The Question:
How might UV Radiation Affect Life on Earth?
Procedure.
1. Show the web photos of amphibians with extra legs and mutated appendages, and some discolored plastic.2. Ask students to solve the mystery of how this could have happened?
3. Brainstorm to initiate ideas: What in our environment could cause mutations and changes in plastic? What is a mutation at the organism level, cellular level, molecular level? What impact do mutations have on different life systems on earth? How does UV radiation play a role in genetic mutations? How does UV radiation affect inanimate things, especially plastic?
4. Gather students' ideas as concepts and ask students to complete a concept map, with connecting words. Teacher can use this information to see where students' misconceptions might occur.
Assessment.
Completed concept map