I've Got Issues

In this lesson plan, students define and identify environmental issues, look at them from multiple perspectives, explain how collaboration can be used in solving engineering problems, and recognize literature as a record of human experience. This lesson plan leads students to understand how human activities effect our world and to develop a plan to correct this behavior.

Weblink address (URL): 
I've Got Issues

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

After this lesson, students should be able to:

  • Define and identify an environmental issue.
  • Understand that all issues involve multiple perspectives.
  • Explain how collaboration can be used in solving engineering problems.
  • Recognize literature as a record of human experience.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying
Extension suggestions: 
  • Current Events – ask students to bring in articles from newspapers, magazines, etc. that discuss environmental issues. Ask them to define the different opinions surrounding the issue. Are some of the opinions from environmental engineers? Discuss the environmental engineer's role. Following are some websites for obtaining current environmental articles:
  • Invite environmental engineers that represent different sides of an issue to come to class and debate that environmental issue.
  • Have students contact local government officials and survey them about their opinions regarding different environmental issues. (Note: This information may be more readily available — in newspapers, the media, etc. — during election time.)

References

Contributors: 
Karla Fultz
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation