Spring: Environmental Change
Grade Level: 7 - 12
Subject/Content: Social Studies (World Issues, Global Studies, U.S. History, Current Events)
Summary of Lesson: Students will learn about the early environmental movement in the U.S in the 1970s and about modern DDT use. Students will write a letter of policy recommendation to the Pan African Congress
Focus Question: Should DDT be used to help stop the spread of malaria in African nations?
Resource(s): Student Resource Center
Procedures by the Teacher:
- Arrange for student access to Student Resource Center
Steps/Activities by Student(s):
- Read the article "Sounding The Alarm: Forty Years Ago, Rachel Carsons Silent Spring Forever Changed Our View Of The Environment." Found in Student Resource Center
- As students read the article they will take notes on the following topics:
- What was the main point of Rachel Carson' book Silent Spring?
- How does DDT affect the environment?
- How did the public and various industries react to the book?
- What was the impact of the book?
- Read the article " Not So Fast With the DDT: Rachel Carsons Warnings Still Apply"
- As students read they will create a two-column chart with the headings "Use DDT in Africa" and "Do Not Use DDT in Africa"
- Students will take notes on the chart as they read the article
- Students will use their notes to write a formal business letter addressed to the Secretary General of the UN. The letter should depict a specific policy on the use of DDT in Africa and provide research to support the policy
Outcome: Students will use research to form and support a position on the use of pesticides containing DDT to stop malaria in African nations
Related Activities: Students may mail their letters to the UN as well as the U.S. President and the leaders of several African nations
Standard Date: July 29, 2007
Content Standard(s):
- Examine persistent issues involving the rights, roles and status of the individual in relation to the general welfare
- Identify and describe both current and historical examples of the interaction and interdependence of science, technology and society in a variety of cultural settings
- Evaluate various policies that have been proposed as ways of dealing with social changes resulting from new technologies, such as genetically engineered plants and animals
- Formulate strategies and develop policies for influencing public discussions associated with technology-society issues, such as the greenhouse effect
- Construct a policy statement and an action plan to achieve one or more goals related to an issue of public concern
Performance Indicators:
- At Level 1, the student is able to:
- Explain the historical significance of Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring
- At Level 2, the student is able to:
- Apply the information to the current uses in Africa
- At Level 3, the student is able to:
- Take and defend a position on pesticide use using research
Computer Literacy and Usage Standards 9-12:
- The student will develop skills using a variety of computer resources to increase productivity, support creativity, conduct and evaluate research and improve communications
- The student will use technology resources to improve problem solving and decision making skills and apply these skills to real world situations
- The student will analyze the social impact and explore the ethical issues of technology usage
ISTE NETS for Students
- Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
- Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
- Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
- Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
- Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions
Information Power; Information Literacy Standards 1-4:
Standard 7: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society