Lessons
Heredity
Guiding Questions:
- Which two scientific researches advanced the science of genetics?
- Would you want to be able to change your DNA?
Students will be grouped in fours. They will read and review primary source documents from this time period. The documents can be obtained on line by accessing various educational websites utilizing the sub topic - Heredity and DNA. Students will discuss with group members and generate a chart depicting elements that were responsible for genetic investigations and their effect on DNA research. The next day they will do a jigsaw activity with each member from the group joining another group. Students will then discuss their findings and choose which elements had the most effect, and create a timeline representing their mutual conclusions. Assessment can be to have the students write a cause and effect essay using the information gained from the timeline.
Pesticides
Guiding questions:
- What are the most common pesticides/ herbicides used in food production?
- What if any benefits do they offer? What are the consequences of exposure?
- What do you know about toxins, and how they interact with body systems?
- How do structure and function within a system potentially harm its well being?
Lessons will have students creating, and exhibiting charts on the highest pesticide / toxin exposures they encounter on a daily basis. After amassing the information, students will be paired up with each other to increase their results by performing class surveys within the middle school. They will be asked to critically inspect the data; record exposure rates to toxins; critique the five highest toxins encountered among the middle school population; and generate power point presentations highlighting their findings. The information will serve as material for future school-wide public service announcements.
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