Last updated: August 15, 2024
Lesson Plan
Texas Tortoise Troubles
Learn about values and ethics in this fun lesson plan.
NPS photo (public domain)
- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 6.SL.1.c, 6.SL.4, 7.SL.1.c, 7.SL.1.d, 7.SL.4, 8.SL.1.c, 8.SL.1.d, 8.SL.4
- State Standards:
- Middle School English Language Arts TEKS: 6.1 (A) (D); 7.1 (A) (D); 8.1 (A) (D)
Middle School Health TEKS: 6.3 (E); 7-8.3 (D) (F)
Middle School Positive Character Traits & Personal Skills TEKS: 3. (A) (B) - Thinking Skills:
- Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
How do your values influence your behavior?
Objective
Examine how own values and ethics influence their actions. Respect the values and ethics of others. Learn about laws established to protect Texas state threatened and endangered species.
Background
This lesson gives students the opportunity to examine their own values and ethics about the environment.
In addition, this lesson states laws about wildlife with an emphasis on threatened and endangered species. Although the focus is on the state-threatened Texas tortoise, you are encouraged to substitute a local federal or state threatened or endangered species. If you do not live in Texas, contact your state’s wildlife agency.
It is important that students understand that there are no “right” or “wrong” values. People should respect the values of others, even when those values are different.
Values
Values are a guiding principles and beliefs that a person holds as true and important. Values are intrinsic, personal, and are different for each person.
Ethics and Ethical behavior
Ethics are a set of moral principles. Ethical behavior is a guide based on beliefs of what is right or wrong. They may be personal or agreed upon by a group of people. Like a value, ethics are intrinsic, personal, and are different for each person.
Laws
A law is a written rule or collection of rules prescribed under the authority of a state or nation. Laws are not personal. They are external rules of behavior and consequences.
These are state and federal laws that affect wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has information about these laws. Information about these laws can be found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.
State laws vary. In Texas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is responsible for creating and enforcing laws related to wildlife and the environment.
It is illegal for a person to “take” a threatened or endangered species without a permit. In this case, take is defined as “to harass, harm [kill or injure], pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect or attempt to engage in any such conduct." The law also includes guidelines to prevent loss of a species natural habitat, especially if the area is needed for breeding, food and/or shelter.
Preparation
Review the teacher background, My Values worksheet and Texas Tortoise Troubles scenarios.
Print the My Values worksheet and Texas Tortoise Troubles scenarios.
Materials
Download Texas Tortoise Trouble scenarios
Lesson Hook/Preview
What would you do if you found a Texas tortoise in the middle of the road? Or if your friend broke the law? Today we’ll discuss how you would behave in various situations.
Procedure
- Ask students to define the word “law” in their own words.
- Remind students that laws are external, are not personal, and apply to everyone.
- Ask students to define the phrase “values and beliefs” in their own words. Discuss how values and beliefs are internal, personal, and vary from person to person.
- Ask students to define the word “ethics.” Discuss how ethics, like values and beliefs, are internal, personal, and vary from person to person.
- Ask students to define the phrase “ethical behavior.” Discuss how ethical behavior are actions based on a person’s ethics.
- Give students the My Values worksheet.
- Tell students they have five minutes to complete the values worksheet.
- Have a class discussion about values and the need to respect the values of others.
- Divide students into groups of four. Give each group a set of Texas Tortoise Troubles scenarios.
- Tell the students to take turns reading each scenario.
- After reading, the group has 5 minutes to discuss what action they would take in that scenario.
- After 20 minutes, have each group choose one scenario.
- Tell students that each group will have 10 minutes to work together to choose one action they would take in response. Afterwards, the group will present their scenario and response to the rest of the class.
- Explain it may be difficult to decide on one action when they may each respond in a different way based on their own values and beliefs. However, when people create laws, they must compromise their beliefs for the benefit of the greater good/public.
- After 10 minutes, have each group present their scenario and response to the rest of the class.
Vocabulary
Belief: A state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing: Something that is accepted, considered to be true, or held as an opinion.
Ethic: A set of moral principles: A theory or system of moral values.
Intrinsic: Belonging to the essential nature or constitution of a thing.
Law: A binding custom or practice of a community: A rule of conduct or action.
Value: Relative worth, utility, or importance; Something (such as a principle or quality) intrinsically valuable or desirable.
Assessment Materials
My Texas Tortoise TroubleHave each student choose a trouble and write a short paragraph about the action they would take in response. Explain how their values influence their response.
Have each student choose a trouble and write a short paragraph about the action they would take in response.
Explain how their values influence their response.Assess the student's performance by their participation in class and group discussions.
Supports for Struggling Learners
Create mixed-ability groups.
Enrichment Activities
Have students work as a group to write their own Trouble scenario. Ask them to develop possible responses. Have other groups read their Trouble and discuss. What additional information, if any, is needed to make a responsible and informed decision?