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LAUNCH · GCSE Biology · Lesson 10 of 18 · Introduce

Stem Cells: Evidence Before Judgement

Sequence outcome: Discuss potential benefits and risks associated with the use of stem cells in medicine.

🎯 Learning objective: I can describe stem-cell functions and distinguish scientific evidence, ethical concern and uncertainty.
✅ Success criteria
  • I can describe a stem cell as able to divide and differentiate.
  • I can distinguish embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells and plant meristems.
  • I can classify a statement as evidence, ethical concern or uncertainty.
Arrival · previous learningStarter · observe / predictI Do · model the reasoningWe Do · hinge & responseI Do 2 · connect / extendWe Do 2 · scientific model / dataIndependent · evidence & transferExit · receive and use the response
🧪 Evidence Desk: separate what stem cells can do from claims about what they might do.⏱ 40 minutes📍 C41 only🔁 Live Lundy loop↺ Retry without penalty
🧬FUNCTIONdivide and differentiate🔎EVIDENCEwhat observations support⚖️ETHICSvalues as well as facts
QUESTIONEVIDENCEPATTERNEXPLANATIONAPPLICATIONEVALUATION

LAUNCH rule: explanation is earned through prediction, observation, measurement, calculation or reasoning from evidence.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
🚪 Arrival · previous learning
Retrieve only what has already been taught
  1. Lessons 7–9: growth in animals uses cell division and differentiation.
  2. Lessons 7–9: growth in plants also uses cell elongation and meristems.
  3. Lessons 1–3: mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid body cells.
  4. Lead-in: which claim about a future treatment would need evidence?
New to this class, absent, or not sure? Everything needed is in the retrieval box above. Read it, point to it or ask a familiar adult to read it exactly.
◆ Supported
  1. Complete: mitosis makes two new __.
  2. Point to the card that means a cell changes to do a particular job.
  3. Choose: a meristem is found in a plant or an animal?
  4. Lead-in: point to FACT or OPINION for 'the cells divided in the culture dish'.
▲ Standard
  1. State one role of mitosis in growth or repair.
  2. Describe differentiation in one sentence.
  3. Name the plant tissue that contains stem cells.
  4. Lead-in: why is 'might help' different from 'has been shown to help'?
★ Stretch
  1. Explain why cell division alone does not create specialised tissue.
  2. Compare a stem cell with a specialised cell.
  3. State one limitation of a simple cell-lineage diagram.
  4. Lead-in: distinguish a scientific uncertainty from an ethical concern.
LAUNCH response routes
📝 write / edit🗣 structured verbal📏 measure / calculate📊 graph / interpret🧪 practical / demonstrate↺ re-attempt

Access changes the response route, not the GCSE Biology entitlement.

🔊 Read-aloud route: a familiar adult may read the task exactly while the text remains visible. No device voice or media permission is required.
QUESTIONEVIDENCEPATTERNEXPLANATIONAPPLICATIONEVALUATION

LAUNCH rule: explanation is earned through prediction, observation, measurement, calculation or reasoning from evidence.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
🌱 Starter · observe / predict

A headline says, 'Stem cells will cure every damaged organ.' What should a scientist do first?

LOCAL VISUAL HOOK · FRAME 1
CLAIM · what is being said
CLAIM“Stem cells could treat this condition.”
A possibility, not yet a result.
LOCAL VISUAL HOOK · FRAME 2
EVIDENCE · what was observed
EVIDENCEin a lab, cells differentiated into the needed type
Observed, dated, countable.
LOCAL VISUAL HOOK · FRAME 3
LIMIT · what is still uncertain
LIMITno patient trial yet · small sample · source of cells raises questions
Uncertainty and ethics are separate from the evidence.

Commit one first idea. Predictions are held, not marked. Pointing, selecting, saying or signing all count.

QUESTIONEVIDENCEPATTERNEXPLANATIONAPPLICATIONEVALUATION

LAUNCH rule: explanation is earned through prediction, observation, measurement, calculation or reasoning from evidence.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 5 min
👩‍🏫 I Do · model the reasoning

Make the first scientific idea visible

STEM CELLunspecialised starting cella cell that can divide and can differentiate into one or more specialised cell types
DIFFERENTIATEbecome specialisedto change into a cell with structures suited to a particular function
ETHICALabout what ought to be doneconcerning values, rights, responsibilities and possible harm

WHAT THIS MODEL HELPS US SEE

The three-column model keeps scientific findings, ethical concerns and uncertainty visible without pretending they are the same type of statement.

WHAT THIS MODEL DOES NOT SHOW

Real decisions involve more evidence, different stakeholders and changing medical knowledge; three cards cannot settle an ethical question.

Step 1

Begin with function: stem cells can divide, then some daughter cells can differentiate into specialised cells.

Step 2

Distinguish sources: embryonic stem cells can form many cell types; adult stem cells usually form a more limited range; meristems produce new plant cells.

Step 3

Keep claim and evidence separate: a biological ability creates a possible use, but clinical benefit and safety still require evidence.

Word help keeps the scientific term visible and adds a plain-language bridge.

⚖ Sort the statements · evidence, ethical concern, or uncertainty?

Press a statement.
QUESTIONEVIDENCEPATTERNEXPLANATIONAPPLICATIONEVALUATION

LAUNCH rule: explanation is earned through prediction, observation, measurement, calculation or reasoning from evidence.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 5 min
🤝 We Do · hinge & response

Which statement describes a stem-cell function rather than only a property?

Everyone commits before explanation.

