Activities
The activities for this unit include making a TV news style video explaining what happened in Minamata or reporting on how Agent Orange is helping or hurting the war effort in Vietnam. Students will also debate the question of responsibility and consequences for the cases noted above, and participate in hands on experiments that demonstrate chemical persistence in animals and the environment. They will explore ecosystems, habitat, food webs, and how changes in the environment, including both those initiated by nature and human behavior, effect organisms. Finally, the students will learn about the periodic table of the elements, behavior of molecules, and the physical states of matter.
My students will learn about the science and social studies standards associated with this unit by studying cases where these topics were played out. The case study, or discussion method, of learning will give the students meaningful grounding in the background of the cases, leading to the content knowledge intended in the unit. Students will learn through lecture, discussion, video (see resources) and research.
Discussion
One important consideration when teaching a discussion based class is choosing good places in the case to stop and let the students discuss important and interesting issues. Getting the students interested in the general stories before assigning them readings is an important aspect to having them "buy in" to the concept of learning through case studies. Mixing readings with teacher narrative and discussion allows the teacher to determine students' interest level and refresh waning interest and participation by changing the type of lessons. Some articles are listed in the student resources and end notes. Other articles can be found through student research. For the teacher narrative part, the teacher can use the stories as written above. Points to stop and initiate discussion are noted parenthetically (discussion point).
TV news style video
Students will use their knowledge and informed opinions to create a report explaining what happened and what the issues are concerning one of the featured cases. Each team of students will work on a case as assigned by the teacher. Students will compile a corpus of information and methodically distill it until it is a clear and concise five to ten minute presentation. They will present the information in the style of a news program with possible segments including sports, weather, news, human interest, etc.
Debate
Students will be assigned a position to advocate concerning one of the featured cases. They will conduct research to prepare arguments advancing their position. They will practice explaining, taking into consideration their audiences, their arguments using note cards, images, charts, etc.
Chemical persistence
See student resources, "chemical persistence."
Students will use various models to demonstrate how certain substances accumulate in specific environments. For more information on bioaccumulation models for classrooms, Email me at jeffdavispost.harvard.edu.
Newspaper check
Each day, certain students will be assigned to report on interesting and relevant news concerning politics, environment, ethics, etc.
Ecosystems - nature and human changes
Students will complete activities provided by the National Audubon Society on ecosystems. Contact the Audubon Society, they are eager to help in this endeavor.
Elements, molecules, and periodic table will be taught using Scott Foresman science programs.
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