Rationale:
The purpose of this unit is to help improve the classic curriculum of evolution. Normally, the curriculum includes the formation of the Earth, the Cambrian explosion, cells forming into organisms, dinosaurs and fossils, human evolution, and natural selection. Although all important information, it does not have an appreciation among our younger generations in high school. It has been my job to make sure that I make what I teach relatable and understandable biological content to my students.
Therefore, I want my unit to have something that the students would care about, such as a case study involving a kid with an antibiotic resistant bacterial infection that is considered as life threatening. This would change the focus on human evolution to a more medical focus. Because this is something that they will likely have to face in the future about the overuse of antibiotics, they will learn about its severe consequences. Introducing them to Addie Rerecich, who, in 2011, contracted a life threatening antibiotic resistant bacterial infection. This will invoke an empathic response that I want them to have where they will care about what is going on with the future of modern medicine.
I plan on using this unit at the start of the academic school year. I want to start biology from a “Macro” perspective on the content, and end the year with a “Micro” perspective. However, I know it would take a while for the students to understand the theory of evolution, I do believe that teaching in this method could help with engagement.
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