Use a button, point, say/sign or let an adult operate the chosen button. A retry is information, not a penalty.

QUESTIONEVIDENCEPATTERNEXPLANATIONAPPLICATIONEVALUATION

LAUNCH rule: explanation is earned through prediction, observation, measurement, calculation or reasoning from evidence.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
👩‍🏫 I Do 2 · connect / extend

Connect the model to the second idea

Connection: the model is useful when its visible pattern is translated into a scientific explanation.
Connection 1

Scientific evidence can estimate possible benefit and harm; it cannot decide a moral value by itself.

Connection 2

An ethical concern may focus on the source of cells, consent, fairness or acceptable harm.

Connection 3

A careful judgement names what is known, what is valued and what remains uncertain.

MODEL STRENGTH

The three-column model keeps scientific findings, ethical concerns and uncertainty visible without pretending they are the same type of statement.

MODEL LIMIT

Real decisions involve more evidence, different stakeholders and changing medical knowledge; three cards cannot settle an ethical question.

QUESTIONEVIDENCEPATTERNEXPLANATIONAPPLICATIONEVALUATION

LAUNCH rule: explanation is earned through prediction, observation, measurement, calculation or reasoning from evidence.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
🤝 We Do 2 · scientific model / data

Evidence, ethics or uncertainty?

Place each statement by its main role. Then explain why one statement could matter to more than one column.

READCLASSIFYJUSTIFYCHECKREPAIR

Cards to place

Matching groups

No statement classified yet. Decide its main role before asking for feedback.

🧩 Science glitch · find and repair it

Claim: If stem cells can become specialised cells, a stem-cell treatment is automatically safe and effective.

QUESTIONEVIDENCEPATTERNEXPLANATIONAPPLICATIONEVALUATION

LAUNCH rule: explanation is earned through prediction, observation, measurement, calculation or reasoning from evidence.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 10 min
✏️ Independent · evidence & transfer

Build a stem-cell evidence glossary and classify three short statements before writing one cautious scientific claim.

👐 Physical route

Stem-cell type cards, evidence/ethics/uncertainty mat, glossary sheet and pencil.

Same outcome: I can describe stem-cell functions and distinguish scientific evidence, ethical concern and uncertainty.

🖥 Offline digital / director route

Use the local classification lab with the same statements and preserve the final three-column arrangement on paper or by teacher observation.

Same evidence: An accurate glossary, classified statements and one cautious claim that distinguishes possibility from evidence.

🧰 Equipment / setupStem-cell type cards, evidence/ethics/uncertainty mat, glossary sheet and pencil.
🛡 Safety / sensoryUse neutral, non-personal cases. No pupil is asked to disclose beliefs, fertility history, disability or medical experience; pass is always available.
🖥 Offline parityUse the local classification lab with the same statements and preserve the final three-column arrangement on paper or by teacher observation.
No-equipment/access route: Point to or direct an adult to place each card, then dictate the scientific reason. Exact adult scribing is equivalent evidence.

◆ Supported

Match stem cell, differentiate and ethical to icon-backed meanings; sort three statements.

Scaffold

Keep the word bank visible and use: This is __ because it says __.

▲ Standard

Classify three statements and describe one stem-cell function before writing one cautious claim.

Scaffold

Use: Evidence shows __. It does not yet show __.

★ Stretch

Classify three statements, identify one overlap and explain why function alone cannot prove treatment success.

Scaffold

Name evidence, value and uncertainty separately; avoid adding Higher-tier content.

Evidence gate

1 · Pupil decisionPrediction, question, method or choice is visible.
2 · Observable evidenceA result, source note, model state or adult observation is preserved.
3 · Pupil meaningAn accurate glossary, classified statements and one cautious claim that distinguishes possibility from evidence.
QUESTIONEVIDENCEPATTERNEXPLANATIONAPPLICATIONEVALUATION

LAUNCH rule: explanation is earned through prediction, observation, measurement, calculation or reasoning from evidence.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

⏱ 4 min
🎫 Exit · receive and use the response

Finish with an edit or re-attempt on the existing work

Supported

Complete: a stem cell can divide and __.

Standard

Distinguish scientific evidence from an ethical concern in this context.

Stretch

Why does a plausible biological mechanism not prove that a treatment is safe and effective?

Adult Audience

The familiar adult genuinely receives the pupil response, then says back the Science they heard or saw. The adult does not add a score or rewrite the pupil.

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

Session state is temporary. Reload clears responses; there is no account, upload or saved pupil identity.

⌂ Start
QUESTIONEVIDENCEPATTERNEXPLANATIONAPPLICATIONEVALUATION

LAUNCH rule: explanation is earned through prediction, observation, measurement, calculation or reasoning from evidence.

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

Staff route

TA Brief · Lesson overview

Priority

Settle, wait and protect the learning goal.

Least-prompt move

Use the least prompt needed, then fade it.

Prompt ladder

WAITSELF-PROMPTVISUAL CUEGENERAL VERBALSPECIFIC VERBALMODELDIRECT SUPPORT
Read-aloud availability: a familiar adult can read the exact current task while the text remains visible. Device speech is intentionally omitted so the deck asks for no media permission and stays dependable offline.

Guidance and access

Live Lundy loop

🛡 SPACE
🗣 VOICE
👂 AUDIENCE
⚙ INFLUENCE

SPACE available · VOICE waiting · AUDIENCE waiting · INFLUENCE waiting

Audience is real only when a familiar adult receives the response. Influence is real only when one next teaching move visibly changes.