Genetics / Genetic Engineering Scientific Debate Set | Biology Science

Studying genetics and genetic engineering is central to middle and high school science, because it helps students understand how traits are inherited, how modern medicine works, and how powerful technologies like CRISPR are reshaping health, agriculture, and society. A structured debate resource on genetics and genetic engineering gives students a safe, guided way to explore real world ethical questions while still grounding everything in solid scientific content.

With clear general debate guidelines and a suggested schedule, subject specific debate questions, one page primers to support different readiness levels, a key vocabulary sheet, short evidence cards with sources, debate roles explained, sentence starters, graphic organizer templates, and a reflection sheet for after the debate, this genetics debate pack turns complex ideas into an organized, student friendly learning experience. It encourages critical thinking, evidence based argument, and scientific literacy, while saving teachers hours of planning time and providing a flexible, ready to use resource that fits neatly into any middle school or high school genetics unit.

This genetics debate set provides the perfect supportive and fully comprehensive resource set that can help your students learn all about genetics through the method of debate. If you have never run a debate for your students before, there is MORE than enough material to help you learn how to do so. You will be able to guide your students through debate on genetics / genetic engineering and provide as much or as little material as they might need, this resource delivers everything you could possibly need for a clear and effective debate to enhance student learning.

THIS GENETICS / GENETICS ENGINEERING DEBATE SET CAN BE USED IN SO MANY WAYS:

• To extend students
• To increase scientific literacy and scientific argumentation (science related speechcraft + logical reasoning) in your class
• A entry point to a unit on this topic
• Great as a lesson filler when class goes too fast
• An exit point to a unit on this topic - for effective review
• Use a sub-topic to focus on a specific part of the unit you are covering

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS GENETIC / GENETIC ENGINEERING DEBATE SET:

• 1 Set of 16 page Google Slides, Powerpoint & PDF format of materials which contains:
  • General debate guidelines + suggested schedule
  • 15 proposed subject specific debate questions (on designer babies & germline editing, cloning, GM crops & food, gene therapy & CRISPR, bioengineering in society)
  • 5 one page primers (neutral in tone) on Designer babies & germline editing, cloning, GM crops & food, gene therapy & CRISPR, bioengineering in society.
  • 1 page general neutral tone primer on this broader topic
  • Key vocabulary with student friendly definitions
  • A set of 12 short evidence cards for potential student use (1 fact + source)
  • Explanation of debate roles
  • Sentence starters for effective debate language
  • 3 graphic organizers (T-chart (for vs. against), Stakeholders (benefits / risks) & Claim-Evidence-Reasoning template
  • 1 page reflection sheet for after the debate
• The 3 graphic organizers in Google Doc & Microsoft Word format with fillable text books for digital use (T-chart (for vs. against), Stakeholders (benefits / risks) & Claim-Evidence-Reasoning template. These Doc versions are images with editable text boxes overlayed on top and this is the most effective way to keep things sleek and well-designed.
• 12 slide evidence cards for printing in Google Slides, Powerpoint, PDF format
• A 24 point rubric for assessment and to support marking and feedback on this activity