Independent Research
At the conclusion of key segments of the unit or the entire unit, students will select from an annotated list of grade level appropriate independent [research] projects that will illustrate their evaluation of an alternative to a problem agent or approach. These projects might result in sponsoring a school-wide event, a letter to a congressman, a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, an informational brochure to be distributed, participation in a kid focused effort sponsored by EPA or other organization etc. The final decision will include input from the students to promote ownership and maximum participation.
At the conclusion of this unit I envision an accumulation of student work that can be displayed in a progressive sequence that will illustrate to viewers the effect of global warming, contributing factors, and the role that plastics may play in it. Hence the display should depict what is happening, why it is happening, choices we have and considerations for making those choices, and what we can decide to or not to do to help.
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