New lesson for biology and environmental science educators! 🌳🧬 Genetic Engineering & Conservation (Grades 9–12)
Can we—and should we—use biotechnology to save a species from extinction?
This free, NGSS-aligned lesson by Renee Haines puts students in the driver’s seat of a real-world bioethical dilemma: the restoration of the American chestnut.
In the classroom, students will:
🧬 Evaluate: How CRISPR can support species conservation.
📊 Practice: Building strong Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) skills through Case Studies.
🗣️ Debate: Group poster sessions and a Gallery Walk.
Renee found this lesson sparked “fantastic discussions” and students really enjoyed the social and collaborative aspects.
📝 Teacher Note: This plan is highly adaptable! You can run it as a 2-day module or use the expanded 5-day CER version for a deeper inquiry. If using the Jigsaw method, we recommend groups of 4 for the best student engagement.
Download the full lesson (including the 5-day version) with a free educator account: 👉 https://bit.ly/sclrenee
#BiologyTeachers #STEMEducation #HighSchoolBiology #EnvironmentalScience
