TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATED CLASSROOM

LESSON

Teacher
Mary A. McCormick

Title
Exploring Environmental Science Careers – “Take a Walk on the Toxic Side”

Description of Activity
This lesson plan will help give an overview into the careers related to Environmental Science.

Suggested grade level

This lesson is for intermediate students.
This lesson plan is most appropriate for 8th grade.

Pennsylvania Subject Area Standards

Speaking & Listening1.6.8 E - Participate in small and large group discussions and
presentations.
Research 1.8.8. A – select a topic for research using search engines
Research 1.8.8.C - Organize, summarize and present the main ideas from research.
Environmental Health 4.3.7.A - Identify environmental health issues.
Humans and the Environment 4.8.7. B - Explain how people use natural resources.
Humans and the Environment 4.8.7 C - Explain how human activities may affect local,
regional and national environments.
Environmental Laws & Regulations 4.9.7 A - Explain the role of environmental laws and
regulations.
Career Awareness and Preparation 13.1. A - Relate careers to individual interests, abilities and
aptitudes.

NETS Standards
Creativity and Innovation 1A 1B
Communication and Collaboration 2B
Research and Information Fluency 3A 3B 3C
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making 4A 4B 4C
Digital Citizenship 5A
Technology Operations and Concepts 6A 6B 6C 6D

Learning objectives
1. Research using the internet careers in Environmental Science.
2. Identify vocabulary words related to careers in Environmental Science.
3. Present an overview of your career in Environmental Science
 TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATED CLASSROOM
LESSON
Materials required
Laptops or PCs, projector, internet access, (rubastar, Voki, Wordle, search engines)
Critical Evaluation of a Web Site Checklist – 3 checklists per students
Environmental Science Careers Checklist – one per student

Approximate number of class periods and length

6 class periods of 50 minutes,

Classroom management strategies:

This lesson is for a classroom of ~20 students. The activity will take place in the science
classroom using the class laptops.

Warm up
This lesson plan for Environmental Science will be introduce on the first day (Monday). There
will be a classroom discussion to introduce the topic and access prior knowledge. Two or three
short videos will follow the discussion. An overview of the unit projects, due dates and
assessment will be presented to the students.

Activities/ Procedures
Using the evaluation chart attached, assess three website that the student visits. Decide on one
career and using the attached check list gather information for your career. Assessment will be
based on completeness of three research forms; each form is worth 10 points.
Checklist for: Critical Evaluation of a Web Site Print out 3 pages per student
Checklist for: Environmental Science Careers.docx
Using Wordle bring the different careers investigated together. aWordle Web Site . Use
MAMCORMICK for username and password.
Assessment will be through the attached rubric totaling 20 possible points: Wordle Rubric
Using the check list filled out on the chosen career, present an overview of your career in
Environmental Science using Voiki as the means of a group presentation. Assessment will be
through the attached rubric for the presentation, totaling 50 possible points: Voki Rubric
Voki Web Site Use MAMCORMICK for username and password.
Monday: Introduction into Environmental Science through classroom discussion and
YouTube Videos, ect. Explanation of internet search and using the Critical
Evaluation sheet and Check list for chosen career. Explanation of Wordle and
Voki Web 2.0 technology and assessments for the activities.
Tuesday: Begin web search using the 3 Critical Evaluation Check lists. Use career
checklist to gather information of one career. Make a list of words to use in you
Wordle.
Wednesday: Finish up web search and start Wordle & Voki
Thursday: Use your list of words to make your Wordle. Start your Voki (3using the
information you gathered on the checklist for one career.
Wrap-up Wordles and Vokis. Safe all work to Class Wikispace.
Friday: Presentation by each student of Wordle and Voki
 TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATED CLASSROOM
LESSON
Monday: Presentation by each student of Wordle and Voki

Assessment strategies
Assessment will be based on completeness of three research forms; each form is worth 10 points,
total 30 points. Critical

Assessment will be through a rubric for a Wordle Web Site , totaling 20 possible points: Wordle
Rubric

Assessment for the Voki Web Site presentation, totaling 50 possible 50 points.Voki Rubric

Total of 100 points.

Related Web Sites

YouTube:
Environmental Scientist Career Overview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvxAvcbcAvM
Al Gore An Inconvenient Truth trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XMn_Ry3z6M

Voki: http://www.voki.com/

Wordle: http://www.wordle.net/

Wikisapace: http://www.wikispaces.com/user/my/ma_mccormic

Back-up plan: (if the technology fails!)

If the technology fails, then the students can still have the classroom discussion on the first day
followed by an overview of the projects, due dates and assessments. They can either go to the
library to look for books on Environmental Science or they can be given a homework assignment
to bring in an article. If the technology fails on additional days, the assignments can be carried
out using paper and colored pencils and an essay can be written in place of the Voki and
presented to the class.

Branching out
What additional enrichment or remediation activities will you provide for students that are
above/below level?
In addition, a field trip to a park with educational staff will allow for all students to get up front
and hands on learning. Also, speakers for different areas in Environmental Science will allow for
student to ask and be asked higher level, critical thinking questions.