A Mammoth Undertaking

1. Set Focus 
Pose this essential question: What ethical principles should govern scientific research?

2. Read and Discuss 
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions. Then ask them to answer the following questions, citing text evidence: 

• What is the author’s purpose in writing the article? How does the author signal this purpose in the article’s subtitle? Does the author express a point of view on the topic? (The author’s purpose is to explain the pros and cons of resurrecting the woolly mammoth. The author signals that she will be discussing a controversial topic by ending the subtitle with the line “but at what cost?” The author does not express a point of view on the topic.)

• Why aren’t the scientists giving tusks to their resurrected woolly mammoth? Do you agree with this decision? Explain. (The scientists aren’t giving tusks to the animal to prevent it from being targeted by poachers. Opinions will vary but should be well-reasoned.)

• Joseph Bennett says that if you choose to bring back one animal from extinction, that means you’ve made the ethical decision to let several others become extinct. What does he mean? Do you agree? Explain. (He means that the time, effort, and millions of dollars devoted to bringing an animal back from extinction could have been spent on saving other endangered animals from becoming extinct. But since those resources were withheld, they die off. Opinions will vary but should be well-reasoned.)

3. Core Skill Practice
Assign, print, or project the activity Bring Back Extinct Animals? Have students use it to compare and contrast, and then evaluate, the arguments for and against resurrecting extinct animals.

4. Writing Prompt
Imagine that Colossal succeeds in resurrecting the woolly mammoth. Write the script for a 30-second news report announcing the event.

5. Classroom Debate
Should scientists genetically alter endangered animals to help them survive climate change?

6. Quiz & Skills
Use the quiz to assess students’ comprehension and Be the Editor to review grammar skills.