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Lesson Overview :
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This
activity provides a forum for students to investigate possible solutions
to a growing problem that many communities are facing-handling the waste
generated by a burgeoning population. Through a simulated role-playing
activity, students investigate some issues associated with the establishment
of recycling and composting facilities. Students use decision charts to
help organize their presentations and justify their decisions. (This activity
is best completed at the conclusion of the unit of study.) |
| National
Science Education Standards: |
Content Standard F:
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:
Population, Resources, and Environments
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| Excellence
in EE-Guidelines for Learning |
Strand
3:
Skills for Understanding and Addressing Environmental Issues:
2. Decision-Making and Citizenship Skills |
| Key
Concepts: |
1. There are both costs and
benefits involved when establishing community-wide recycling and composting
programs.
2. Decision-making is a process that can involve many different strategies
in order to determine the best possible solution.
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| Objectives: |
Students will:
 incorporate
specific strategies in the decision-making process.
recognize
there are many factors to consider when making decisions.
investigate
a number of possible solutions and determine the best possible decision.
defend
decisions based on evidence.
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Cross-Curricular Connections:
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Language Arts:
• Communicate
information through research and discussion.
• Justify
positions taken on issues.
Social Studies:
• Simulate
governmental, policy-making roles in society.
• Identify
problems that relate to contemporary issues and determine possible solutions.
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| Process
Skills: |
Observing
Communicating
Comparing
Investigating
Inferring
Applying
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Materials:
Activity 2 Forms:
A
Community Decision worksheet
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Per Group
A Community
Decision worksheet Overhead projector pens
Overhead projector transparencies
Per Class
Overhead projector
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| Suggested
Time Frame: |
One
or two 50 minute sessions depending on time set aside for researching
costs/benefits. |
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Procedure:
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- Introduce the role-playing
activity and appoint each group of 4-6 students to serve on the Mayor's
Environmental Commission.
- Explain the decision-making
formats and allow time for students to determine which method they
will use.
- Depending on the background
knowledge of students, allow time for researching the issue to better
defend their positions and provide convincing evidence.
- Students complete one
of the sample decision formats and transfer the method they used to
an overhead transparency.
- Each group presents their
decision to the "City Council" (classmates), using their overhead
chart to explain the process.
- Council members should
be encouraged to ask questions.
- Compare the class findings
with the local recycling/composting initiatives and determine what
actions the class could take to promote environmental awareness in
recycling and composting in their own community.
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Suggested Discussion
Questions:
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Do
you ever make important decisions without thinking of the consequences
or affects of those decisions?
What
are some ways using a decision chart like this can help you make better
decisions?
Do
you think it is important to involve people in the community when decisions
are made that will affect everyone in the area? Why?
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| Further
Investigations: |
Contact
the local waste management/recycling office and determine how the community
disposes waste.
Research
the costs incurred by the local community related to waste disposal.
Are taxes used to offset the costs? Is there a set fee for each household
to defray waste disposal costs? Are tipping fees involved when using
the waste disposal facility?
Visit
the local MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) if one is in your area.
Establish a school recycling program.
Invite a spokesperson from government to present information about local
programs/future plans for waste disposal.
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| Career
Opportunities: |
Waste Treatment/Waste
Management Engineer Resource Management/Recycling/Composting Engineer
Environmental Engineer Governmental Policymaker Marketing Consultant
Commodities Trader
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Assessment Procedures:
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Assess
presentation/defense using a rubric.
Use
a rubric to assess completed worksheets.
Design a recycling/composting program for the school.
Design
a bumper sticker/slogan/ logo/poem/song/etc. to encourage source reduction,
recycling, reusing, precycling, and composting.
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