Ethics in the Science Classroom - Grades 7-12
Developed by the participants of Washington Association for Biomedical
Research first annual Ethics in Science summer workshop, these five
lesson plans illustrate how seamlessly ethics can be tied to content issues in
all disciplines in science and readily align with Washington State Science
Standards (EALRs).
2002 Lessons
(Word files)
Love Canal: Research
a variety of ethical issues surrounding the Love Canal case study.
The Nash Family:
Explore the issues surrounding the use of selecting embryos with desired
qualities to become donors of stem cells for siblings.
Structure of DNA:
Investigate research ethics and the sharing of data (see also 'DNA
Discovered - Who Gets the Credit?' below).
Transgenic Salmon:
Evaluate issues surrounding gene-altered Atlantic salmon that grow far
faster than normal (see also 'Biologically Altered -Transgenic Salmon'
below).
Walter Reed's Yellow Fever Studies:
Use the historical context of the building of the Panama Canal as a setting
for exploring the controversial medical experiments of Water Reed.
2001 Lessons
(Word files)
To Cut or Not to Cut:
Involve students in a discussion of the use of dissection in schools.
Water Rights :
Investigate issues surrounding the use of shared valuable resources.
2000 Lessons
Bioethics and Fetal Tissue Research
(38 kb Word file): Explore the use of fetal tissue for medical treatment and
research.
DNA Discovered - Who Gets the Credit?
(261kb Zip file): Evaluate the scientific contributions of scientists to
determine who should have received credit for the discovery of DNA.
Biologically Altered - Transgenic Salmon
(68 kb Word file): Research and debate the pros and cons of raising
transgenic salmon in enclosed pens in Washington State.
The Price We Pay (59
kb Word file): Research issues pertaining to organic and traditional
farming.
Suspicious Origins
(522 kb Zip file): Explore the role of dogs in cardiovascular research and
the regulations in place for the acquisition of research animals.
Download all five lessons at once!
(131 kb Zip file)
To download the zip files, simply click on the link below and select "Save
this file to disk". The appropriate files will be extracted and saved to
your computer.
Saving Lorenzo
Download a lesson plan based on the film, 'Lorenzo's Oil', that helps teachers
easily integrate the Middle School Essay and Poster contest into existing
curriculum.
Modern Science Miracles
Developed by WABR, this curriculum was designed and tested by local teachers
as part of our National Institutes of Health funded partnership,
"Making Connections".
The curriculum begins with a series of questions based on "Myths and Facts",
and continues with questions on "Milestones in Medicine". Students are then
given the opportunity to design an "animal report" on specific animals and the
role they played in biomedical research. Final units ask students to research
their own family histories of how relatives' lives have been affected by
biomedical research. Please call or email us for a copy!
Effects of Alcohol and Nicotine on Daphnia
Developed by WABR, this hands-on student laboratory activity was developed as
part of a grant funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Known as the
Addiction and the Brain program, the University of Washington, the Pacific
Science Center and Group Health Cooperative/Kaiser Permanente are WABR
partners in this grant. Students conduct their own investigation of effects on
daphnia after applications of alcohol and tobacco solutions.
Effects of Alcohol & Nicotine on Daphnia
