3.3 Extra Extra: Biotechnology in Agriculture
This middle school lesson (“Extra! Extra! Biotechnology in Agriculture,” MS.AST.3.3) from the Pork Checkoff Middle School Food and Agricultural Literacy Curriculum has students investigate current applications of biotechnology in agriculture. After a hands-on cup-improvement activity that introduces the idea of improving products, students read real biotechnology news articles and create a newspaper front page summarizing what they learned.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- As a result of this unit the students will discuss concepts and issues related to biotechnology.
- As a result of this lesson the students will investigate current applications of biotechnology in agriculture.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 45 minutes.
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
-
- Styrofoam cup – one per group
- Pipe cleaners
- Tape
- String
- Popsicle sticks
- Note cards – one per student
- Overhead projector/transparencies
- MS.AST.3.3.TM.A – one per teacher
- MS.AST.3.3.AS.A – one per student
- MS.AST.3.3.AS.B – one per student
- MS.AST.3.3.ASSESS.A – one per student
- Several Biotech Articles – see objective 1
- Precepts
- J. Mental Growth; J5. Commit to lifelong learning
- Key Terms
- Biotechnology
- Lesson Number
- MS.AST.3.3
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- BS.01.01.02.bResearch and report on current work being done in agricultural biotechnology.
- BS.01.01.03.aExamine potential future applications of biotechnology in agriculture and compare them with alternative approaches to improving agriculture.
- NL-ENG.K-12.12Applying Language Skills
- NS.5-8.3Life Science
- NS.5-8.5Science and Technology
- NS.5-8.6Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
- NT.K-12.2Social, Ethical and Human Issues.