The antibiotic resistance of MRSA: Teaching natural selection with literacy development for English learners

ABSTRACT

The Antibiotic Resistance of MRSA is a multi-day activity that exemplifies how science teachers in mainstream high school biology (grade 9–12) classrooms with English learners (ELs) can facilitate students' sense-making of evolution by natural selection through contextualized, real-world issues while simultaneously helping students develop disciplinary literacy. The activity is theoretically grounded in the SSTELLA Framework—which promotes four interrelated science teaching practices shown to leverage learning opportunities for all students, but particularly ELs: contextualized activity, scientific sense-making, scientific discourse, and language and literacy development. Throughout the activity, students develop their own model of how “superbugs” such as Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus aureus (or MRSA) became so prevalent, which they eventually turn into an evidence-based explanation. The activity aligns with both Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards for English Language Art. The integration of science and literacy is discussed.

keywords:

• Natural selection,
• literacy,
• English, learners,
• scientific explanation,

Note

Notes

1. Since the unit focuses on bacteria, it should be communicated to students that although bacteria do not undergo sexual reproduction, bacteria conjugation can be another source of variation.