Cookie settings