Engage: after talking about natural selection and
sexual selection, we will be discussing selective breeding. Students will be asked whether they think
selective breeding or natural selection produces stronger organisms. The answer is that both are correct; for
example, with selective breeding, purebred dogs are weaker but racehorses are
stronger. The problem they will be looking at is that purebred dogs have more
health problems than other dogs. Why?
Explore: The students
will first be asked to research their favorite dog breed before coming to
class. In class, students will read an article on selective breeding in dogs,
titled “The Purebred Paradox.” They will take notes on diseases/disorders
related to specific species of dogs from the article, and add any they found
with their researched dog.
Explain: Students will
share what they have learned from the article and from their research with the
class. We will discuss their data together as a class. We will also discuss as
a class why purebred dogs would be weaker.
Elaborate: The students
will then get together in groups and look for possible solutions to the
purebred dog health problem. These solutions will be shared with the class. The
students will then, in groups, draft a letter to the American Kennel Club
stating their concerns and their possible solutions.
Evaluate: Students will
be given an exit slip having them rate how well they could teach the concepts
we learned about today to someone else, as well as rating how well the
particular learning process went for them—what was helpful, what wasn’t.
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