Source: NOVA
Examine the ethical, legal and social implications of in vitro fertilization. Discuss the issues surrounding post-menopausal women giving birth.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ethics in Science. Genetics. Human Biology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: The New Heroes
Demonstrate how technology, invention and innovation affect the future while exploring social and economic issues facing people in developing countries. Describe the deliberate process of invention, and explore ethical issues of research.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies
Topics: Design & Invention. Ethics in Science. Economics. Geography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Nature
Consider the fate of aging and unwanted chimpanzees, create a visual that conveys a message about their treatment and design a refuge for discarded chimpanzees.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Science & Tech, The Arts
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Animals: Mammals. Ethics in Science. Visual Arts.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Our Genes / Our Choices
Discuss the pros and cons of prenatal genetic testing, research a particular genetic disorder and create a pamphlet describing the disorder from a genetic counselor's point of view.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ethics in Science. Genetics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Examine the issues surrounding access to fossils by debating ownership by researchers and commercial dealers of fossils found on public land.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ethics in Science. Geology & Natural Disasters. Paleontology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Explore issues surrounding the established criteria for selecting organ recipients.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Science & Tech
Topics: Death & Dying. Disease. Medicine. Ethics in Science.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Research and debate the arguments for and against the use of genetically modified foods.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Science & Tech
Topics: Nutrition. Botany. Ethics in Science. Genetics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Our Genes / Our Choices
Examine the Human Genome Project and relate the work of the project to advancements in medical technologies. Identify the ethical implications associated with the Human Genome Project.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ethics in Science. Genetics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Examine the Food and Drug Administration's processes for new drug development and discuss the advantages and disadvantages to stringent, long-term studies of new drugs.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Science & Tech
Topics: Consumer Health. Disease. Medicine. Ethics in Science. Human Biology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Examine the American Medical Association's Code of Ethics regarding the allocation of limited medical resources and determine criteria for selecting an organ transplant recipient.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Science & Tech
Topics: Medicine. Ethics in Science.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Investigate how fingerprinting works, determine what sorts of evidence and questions are important in deciding a court case and understand the issues involved with using DNA evidence in a courtroom trial.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies
Topics: Ethics in Science. Genetics. Technology and Civilization.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Investigate breakthroughs in stem cell research, and explore the structure and function of a DNA molecule. Create a model of a DNA from tagboard.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Science & Tech
Topics: Aging. Ethics in Science. Genetics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Bill Moyers Journal
Investigate the author's motives for writing the 1962 book Silent Spring, which exposed the environmental hazards of the pesticide DDT. Consider whether scientists have a responsibility to speak up when they perceive a threat to the public good.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ecology. Ethics in Science. Scientists and Engineers.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Study a person's chromosomal makeup based on DNA analysis, and consider some ethical considerations associated with science.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ethics in Science. Genetics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Explore some of the hard questions and issues related to scientific research and project funding. Role-play a mock Congressional hearing to discuss the wisdom of a new scientific venture with no perceivable practical use to mankind.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Atmosphere & Space Science. Ethics in Science.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Investigate the challenges facing archeologists when dealing with local cultures near dig sites, and consider the difficulty of remaining sensitive to the past yet still being able to learn from it.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies
Topics: Ethics in Science. Anthropology/Cultures. Archeology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Explore the problem of wildlife management in many African countries. Apply critical thinking skills to a decision-making scenario and strategically communicate information.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies
Topics: Ethics in Science. Civics: Current Events/Issues. Sociology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Our Genes / Our Choices
Differentiate dominant, recessive and sex-linked forms of inheritance, calculate the probabilities of passing on certain genetic disorders and then evaluate case studies involving genetic testing.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ethics in Science. Genetics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Explore the field of forensic pathology and describe how new technologies may be used. Isolate DNA from onion cells, and discuss the ethics and legal rights of this process.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ethics in Science. Genetics.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
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