Unit Overview/Summary - FOCUS: 

This model unit uses the issue of How Humans Impact the Environment, which connects to geography as well as science concepts. The unit can be adjusted to focus on one issue or allow students to choose an issue from a list of provided issues for investigation.  

Do the benefits of (this human activity) outweigh the human and environmental costs? 

• Do the benefits of fracking outweigh the human and environmental costs? 
• Do the benefits of deforestation outweigh the human and environmental costs? 

Students will follow a research process to investigate all aspects of their topic(s), develop a pro-con chart that reflects both sides of an issue, take a stance, and write an argumentative essay using the claim, reason, and evidence format (Unit 4) that supports that stance. Students will also create a website that embeds digital media, as well as their text, to further illustrate and support their argument. Students will then present their website to an audience. 

The goal is for students to support their claims with strong reasons and evidence, based on their research. Claims can also be nuanced and not necessarily be fully “pro” or fully “con.”  They can take a problem-solving stance. 

• With new regulations for production and careful waste management, plastic bottles should continue to be a convenient choice for consumers around the world. 

This unit can be multidisciplinary and taught with other content areas, including social studies and science. Technology applications for the summative project can also be altered, e.g., a slide show presentation, a documentary movie, or a digital poster can all be substituted for developing a website.  

Unit Duration:

30 days (25 instructional and 5 reteach/enrichment days); Five periods per week based on a traditional bell schedule