Science in Conflict: Are Some Researchers Modern Galileos?
Lesson Plan
Grade Level: 9-12
Curriculum Focus: Astronomy
Lesson Duration: Two class periods
Student Objectives

Understand why Galileo’s conclusions about the position of Earth in the solar system raised
objections from the Church.

Examine the complexity of conflicts between science and tradition today.
Materials

Discovery School video on unitedstreaming: Great Books: Galileo’s Dialogue
Search for this video by using the video title (or a portion of it) as the keyword.
Selected clips that support this lesson plan:


Galileo's Powerful Telescope and Its Impact on Copernican Theory

Galileo Versus the Catholic Church: Science Versus Scripture

Galileo Is Summoned to Rome to Face the Inquisition

The Sentence of Galileo
Recent magazine and newspaper articles on controversial issues in science, both in support of
and against the scientific advances
Procedures
1. Discuss the heightened emotions that scientists, on the one hand, and the Church, on the other
hand, felt when Galileo published his theory about Earth’s position. Why were Galileo’s
theories so controversial?
2. Tell students that there are still conflicts between science and tradition today. Ask students to
name examples of scientific breakthroughs that some members of society think should not be
carried out. Students may come up with some of the following controversial issues:

cloning of animals

cloning of humans

genetic reengineering, genetic screening
Science in Conflict: Are Some Researchers Modern Galileos?
Lesson Plan

fertility treatments

further research into space

radiation of food

greatly extending the average life span
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3. Break students into groups, and have each research one of the preceding issues or other
similarly controversial ones. The research should expose students to both sides of the issue—
arguments for proceeding with scientific inquiry or breakthroughs as well as arguments for not
proceeding.
4. Once their research is complete, assign half of each group’s members the role of scientists
working in the field, asking for support for their work to continue. Assign the other half of the
group to play the roles of skeptical government officials, media, and concerned citizens, all of
whom think it is improper to continue this line of scientific research and development. Have the
students face each other in a news conference called by the scientists, who have an
announcement to make. The government officials, media, and concerned citizens should ask
challenging questions of the scientists and make statements of their own. Assign one student
from outside the group to act as moderator for the news conference, introducing the scientists
and calling on the government officials, media, and citizens who have questions or comments.
5. Have the rest of the class watch each news conference. Afterwards, ask them to comment on
which side has stronger arguments or makes a better case—the scientists or the challengers of
the scientists.
6. Sum up the project by making sure students understand that strong arguments exist on both
sides of each issue, that seldom does one side have all the answers.
Discussion Questions
1. Discuss how the Copernican system threatened Church doctrine, and why the Dialogue of
Galileo—a devout Catholic—offended the Church.
2. Debate Galileo’s decision to recant his heliocentric views. Do you consider this cowardice, or
did Galileo have no choice? What would you have done in his situation?
Assessment
Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate students' work during this lesson.

3 points: Students shared several examples of controversial scientific issues; showed strong
research skills and familiarity with their scientific issue; explained arguments clearly; were
courteous with other students during news conference.

2 points: Students shared one example of a controversial scientific issue; showed satisfactory
research skills and familiarity with their scientific issue; explained arguments with some clarity;
were courteous with other students during news conference.
Published by Discovery Education. © 2005. All rights reserved.
Science in Conflict: Are Some Researchers Modern Galileos?
Lesson Plan

1 point: Students did not share any examples of a controversial scientific issue; showed weak
research skills and familiarity with their scientific issue; gave unclear arguments; were rude or
impatient with other students during news conference.
Vocabulary
blasphemy
Definition: The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.
Context: Some believed Galileo’s findings were blasphemy. One blasphemy was that the moon
was rough and rocky, not pure and white.
doctrinal
Definition: Concerning a principle or position in a branch of knowledge or system of belief;
dogma.
Context: The Copernican system was a threat to the whole doctrinal basis of the Church’s
teachings on the sacraments, on the nature of the Church itself.
dogma
Definition: A doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and
authoritatively proclaimed by a church.
Context: The Dominicans were the guard dogs of Church dogma.
heresy
Definition: An opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma.
Context: Galileo was burnt here in this place of Flowers for heresy by the Inquisition, February
the 17th, 1600.
recant
Definition: To withdraw or repudiate (a statement or belief) formally and publicly.
Context: The church resisted Galileo’s new ideas and forced him to recant.
Academic Standards
Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL)
McREL's Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education
addresses 14 content areas. To view the standards and benchmarks, visit
http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/browse.asp.
This lesson plan addresses the following national standards:

World History—Global Expansion and Encounter: Understands how European society
experienced political, economic, and cultural transformations in an age of global
intercommunication between 1450 and 1750.
Published by Discovery Education. © 2005. All rights reserved.
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Science in Conflict: Are Some Researchers Modern Galileos?
Lesson Plan
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
Science—Space Science: Understands the composition and structure of the universe and the
Earth's place in it.

Science—Nature of Science: Understands the nature of scientific knowledge.
The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) has developed national standards to provide
guidelines for teaching social studies. To view the standards online, go to
http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/strands/.
This lesson plan addresses the following thematic standards:

Time, Continuity, and Change
Support Materials
Develop custom worksheets, educational puzzles, online quizzes, and more with the free teaching tools
offered on the Discoveryschool.com Web site. Create and print support materials, or save them to a
Custom Classroom account for future use. To learn more, visit

http://school.discovery.com/teachingtools/teachingtools.html
Published by Discovery Education. © 2005. All rights reserved.