Submitted by: Erin Cutchin and Leanna Crews
School: Holman Middle School
Summary
Students are told there is some exciting news- a playground is going to be built near their middle school! However, there are issues with the playground; it’s going to be built on a Brownfield site that is riddled with lead and mercury! Students are tasked with designing an argument for a debate type activity that is based on a given view point (Environmentalists, Health Advisors, the Town Mayor, etc). Students create their argument and then have a mock town hall meeting where they present their arguments and a decision is made. At this point, students have knowledge of the characteristics and properties of the elements on the periodic table. This activity serves as a culminating activity to the unit. It could also serve as an exploration type activity to introduce students to characteristics and properties of elements.
TIPC Ratings
Approaching: Students apply techniques demonstrated by the teacher to research for required information. Students cite sources they found to answer their debate questions and help formulate their research. Students use designated websites given by the teacher and will also find appropriate websites of their own to develop their argument.
Approaching: Students communicate and collaborate with each other effectively to create a final argument based on a common viewpoint. Students establish the group norms and organize their roles to answer this authentic task. Students reflected on their contributions as a group member. Students communicate with each other through discussion forums and posts and replies on SchoolSpace or Edmodo.
Approaching: Students are asked to use research and to work together to answer authentic tasks and solve a possible real world issue. Students achieve this solution by critically thinking and using research to support that thinking. Students use digital tools to help justify their arguments and showcase their research and higher order thinking. The teacher designs a real world problem that students will work together to solve.
Approaching: Students work together to develop their original ideas based on their given viewpoint. Students are given a choice on what they will use to aide their presentation as a visual. Students collaborate, think critically, and research the information required to successfully create the visual and their final presentation, or product. Students create meaningful work as this addresses a possible real world situation and is closely related to students.
