CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Women's History Month Differentiated CER Sub Plan

Need a reliable, standards-aligned lesson for when you're out? Looking for an engaging Women's History Month activity that connects to real-world science? This CRISPR-Cas9 sub plan has you covered — no teacher prep required!

Students will explore how Nobel Prize-winning scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna revolutionized gene editing, then take a position on one of 6 real-world ethical dilemmas using Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) writing. With two fully differentiated versions included, this lesson works for every learner in your classroom — from honors students to those with IEPs or ELL support needs.

Print it. Leave it. Done. ✂️🧬

⭐ WHAT'S INCLUDED (26 Pages Total)

✅ CRISPR Reading & Comprehension Questions — Academic/Honors Version (6 pages + key)

✅ CRISPR Reading & Comprehension Questions — Scaffolded Version for IEPs/ELLs (6 pages + key)

✅ CER Bioethics Writing Assignment — Academic Version with 6 scenario choices (2 pages + rubric)

✅ CER Bioethics Writing Assignment — Scaffolded Version with graphic organizer & sentence stems (3 pages + rubric)

✅ Answer Keys for both versions

✅ CER Grading Rubrics (2 per page)

✅ Editable Substitute Teacher Lesson Plan (Word doc)

✅ Teacher Guide with differentiation tips & grading options

🧬 THE LESSON AT A GLANCE

⏱ 45–50 minutes | Independent student work | Print-and-Go

Part 1 — CRISPR Reading & Questions (20–25 min) Students read about how Charpentier and Doudna developed CRISPR-Cas9, how the guide RNA and Cas9 enzyme work together to edit DNA, and explore real-world applications in medicine, agriculture, and conservation.

Part 2 — CER Bioethics Writing (20–25 min) Students choose ONE of 6 ethical scenarios and write a CER paragraph defending their position. Scenarios include:

🔬 Eliminating Genetic Diseases Before Birth

🌾 Creating Disease-Resistant Crops

🦣 De-Extinction of Lost Species

🧠 Enhancing Human Traits

🦟 Editing Mosquitoes to Prevent Malaria

🧫 Editing Adults vs. Embryos

👩🔬 DIFFERENTIATED FOR EVERY LEARNER

Both versions cover the same core content and meet the same learning objectives — making it easy to run in a mixed-ability classroom simultaneously.

• Academic/Honors Version: Grade-level reading with college-prep vocabulary, higher-order thinking questions, and an open-ended CER writing prompt
• Scaffolded Version (IEP & ELL Supported): Simplified vocabulary, shorter sentences, concrete analogies, sentence stems, graphic organizer, and step-by-step CER support

📋 PERFECT FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

The included editable Word doc sub plan tells the substitute exactly what to do at every step — from distributing the correct version to collecting student work. No sub experience with CRISPR required!

📌 STANDARDS ALIGNED

🔹 NGSS HS-LS3-1: Role of DNA in coding for characteristic traits

🔹 NGSS HS-LS3-2: Claim-based defense of inheritable genetic variation

🔹 NGSS HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate solutions to complex real-world problems

👩🏻🔬 WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH CONNECTION

Highlight the groundbreaking 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry — the first Nobel Prize in Chemistry ever awarded to an all-women team. A meaningful, curriculum-connected way to celebrate Women's History Month in your science classroom!