Activity
1. Make the following announcement to the class:
The government has decided to build a coal power plant near your neighborhood.
Show a photo of the countryside where the power plant will be built. A suggested
web site of a photo: http://www.lindasphotogallery.com/images/Wellsboro_Autumn_in_the_Countryside.jpg
Next show a photo of a power plant. A suggested web site of a photo:
http://healthandenergy.com/images/oppdnops.jpg
2.
Have students discuss and list the positive and negative aspects of having
a coal power plant in their backyard by creating a “T” chart.
3.
As a class, discuss whether the government should build the plant in their
area (refer back to the photograph). What is necessary to have at the site
of a coal power plant (water? Type of land? Etc?)
4.
Ask the students:
As citizens, what can we do if we do not want the power
plant?
5.
Where do the power plants in your community exist? Is
the plant near residential neighborhoods? Lower
income housing is often closer than more
suburban housing.
Talk with the students about the location of industry in areas where
residents may not have as much power.
6.
Have students work in pairs to create an action plan
to stop the building
of the coal power plant.
ACTION
PLAN:
What is the purpose?
List your rationale:
List techniques/strategies you will use:
Who can help you? Identify groups or individuals who
you should contact. |
Closure
Groups share action plans while the teacher records student responses on an
overhead.
Discuss: What groups and individuals have an impact on legislative policy?
Do we, as private citizens have any influence on the process?
Embedded
Assessment
Class discussion and creation of the “T” charts as well as the
student action plans.
Homework
None.
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