Curricular Resources for 'The Living Century' and 'Extra Life': Exploring the causes and impacts of medical innovation on human life expectancy
A century ago, at the end of the Great Influenza, global life expectancy was in the mid 30s. In the U.S., it was 47. Today, just a hundred years later, global life expectancy is in the 70s. In an article for The New York Times Magazine and four segments for PBS, author Steven Johnson explores the many innovations in technology, community organizing, policy, and medicine that have led to increased global life expectancy over the last century. His reporting also explores the history of health inequities worldwide, and evaluates the way that an increased life expectancy may be connected to modern global challenges. The resources below outline strategies for engaging students in Johnson's reporting.
Steven Johnson will present on his reporting for both projects as part of a webinar for educators on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 5:00 pm EDT. Click here to register.
Click here for a PDF copy of "The Living Century" by Steven Johnson from The New York Times Magazine.
Note: Curricular resources connected to the PBS segments, which will air weekly starting on May 11, will be available at this link starting on Friday, April 30, 2021.
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Students explore clips from the PBS Series Extra Life to analyze the history and legacy of life-saving medical discoveries that have doubled human life expectancy in the last 100 years.
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Lesson Plans
"The Living Century" from The New York Times Magazine: Underreported stories of medical progress
Students examine factors, many of which have been underreported, that have led to the doubling of human life expectancy over the past century.
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Reach out to the Pulitzer Center education team to connect your students with an award-winning journalist who can demystify a wide range of public health issues.
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Students analyze a discussion with public health experts on life expectancy in the face of COVID-19.
![Pooyan Tabatabei presents "Walking on a Blade," a photojournalism project documenting the impacts of COVID-19 on Iran's marginalized communities. Image courtesy of the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Chicago. United States/Canada, 2020.](/sites/default/files/pooyan_presents.jpg "Pooyan Tabatabei presents "Walking on a Blade," a photojournalism project documenting the impacts of COVID-19 on Iran's marginalized communities. Image courtesy of the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Chicago. United States/Canada, 2020.")
