Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
08/04/2025
South Africa injects Rhino horns with radioactive material to combat poaching
A South African university is injecting the horns of rhinos with radioactive isotopes that it says are harmless to the animals but can be recognized by radiation detectors at airports and borders, leading to the arrest of poachers and traffickers. It is estimated that the world’s rhinoceros population plummeted from about 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to 27,000 now primarily because of black market demand for rhino horns.
■Class discussion: Is it ethical to slaughter thousands of animals for small parts of their bodies – rhino horns, elephant tusks, bison skins, or shark fins? What about the sport of hunting animals just to display trophies? Is it different to hunt or raise animals to feed human beings? How many animal species have gone extinct from overhunting? Why do many people still believe rhino horns could cure cancer or increase potency without any scientific evidence?
