Set-up Directions:
Each group of students will need at least one computer with internet access to research the affects of a specific type of pesticide used by farmers. Students will need a graphic organizer to record the data that they will collect. Students will each need a copy of the article, "Dead Fish".
Teacher Presentation & Motivation:
Students will examine two photographs and will describe what event they see taking place. Students will be asked to describe how their mother goes about preparing a salad. After she has gathered all of the ingredients she needs what is the first thing she does. (Examples of responses: She washes the vegetables off, or she cuts the vegetables up) Why does she wash off the vegetables? How can the chemicals used to kill insects called pesticides affect a person if ingested? (Examples of responses: They could kill you, make you sick, or cause you to throw up) Explain to the students that in today's lesson they will be responsible for researching the health risks of human exposure to a specific pesticide which may be used by the new golf course and reporting these results back to the class. Also explain to the students that they will need to consider this environmental risk factor when reporting back to the Gwynns Falls Community about the environmental impact of this land development in their community.
Activity 1 - Trouble in the Stream
Students will begin by reading the article, " Dead Fish, about a similar incident involving a golf course's usage of pesticides to treat their precious putting greens. Students will discuss methods of human exposure to these pesticides.( Directly by application of the pesticides and indirectly through food or water.)
Teacher will then break up students into their groups of three to four and assigned each group a specific pesticide. Each group will use a computer with internet access to search the EPA website to locate information on the pesticide ( If no access to internet then the teacher could print off the materials about the pesticides for the groups). Students will use the guide questions to collect data. Suggested pesticides to assign to students are paraquat, maneb, rotenone (used to kill the snakehead population in Crofton), permethrin, lindane, and methomyl. Also teachers could have students compare the cost ,effectiveness and health issues associated with chemical vs. organic pesticides.
Focus for Media Interaction
Focus for Media Interaction: The focus for media interaction is a specific task to complete and/or information to identify during or after viewing of video segments, Web sites or other multimedia elements.
Students will explain the link between usage of pesticides and environmental health problems. Students will decide if only the people who work with pesticides or if the general public is also at risk.
Viewing Activities
What will your students be responsible for while viewing this piece of multi-media or video?
Students will answer the focus questions while researching the pesticide on the EPA's website and reading the articles that have been linked to the lesson.
Post Viewing Activities
How will students utilize the information they gathered while viewing the multi-media or video?
Students will include this information to inform the Gwynns Falls Community of the pros and cons of allowing the Davis Corporation to develop a golf course in the Gwynns Falls area. Students will also use data collected about their pesticide to design a label for their product. Students will also rate their product on it's level of toxicity to humans. Using a scale developed at the beginning of the lesson by the class. (Teacher will provide examples of some commonly used pesticides found in the home garden section of most stores. Students can use these products to get an idea of what the label for their product should look like.)
Activity 2 - Tallying Up the Cost
Now its time for students to take all of the research collected over the past two days to analyze and organize their data into a powerpoint presentations. Students will graph their population density data from in class and home assignments into excel to be added to the powerpoint. Students will begin their presentations with the first part of the research which was the history. Students will then include and explain the data collected. Students will then make their recommendation based on the research that they conducted whether or not the community should accept the development proposal of the Davis Corporation.
Wrap Up:
Students will share their pros and cons charts to make a giant class chart to be displayed as a poster. Students will reflect in a journal writing about their personal feelings on the topic of the proposed golf course. Students will prepare to present their powerpoint presentations with the rest of the class.