Stem Cell Research: Murder or Miracle?

Subject Area(s):

• K-12: Science

Grade Level(s):

• 10th Grade

Description:

A library media specialist and tenth grade teacher will work together to teach this lesson in which students record their initial thoughts on stem cell research, work in pairs to research the topic, and share their informed conclusions with an ethics board (comprised of their classmates, the library media specialist, and their teacher). This lesson is suggested for use toward the beginning of the year in that it provides students with somewhat guided research practice that will prepare them for later scientific research in which they will investigate individual topics more independently. The number of days devoted to this lesson can vary based on the length of class periods and the amount of time designated for in-class completion of final products.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

·       Students will understand the structure of stem cells and the cells’ potential applications to science and medicine.      

·       Students will locate, cite, and analyze arguments for and against stem cell research.  

·       Students will develop opinions about stem cell research and will support their opinions with research and reasoning.

·       Students will learn from and appreciate each other’s perspectives through the collaborative process of sharing thoughts and research.

Learning Objectives:

• Tenth grade students will define “stem cell” and will list at least 5 important facts about stem cells.
• Students will provide accurate responses to all six questions about types of stem cells.
• Students will list at least three current scientific uses of stem cells.
• Students will cite at least three articles relevant to the stem cell debate using proper MLA citation.
• Students will list at least three arguments for and at least three arguments against stem cell research.  
• Students will explain their opinions on stem cell research through the creation of a PowerPoint presentation or a video interview meeting guidelines outlined in project checklists.   
• Students will present their presentations in class, will answer classmates’ questions, and will write a specific compliment about each group’s presentation.

Motivational Goals:

• Students will demonstrate an interest in learning about scientific controversies.
• Students will become confident in their research and analysis skills.

Materials:

Please see the attached lesson plan under "Supporting Files" for materials and sources.

Procedures:

Please see the attached lesson plan under "Supporting Files" for lesson procedures.

Assessment:

Please see the attached lesson plan under "Supporting Files" for assessment procedures. Also refer to the lesson evaluation sheet at the end of the research packet found in "Supporting Files."

Supporting Files:

• Stem Cell Research Lesson Plan.doc
  
• Stem Cell Research Packet.doc
  

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

• Recognizes the need for information.
• Recognizes that accurate and comprehensive information is the basis for intelligent decision making.
• Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Evaluates information critically and competently.

• Determines accuracy, relevance and comprehensiveness.
• Selects information appropriate to the problem or question at hand.

Recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society.

• Seeks information from diverse sources, contexts, disciplines, and cultures

Participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.

• Shares knowledge and information with others.
• Respects others' ideas and backgrounds and acknowledges their contributions.
• Subject: K-12: Science

National Content Standards (K-12)

Life Sciences

• Understands the structure and function of cells and organisms
• Understands biological evolution and the diversity of life

Nature of Science

• Understands the nature of scientific inquiry