Throughout this unit students are asked to consider the role of industry on the American landscape from a variety of perspectives. This involves recognizing and understanding the effects of American industrialization on people in their environment.

In chemistry, chemical and physical properties, such as acids and bases, pH, concentration, and chemical bonding are discussed in relation to chemicals introduced into the environment. In American history and Language Arts, students will comprehend how the industrial development of the second half of the 19th century brought about new environmental pollutants, how it affected people then, and how it continues to affect people today.

In this major project, students will be faced with investigating a chemical spill catastrophe that has taken place at a Wildcat Dumping Site. Students will receive an environmental sample from the contaminated site and use the information and techniques they have gathered over the course of the semester (in Chemistry) to identify the chemicals contained in the sample. They will follow this by putting themselves in the ‘shoes’ of various individuals that would be affected by the ‘spill’. Finally, they will be asked to write informative pamphlets to aide the community response to Wildcat Spills in their neighborhoods.