Extrapolation

"Revenants"

Advance Preparation

Teachers will need to familiarize themselves with uses of biotechnology in order to lead the discussion with students who may not have had much experience with these ideas. Some possible sources include: The Opposing Viewpoints Series (some of which are available with the BEP materials; videotapes (also available with the BEP materials).

The lesson also asks students to create an ad campaign presenting positive uses for biotechnology. Teachers may want to make their own as a model for students prior to the lesson.

The teacher will need to teach the following words to students:

• revenant: one that returns after death or a long absence; a ghost
• atavism: recurrence in an organism of a form typical of ancestors more remote than the parents, usually due to a recombination of ancestral genes; reversion to a primitive type
• pterodactyl: an extinct flying reptile that had wings somewhat like a bat's
• auk: a northern sea bird with short wings used only as paddles
• dodo: a large, clumsy bird unable to fly; now extinct
• quagga: an extinct wild ass of Southern Africa related to the zebra
• neo: prefix meaning new (so students can figure out the meaning of neoglas)
• paleontologist: a scientist who studies the science of the forms of life existing long ago, as represented by fossil animals and plants
• SO: abbreviation of Significant Other

Teachers should read the story to determine any other possible vocabulary words the students need prior to their reading the story.

Introduction

At the Basic Concepts level, we introduce students to the scientific ideas of biotechnology and their relation to students' lives. In English we introduce these concepts through science fiction, and at this level, through the genre of the short story. The short story is a good medium for students to see some possible uses of biotechnology. This lesson is based on the short story "Revenants" by Judith Tarr¹. In this lesson students will be introduced to the term "extrapolation" as it relates to science fiction. The activities are meant to stimulate discussion about possible uses of biotechnology. This lesson will take approximately three class periods.

Objectives

Students will:

• understand the term "extrapolation" as it relates to science fiction;
• participate in discussion of the possibilities of biotechnology;
• analyze through a chart the positive and negative outcomes of science;
• create a booklet marketing a positive use of biotechnology.

Procedure

• Teach the term "extrapolation" as it relates to science fiction (use the overhead for definitions); ask students for examples of extrapolation used in movies, video games, or literature.
• Assign the reading of the short story "Revenants" by Judith Tarr.
• Ask students to jot down examples of extrapolation as they see them in the short story.
• Discuss the examples found in their reading. List them on an overhead, white board, or chalkboard.
• In small groups, students discuss examples of extrapolation from the short story. You may choose to have each group look at all the examples or each group take one or two. Students chart (on butcher paper or transparency) the possible positive and negative outcomes of these ideas. Some examples follow:
• zoos with prehistoric animals
• child abuse laws strengthened
• requiring a license (almost like a college degree) before having kids
• statutory changes-of-life-style
• point system (ongoing) for determining child custody
• human and robotic caseworkers on telescreens
• an institution called the Bureau of Family Values
• virtual reality on Internet
• Students will present their charts to the class for discussion.
• Ask students in their groups to brainstorm several possible great uses of biotechnology. Students are to extrapolate current possibilities of biotechnology to what they may be used for in the future. If they are having trouble with this, they may use one of the ideas from the short story. They then narrow down to their best one.
• Students determine a marketing approach for the use of this biotechnology. Create a booklet that would convince the public that this is a safe and practical use of science. Questions to be answered in the booklet: Who is this for? What does it do? Why can't we live without it? What makes it safe? How will it help society?
• Groups present their booklets to the class.

1. Tarr, Judith, "Revenants," in Dinosaur Fantastic edited by Mike Resnick and Martin H. Greenberg, (Daw Books, Inc.: 1993), pp. 67-77.