Fighting Extinction - The Ethics of Zoos

Australian curriculum content descriptions: 

Year 9 Science:

• Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment; matter and energy flow through these systems (ACSSU176)
• People use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they accept claims, explanations or predictions, and advances in science can affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities (ACSHE160)

Year 10 Science:

• The theory of evolution by natural selection explains the diversity of living things and is supported by a range of scientific evidence (ACSSU185)
• People use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they accept claims, explanations or predictions, and advances in science can affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities (ACSHE194)

Syllabus outcomes: SC5-14LW, SC5-13ES

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Ethical understanding

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2, OI.7, OI.9

Relevant parts of Year 9 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how biological systems function and respond to external changes.

Relevant parts of Year 10 Science achievement standards: Students explain the processes that underpin heredity and evolution.

Unit of work: Fighting Extinction – Secondary

Time required: 120 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – lead students in research activities and facilitate discussions and debate

• Student Worksheets – one copy per student
• A device capable of presenting a video to the class
• Debate Guidelines
• Year 9 Question Sheet
• Year 10 Question Sheet
• Conservation Priorities Factsheet
• Class set of the following articles:
• Article 1 – Zoos Are Not Prisons. They Improve the Lives of Animals
• Article 2 – Ethics at the Zoo: The Case of Marius the Giraffe
• Article 3 – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Ethics in Zoos

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Ethical understanding
• Empathy
• Problem solving
• Social skills

This lesson has been developed in partnership with Zoos Victoria. Zoos Victoria is a zoo-based conservation organisation whose mission is to fight extinction and support Victorians to be the world’s most wildlife friendly community through being caring, informed and active. Zoos Victoria operate three zoos: Werribee Open Range Zoo, Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. Click here to find out more about Zoos Victoria and their work on fighting extinction.