2. The biotechnology revolution - 2 – Lesson plans
Lesson Plan for module 2 – the biotechnology
revolution
I. Introduction
This document provides a number of suggestions of lesson plans on four topics linked to the
biotechnology revolution including time needed to organise the activities in class and the links with
different schools subjects.
II. Lesson plans
The lesson plans are meant to give teachers an idea of how the tools can be used within a lesson.
The lesson plans will be preceded by a table displaying some general information concerning the
suggested plan, such as the age level of the students, the tools that are used, etc.
The structure of the lesson plans is made in a way that objectives of the activities, as well as materials
needed for the implementation, the procedure of the activities and the timing of each of the single
activity are stated.
Abbreviations:
T: Teacher Ss: Students Ind: Individual work
S: student OHT: overhead transparency Pw: Pairwork
Gw: Groupwork
3. The biotechnology revolution - 3 – Lesson plans
Lesson plan 1: The use and limits of stem cells to cure diseases
General information:
Author of the lesson plan: Laurent Martorell
Subject of the lesson: The use and limits of stem cells to cure
diseases
What are the limits of stem cells? Which
diseases can be cured and what would need
other methods?
Age level of the students: 15-18 years old
Xplore Health’s tools used: Video: Can you cure with cells?
Video: Biotechnology and ethics
Link with different school
subjects/integration in the curriculum:
Can the topic be linked to different subjects in
your school? Does it fit to your curricula?
This subject can be linked to various aspects
of the curricula whenever a disease is involved
or a treatment is applied.
Pre-knowledge required by students: Definition and concept of biotechnology, stem
cell and DNA
Suggested background reading for
Teacher:
Teachers’ guide: Background information
4. The biotechnology revolution - 4 – Lesson plans
Lesson plan:
Activity Objective of activity Material, tools Interaction Procedure Time (min.)
Video Introduction: the stem
cell, its biological
aspects
Video: Can you
cure with cells?
Gw All, teacher and pupils
watch the video.
5
Video Introduction: the stem
cell, its ethical
aspects
Video:
Biotechnology
and ethics
Gw All, teacher and pupils
watch the video.
5
Teacher
speech
Introducing activity - T → Ss The teacher summarises
the concepts detailed in the
two videos, explains
students the procedure to
be followed.
Each student group is
assigned to a specific task
related to one of the
biological or ethical aspects
of the stem cell
10
Class
activity
Find out about the
use of stem cell to
cure illness and the
ethical implications
Computer,
Internet
connection and
projector.
Ss Gw → T Student group work
presentations followed by a
classroom debate
20
Teacher
speech
Conclude the
activities
- T → Ss The teachers makes a
summery of the outcomes
of the debates
5
Total time
of the
lesson
45
5. The biotechnology revolution - 5 – Lesson plans
Lesson plan 2: The possibilities and limits of biotechnology
General information:
Author of the lesson plan: Carlos de Paz
Subject of the lesson: Are there any limits in biotechnology? What
would you try to invent if you worked with
biotechnology and what would be your
challenges?
Age level of the students: 15-18 years old
Xplore Health’s tools used: • Biotechnology, life with us.
• Help me to cure Nadia’s cancer.
• Become a doctor and give each
patient the best treatment.
• Become a medical engineer!
Link with different school
subjects/integration in the curriculum:
Can the topic be linked to different subjects in
your school? Does it fit to your curricula?
• Genetics. Biotechnology, main
applications end ELSA
• Plant and animal reproduction
• Biotechnology in today world.
Pre-knowledge required by students: • Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Cellular division
• Basic ICT skills
Suggested background reading for
Teacher:
Teachers’ guide: Background information
Lesson plan:
6. The biotechnology revolution - 6 – Lesson plans
Activity Objective of activity Material, tools Interaction Procedure Time (min.)
Create the
scenario
• Introduce subject
• Define task (i.e.
pecha-kucha
presentation)
• Detail process.
Computer, Internet
connection and
projector.
T → S Teacher
presentation
15
Work with
Xplore Health
tools
• Each group
works with one
Xplore Health
tool and try to
answer the
questions
accompanying
the subject of the
lesson (see
above).
• Produce a
presentation with
5 images and a
text to
accompany each
of them for
exactly 20
seconds.
• Biotechnology,
life with us.
• Help me to cure
Nadia’s cancer.
• Become a doctor
and give each
patient the best
treatment.
• Become a
medical engineer!
• Computers room
• Some tool for
collaborative
edition of
presentations in
the cloud.
Ss Gw (4
groups)
Students work 50
Presentations One student
represent each group
to present their work
Computer, Internet
connection and
projector.
S→Ss + T (as
moderator)
Students work 10
Create a
presentation
summarising
all the groups
works
Create a presentation
to explain what
biotechnology is
Computer, Internet
connection and
projector.
Ss GW (1
group) + T (as
moderator)
Debate to unify
all
presentations &
create a unique
one.
25-30min
Total time of
the lesson
2 sessions
50-
60min/each
7. The biotechnology revolution - 7 – Lesson plans
Lesson plan 3: Biotechnology and genetic modification of nature
General information:
Author of the lesson plan: Katarzyna Kozlow
Subject of the lesson: What are the limits to which we should be able
to modify nature? Is it e.g. ok to genetically
modify plants? What are the consequences
and benefits?
Age level of the students: 15-18 years old
Xplore Health’s tools used: • Dialogue game – Biotechnology
revolution
• Video’s: Can you cure with the cells,
Plants to farm drugs
• Game: Help me to cure Nadia cancer!
Link with different school
subjects/integration in the curriculum:
Can the topic be linked to different subjects in
your school? Does it fit to your curricula?
Basic biology curriculum
Extended biology curriculum
Ethics curriculum
Pre-knowledge required by students: Molecular Biology
Suggested background reading for
Teacher:
Teachers’ guide: Background information
8. The biotechnology revolution - 8 – Lesson plans
Lesson plan:
Activity Objective of activity Material, tools Interaction Procedure Time (min.)
Presentation
of subject
To provide the aim of
the lesson
- T → S Teacher
introduction
5
Explaining the
concepts
To give background
information on the
Biotechnology
revolution
Video: Can you cure
with the cells
Video: Plants to farm
drugs
Educators' guides
The Biotechnology
revolution
T → S
Teacher
presentation
15
Class
discussion
Discuss the theme:
What are the limits to
which we should be
able to modify nature
- T ↔ S
Ss → Ss
S→Ss
Teacher led
discussion
10
Summary Collect feedback from
students
- S → T
Student led
discussion
10
Total time of
the lesson
2 sessions
50-
60min/each