1.2 million EU citizens have signed a petition for the complete ban of animal testing. Their argument being it is both unethical and not useful. In this activity students are asked to decide whether they agree. They apply their knowledge about how asthma affects the gas exchange system to examine evidence and decide if animal testing is essential to developing new asthma drugs. They also learn about how to use ethical thinking to make difficult decisions and study different ethical viewpoints.
SEQUENCE FOR ADVANCED USERS
This material is called a Sequence, as it is designed to last two lessons. It explicitly teaches an important Working Scientifically skill, as well as developing science knowledge.
Science objective
Breathing: show how asthma affects the structure of the gas exchange system (KS3 Science Syllabus)
Enquiry objective
Examine consequences: Select the choice which maximises the benefits and minimises the harm. List relevant ‘we should, or should not’ rules that everyone should follow (KS3 Science Syllabus)
Try the activity
Animal testing - Lesson 1
Animal testing - Lesson 2
Animal testing (Teachers guide)
Running the activity
Lesson 1
Engage Get students interested in the issue of animal testing
Review Students review their understanding of the gas exchange system
Consider Groups use evidence to discuss how essential animal testing is in drug development
Lesson 2
Engage Review the dilemma about signing the petition to ban animal testing
Play Students play a game to learn about how to use the three kinds of ethical thinking
Decide Groups use ethical thinking to write arguments for a class debate
For detailed running notes, download the teachers guide.
Weblinks
The European’s commission’s response
Their response to the petition (the ‘Stop Vivisection’ European Citizens’ Initiative)
Arguments against the use of animal testing
Arguments for the use of animal testing
Animal testing in asthma research
This article outlines research that may lead to a new asthma drug which was developed using animal testing
A short video clip about the experience of having asthma and how animal research has contributed to treating asthma.