EEI Lesson Plan Worksheet

Secondary Methods

Learning Objective(s):

SWBAT.. Given a video on plastic pollution in the ocean, SWBAT write a one-page, persuasive letter to include five ways
plastic is hurting the environment with possible solutions.

State Standards: Anticipatory Set:

PO 1. Describe how human curiosity and needs have
influenced science, impacting the quality of life
worldwide.
Strand 1. American History. PO 6. Apply the
skills of historical analysis to current
social, political, geographic, and
economic issues facing the world.
Teacher will show students this video,
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/march-for-our-
lives-washington-gun-control-florida-trump-emma-gonzalez-yolanda-
king-a8272511.html. This video shows how students can make a
difference in talking with their congressmen. Students will be asked to
write down three things they learned from the video.

9-10.W.1 Write arguments to support claims

in an analysis of substantive topics or texts,
using valid reasoning and relevant and
sufficient evidence.
a. Introduce precise claim(s), distinguish the
claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims,
and create an organization that establishes
clear
relationships among claim(s), counterclaims,
reasons, and evidence.
b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly,
supplying evidence for each while pointing out
the strengths and limitations of both in a
manner
that anticipates the audience’s knowledge
level and concerns.
c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the
major sections of the text, create cohesion,
and clarify the relationships between claim(s)
and
reasons, between reasons and evidence, and
between claim(s) and counterclaims.
d. Establish and maintain a formal style and
objective tone while attending to the norms
and conventions of the discipline in which
they are
writing.
e. Provide a concluding statement or section
that follows from and supports the argument
presented

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Secondary Methods
Teaching (Input):

Students will be asked to think-pair-share with their partner why contacting congressmen and politicians are important.

Students will be allowed to briefly share out loud why they think it is.

Teacher will pass out a short article about why people should speak with their congressmen
http://corncorps.ilcorn.org/2014/06/10/8-reasons-to-contact-your-congressman/

Teacher will then tell the students they will be writing a 1 page letter to either their parents, congressmen, president, or
major plastic producing company. The letter has to try and persuade this person to why this is an important issue by
describing 5 ways it negatively effects the environment and what the solution to the plastic crisis there is. Teacher had the
students watch A Plastic Ocean the previous lesson which addresses these problems and possible solutions.

Teaching (Modeling):
Teacher will pass out a copy of a letter that a student had previously written to show an example to the class.

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Secondary Methods

Teaching (Check for Understanding):

Teacher will ask the students to explain the instructions to the person sitting next to them to make sure they understand the instructions. Teacher will
also be walking around the room making sure students are working and understand the assignment.

Teacher will ask for students to think-pair-share with a partner about the example letter about what makes it persuasive.
They will then be asked to circle the 5 ways plastic is hurting the environment.

Teaching (Guide Practice):

The students will be writing their letter in class under the supervision of the teacher.

The students need to have their letter read by two other students for feedback and editing.

Teaching (Independent Practice):

Students will write their final draft of the letter at home.

Assessment:

Formative:
Students will be assessed on if they wrote a letter that argued their point of why plastic is harmful and what
solutions can be done by using supporting evidence that was presented to them in the video they watched. The
letter is their assessment.

Students need in their letter:

 5 harmful effects of plastic
 Solutions to reducing or reusing plastic

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 Persuade the person they are writing to why we should care about the problem and make solutions
 1 page of handwritten letter

Summative:
Their summative assignment is their presentation project about water sustainability. They will be presenting in
their team.

Research Project 0-19 points 20-39 points 40-50 points

Visual representation The visual The visual The visual
(PowerPoint or Poster) representation has no representation has representation has
drawing or pictures or some drawing or pictures or drawings
the drawing or pictures pictures that mostly that accurately
are not related to your represents the represent your topic.
problem. The problem. The The representation
representation is representation has the has the causes of the
missing either the causes, effects, and water crisis, what it
causes, effects, and solutions in the effects, and possible
solution to your representation but solutions to the crisis
problem. The visual does not go into great in great detail and is
representation is detail. comprehensive. Is
sloppy. neat and looks
professional.
Speech The speech is way off The speech has some The speech is smooth
on the time limit, only pauses in it, and and flows nicely. Each
one person spoke in doesn’t have cohesive member of the group
speech, and the transitions. The has a part and has
speech is just reading speech does not have spoken in the speech.
off of the visual every member The speech is
representation. The speaking an is off on between 3-5 minutes.
speech is missing the the time limit by 30 The speech gives a
causes, effects, and/or seconds. The speech good introduction to
solutions. does have causes, what your problem is,
problem, solutions, but what causes it,
does not go into detail. who/how it effects, and
what solutions can be
done to solve this
problem.
Research Questions There is only 0-3 of More than half of the All of the questions are
the questions questions are fully answered and all
answered. There is no answered, a few of the questions are
sources cited and the questions are cited cited correctly.
questions are not fully properly. Most of the
answered. questions that are
answered are fully
answered.

Differentiation:

Students who are lower level will be expected to only write a half page letter. Advanced students are welcome to
write more and make it as challenging as they want.

Collaborating with other students is also differentiation.

Closure:

In their catalyst sheet, they will answer the question “What can I do specifically to help the plastic pollution?”.

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21st Century Learning Skills

Students are using communication skills, a letter, to explain a global issue. Students are critically thinking about possible solutions to a global crisis.
Students are also collaborating with other students on making their letter.