Polar Bears International
Taking Action!
Motivate young scientists to stand up and take action with this environmental science lesson. To begin, the class works in small groups brainstorming actions that support the conservation of the earth before creating and implementing an...
Curated OER
Galileo and the Inevitability of Ideas
Students research Galileo's work and contributions to science. They make a timeline of Galileo's life, discuss the historical context for his book "Dialogue on the Two Chief World Systems" and examine his trial by the Inquisition for...
Serendip
Where Does a Plant's Mass Come From?
Where does the mass for a growing tree come from? Scholars consider a few different hypotheses and guess which is correct. They then analyze data from different experiments to understand which concepts science supports.
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Charlie Four Star: A Case Study
Engage in a class debate dealing with the allocation of organs to those waiting for a transplant. How do they decide who gets a transplant and who doesn't? Learners attempt to determine what is fair for the individual requiring an organ...
Personal Genetics Education Project
Genetics and Reproduction
Disease prevention or designer babies? Use a set of slides to introduce the growing practice of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD. Teens read related articles and then break into groups to address different scenarios. Afterward,...
Curated OER
Bioethics: Where the Future May Take Us
Learners analyze ethical issues related to technology, medicine, and reproduction. In this ethics lesson, students research selected bioethics issues and discuss their risks and benefits. Learners present their research findings to their...
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The Genome: Controversy for All Times
Students examine the genome and discuss the ethical and moral issues surrounding it. In groups, they discover the differences between ethics and morals and discuss where the concepts of good and bad come from in society. After reading...
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The Bottom Line
Seventh graders assume the role of stockholders in a fictitious biotech company. After investigating the cloning of pets, the effects of cloning on the health and well being of the cloned animal, and the ethical issues involved, groups...
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Whose Genes Are These, Anyway?
Young scholars explore some of the ethical questions raised by genetic testing. They answer the question of whom, if anyone, has rights to knowledge of each person's genetic make-up.
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Liver Roulette: Who Gets the Liver?
Students complete various exercises and activities as they examine the procedures involved in organ transplants and the ethical issues surrounding organ donations.
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Ethics Activity: Issue Analysis
Learners analyze environmental health issues with respect to the players, their positions, and associated values, after being introduced to the concepts of events, problems, and issues. They apply the skills of issue analysis to...
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Phineas Gage: Four Corners Discussion Strategy
How far do your pupils think we should go in the name of science? Class members respond to questions relating to chapter three of Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science and then participate in a four corners...
Global Oneness Project
The Consciousness of Nature
Scholars voice their opinions about animal consciousness with an article that challenges common ideas about nature. After reading the article, learners engage in a thoughtful discussion before writing out their arguments...
Curated OER
Ethics In The Science Classroom - Fraud In Science
Students are given a fictitious case study to read in preparation for the class. This lesson can also be readily adapted for a role-playing classroom exercise. They discuss the ethical issues of the case.
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Fable Writing--Inter-disciplinary Approach To Social Sciences
Students recognize the elements of a fable and write an original fable. They make connections with morals and other law-related concepts.
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DNA Chips
High schoolers explore issues surrounding DNA microarray technology. They focus on a single area of biomedical research to help them explain how science, people, ethics, and history all fit together. They analyze gene-expression data.
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Economics, Ecology, & Ethics
Students are introduced to the concepts of economics in a ethical way. In groups, they examine a shift in an economy and discover the effects of the shift. After reading an article, they evaluate it and they write their own conclusion...
Curated OER
What Are the Ethical and Legal Aspects of Radon?
Students research a legal or ethical aspect of radon. They create their own legislation regarding radon and real estate. They present their information to the class.
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Research Ethics
Young scholars develop an ability to distinguish between simple error, misconduct and fraud. Students are lead to consider a widening circle of the consequences of misconduct and fraud. They expand their knowledge on the...
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Genetic Ethics Debate
Students select topics relating to bioethical questions which they research and debate. They, in groups, select topics and are given two to three weeks to research their topics, taking advantage of their school libraries and local public...
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Ethical and Critical Thinking: Genetically Modified Food
Students read statements representing different points of view on Genetically Modified Food. They identify the "facts" and "opinions" in each statement, and then briefly summarize the issue of Genetically Modified Food in a short...
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4-h Veterinary Science Activity Page
The 4-H teaches students about agriculture, health, and animal care - the last of which is the focus of this activity. From dogs and cats to pigs and hedgehogs, this worksheet provides helpful tips for caring for animals, as well as...
Curated OER
Whose Life Is It?
Students consider the implications of cloning. In this science and ethics lesson plan, students consider when cases of cloning are ethical and when they are not as they discuss scenarios and their discussion questions.
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A Body Dilemma
Students explore the pros and cons of the selling of body parts in this lesson. A discussion of how personal value systems impact science and research is developed.