Risks and benefits
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👩 Teacher’s Guide
🎯 Objective
Students will be able to:
- Identify potential risks and benefits of a scientific development
- Suggest ways to reduce risk while keeping benefits
- Explain why different groups may judge risks differently
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📝 Teaching Notes
- Key idea to emphasize: Main concept: decisions weigh benefits against risks and uncertainty.
- Common misconception: Misconception: 'natural' always means safe and 'artificial' always means dangerous.
- Suggested teaching approach:
- Use a risk matrix (likelihood × severity).
- Separate hazard from risk (risk depends on exposure).
- Ask students to propose risk-reduction steps.
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💬 Discussion Starter
Ask students:
- Why is evidence more important than opinion in science?
- What makes an experiment a “fair test”?
- How can scientists disagree and still make progress?
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🧒 Student Worksheet
Concept and Helping Material
Many scientific ideas bring both benefits and risks. Evaluating them means thinking about how likely harm is, how serious it could be, and how we can reduce risk while keeping the benefits.
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Vocabulary and Definitions
- — Something that could cause harm.
- — The chance of harm occurring, considering exposure.
- — A positive outcome or advantage.
- — How probable something is to happen.
- — How serious the harm could be.
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Hands-On Experiment or Activities
Activity 1: Risk Matrix for Everyday Items
What You Need: risk matrix sheet, examples (bleach, bike helmet, microwaves).
What You Do: Rate likelihood and severity; propose controls to reduce risk.
Think and Talk: What changed? What stayed the same?
Activity 2: Hazard vs Risk Demo
What You Need: hot water in insulated cup, thermometer, sign labels.
What You Do: Discuss hot water as a hazard; compare risk with lid on vs lid off vs careful handling.
Think and Talk: What changed? What stayed the same?
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Practice Questions (QA)
1. What is the difference between hazard and risk?
2. What does 'severity' mean in a risk assessment?
3. What does 'likelihood' mean in a risk assessment?
4. Give one way to reduce risk without removing the hazard.
5. Why might benefits be worth some risk?
6. What is a control measure?
7. Why do we consider uncertainty?
8. Give one example of a benefit of a new medicine.
9. Give one example of a possible risk of a new medicine.
10. Why do people judge risks differently?
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Reflection
- How could risks and benefits help you make a better decision in real life?
- What is one habit you can practice to improve your scientific thinking?