Curated OER
Spot of Serious Trouble
Students examine the controversy surrounding the MMR vaccine. In this health lesson plan, students visit selected websites to discover the causes of measles, the history of the MMR vaccine, and the two sides of the vaccination debate.
Curated OER
Our Universe: Designed or Evolved?
Students brainstorm and write arguments for Evolution and Intelligent Design. They research the history of each of these ideas. They also examine the controversy of teaching one or both ideas in schools.
Curated OER
Energy Production
Students examine the role of energy in our daily lives, and how energy is produced. Students discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each energy resource, and the controversy surrounding the use of nuclear energy.
Curated OER
Energy Production
Students examine the role of energy in our daily lives, and how energy is produced. Students discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each energy resource, and the controversy surrounding the use of nuclear energy.
Curated OER
The Great Energy Debate
High schoolers explore the controversial issues surrounding the energy debate in Canada. They research recent initiatives being taken in this area and analyze their implication. Students then assume the roles of pivotal stakeholders in...
Curated OER
Legal Aspects Of Fetal Tissue Transportation
Students investigate the current legal status of fetal tissue transplantation. Students engage in a role play discussion of a specific case study. Students explore the ethical controversies surrounding this procedure. Students formulate...
Curated OER
A Feast for the Future
Students participate in an activity that uses a simulated meal of transgenic foods in order to initiate a discussion of the controversy concerning the use of transgenic food products.
Curated OER
The Great Kapok Tree
Students read The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry. After reading the story, they center on the controversy of destroying the rain forest or conserving it. Students have to make an informed decision about rain forest destruction.
Curated OER
Medical Research and Your Future
Students are asked to investigate current and sometimes controversial medical research in order to address what medical breakthroughs potentially exist in their futures. They create small posters on sheets detailing their support or...
Curated OER
Alas, All Human
Students define a scientist. In this ethics and science instructional activity, students read Asimov's Alas, All Human and write responses and discuss the possibilities of imperfection within science by scientists. Students discuss what...
Curated OER
Whose Life Is It?
Students consider the implications of cloning. In this science and ethics instructional activity, students consider when cases of cloning are ethical and when they are not as they discuss scenarios and their discussion questions.
Curated OER
Elements Of Biology: Evolution
Students study the theory of evolution and examine why it is so controversial. In this biology instructional activity students view a video on evolution, research the theory of evolution on the Internet and complete an essay.
Curated OER
Slick Moves: Exploring the Controversial Plan to Drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Students recount their knowledge of natural resources and articulate their understanding of the multi- faceted debate that surrounds drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They then examine the complexity of drilling in the...
Curated OER
Genetics
Comprehend that many human characteristics-all physical traits and possibly many personality traits-are determined by our genetic makeup. These activities demonstate that all physical traits are genetically determined, some evidence...
Curated OER
Deformed Frogs! - The Parasite Hypothesis
This project provides young scholars the opportunity to investigate parasites as a possible cause of the observed frog deformities. It asks students to view web-based evidence and interpret whether it supports the parasite hypothesis....
Curated OER
Genetically Modified Food (GMF)
Explore genetically modified foods through various experiments. In this biology lesson, students discuss the safety issues related to GMF's. They conduct a PCR analysis to identify the presence of genetic modification.
Serendip
Golden Rice – Evaluating the Pros and Cons
More than half the world's population eats rice as a daily staple ... imagine if that rice could prevent illness. Scientists genetically engineered rice to include vitamin A for just that purpose. However, room for debate still exists....
Curated OER
Environmental Action
Middle schoolers debate one another. In this pollution lesson, pupils work in teams to debate which is more serious, air or water pollution. They research their topic to come up with valid points to justify their side of the debate.
Curated OER
Warm Up: When Modern Human Behavior Appeared in Early Hominids
Upper graders or entry college level learners use the provided article links to answer three questions regarding early modern human behavior. They compose short essay responses that accommodate each part of the overarching question,...
Curated OER
Intoxication: In the Arms of Morpheus
A comprehensive instructional activity that takes a look at psychoactive plants with this one focusing on the opium poppy. Information about the history, culture, use, source and effects are discussed. There are weblinks to reliable...
Curated OER
Chilean Sea Bass
Introduce your mini-marine biologists to using databases. Tables of how many Chilean Sea Bass were caught and number of hours spent fishing are examined. Using the data, individuals calculate the "Catch per Unit of Effort" for each year....
Chymist
The Extraction and Identification of Artificial Food Colors
Did you know some food dyes are considered safe while others are considered carcinogenic? During the experiment, young chemists extract artificial food colors from prepared foods. Then, they use chromatography paper to identify which...
Curated OER
Shasta Dam: How High is Too High?
Research water use in California, environmental protection laws, and the proposition to raise Shasta Dam by 200 feet. Researchers use their findings to build an argument which will be presented at a mock decision panel. Groups then...
Curated OER
"Whispering Wires": Public Law vs. Individual Civil Liberties
High school student love discussing controversial issues like those brought up in this fourth amendment case study. They examine the 1928 Olmstead vs. U.S. prohibition court case, applying the fourth amendment to determine whether or not...