Social Studies Archives

Subjects: Social Studies

BeMED 12. Persuasive Writing Task

Title Persuasive Writing Task Author Ms. Samantha Abela Age Guide Year 5-11 Subject Area English, Maltese, Geography, Social Studies, ICT, Environmental Studies Preparation Time Nil Estimated Duration 2 hours Site Classroom or computer lab Educational objectives Students understand and are empowered to address the real causes and consequences of unsustainable behaviour within the context of an interdependent and globalised world. Learning Outcomes – I can order ideas and describe them effectively to contribute to discussions supported by the teacher. – I can write for a stated purpose, using grammar and sentence starters. – I can gather information from long and complex articles and books. Link to SDGs SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production SDG 14: Life below water Educational resources required Interactive Whiteboard Appendix 12.1 – Spider diagram Appendix 12.2 – Writing frame Appendix 12.3 – Capturing your audience Appendix 12.4 – Persuasive writing vocabulary Appendix 12.5 – Writing prompts discussions Appendix 12.6 – Websites to help students with research Internet Connection Remote preparation The ‘Fact-Finding’ Task can be done before the lesson and allot more time to writing and class discussion. The links provided can be sent to the students beforehand. Planning Considerations The lesson can be done in class or in a Computer Lab. In case of a Lab, booking of the facility would be required. The Fact-Finding task can be done as an introduction or as a pre-task before the lesson. Students require some technological device and an internet connection during the lesson for the Fact-Finding task. Students should be warned about the huge amount of information available online. Teachers can opt to: Limit the websites they search by giving them a prescribed list or by limiting the search by geographical zone example: things related to Malta only. Method Introduction 5 minutes – The teacher introduces the topic of ‘Persuasive Writing’. The teacher asks what is the meaning of the word ‘Persuasive’ and can create a spider diagram (Appendix 12.1) on the board jotting down the students’ ideas before giving the following definition: “making you want to do or believe a particular thing” – Definition by Cambridge Dictionary “able, fitted or intended to persuade” “inducement” – Definition by Dictionary.com Development 10 minutes -The teacher moves on to introduce the students to the main activity. The students will act as opinion writers for a local newspaper. They are concerned with the presence of plastic litter in our seas. The task is to: Write a letter addressed to the editor in which they have to: · Outline their concern by explaining what it is about. · Provide evidence on the concern by quoting events, sources, statistics, etc. · Provide arguments about the concern, namely why this is an important issue to be tackled. · Provide ideas about possible solutions to the concern. · Conclude the letter in a positive manner, hoping that you are acknowledged. The teacher can provide a Writing Frame (Appendix 12.2) to guide the students in their task. 20 minutes – Now that the students know …

BeMED 8. A Turtle’s Life

Title A Turtle’s Life Author Esther Sammut Carbone Age Guide Year 2–6 Subject Area Social Studies, Science Preparation Time Viewing and discussing the 3 video clips (links provided): 45 minutes Optional – Making cardboard turtles or origami: 30 minutes Estimated Duration 2 hours in total Introduction: 30 minutes; Development: 55 minutes; Conclusion: 30 minutes. Site On a sandy beach Educational objectives To understand that marine litter affects wildlife, through the lifecycle of a turtle and the threats it encounters until it reaches maturity and beyond. To understand that marine litter affects us and future generations through its durability, spreading and accumulation in food chains. To raise awareness of the nature and magnitude of the marine litter matters with reference to the dominance of land based sources of marine litter, dominance of plastic among the marine litter items, the top ten items in marine litter, the lifetime of different waste materials especially plastic objects, the micro-plastics issue and sources, the 5 garbage patches, the spread of litter from source countries. To understand that action is needed by everyone in everyday life to tackle the marine litter matters. To identify some of these actions with emphasis on daily waste minimisation efforts besides wildlife rescues and to encourage to start taking action. Learning Outcomes – I can recognise the relationship between understanding others and the wellbeing of all in the present and the future. – I can identify the root causes of inequality and injustice and actions that lead to a better quality of life, equity, solidarity and environmental sustainability. – I can use the natural, social and built environment that surrounds me, as a context and source of learning. – I can involve myself and others in real-world issues to bring about a positive difference. – I can reflect upon the consequences of my actions on present and future generations. – I can live in harmony with myself, others and the natural world at a range of levels from the local to the global. – I can identify the root causes of inequality and injustice and actions that lead to a better quality of life, equity, solidarity and environmental sustainability. – I can use the natural, social and built environment that surrounds me, as a context and source of learning. – I can involve myself and others in real-world issues to bring about a positive difference. – I can reflect upon the consequences of my actions on present and future generations. – I can live in harmony with myself, others and the natural world at a range of levels from the local to the global. Yr 2: – Identify practical ways of reducing, reusing, recycling, and repairing waste as well as refusing items and rethinking everyday practices to safeguard planet Earth. – Ask questions about the environment around them. – Work individually and in groups, share and discuss ideas and listen to other ideas Make connections to everyday life situations Yr 3-6: – I can ask questions …

Eco-Gozo Resources

Various resources for schools available here

SDGs for Children – The World We Want

Surely all have heard of the Sustainable Development Goals. 17 Goals – One Global Aim….Here is an excellent information booklet for children (and obviously also for adults) to help one understand better what they are all about : The World We Want – A Young Person’s Guide to the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

CoReflect – Collaboration and reflection

Project CoReflect (Title: Digital support for Inquiry, Collaboration, and Reflection on Socio-Scientific Debates) is a three year (2008-2011) research program, funded by the European Commission, under the FP7 Science in Society program. Bringing together eight diverse and multi-disciplinary teams from seven European states, the project members promoted evidence-based practice in science teaching and learning, by collaborating to iteratively design, enact, critique, and validate problem-based innovative inquiry learning environments.

Consumer Classroom – also in Maltese…

Consumer Classroom is a new collaborative website for teachers about consumer education. It provides free, high quality resources for teachers along with interactive and collaborative tools to help teachers prepare lesson plans to share with students and other teachers from across the EU. Sign Up now on www.ConsumerClassroom.eu

Awareness on Hunger in countries

A highlight video from Sesame Street’s newest primetime special, Growing Hope Against Hunger.

Drinking water – Tap water or bottled water

In this lesson, students are asked to consider the sustainability of a common, everyday practice (choosing the source of their drinking water). They will use sustainability criteria and research data to work collaboratively in evaluating the truth about the two drinking water options. By doing so, they will learn that calling something sustainable is not just a guess, but is based on a model that results in conclusive and measurable results.

Road to Rio + 20 workbook – Activities and Lesson plans

This publication is designed to introduce young people to the issues that will be central to Rio+20, by first providing you with a useful context of the project (Part 1 -Overview) and then moving forward to what you and the young people you work with can do as part of a classroom or youth group activity (Part2 – Activities & Lessonplans).

Mad about Air and more

Designed for 5-10 yr olds, these lesson plans and colourful posters provide useful information and suggestions on how to make a difference. The accompanying lesson plan has curriculum links into geography, maths, citizenship, ICT and English.

Climate change and lifestyles guidebook for youths

Loads of information, activity ideas, tips, online resources and case studies about climate change – considering the food we eat, things we buy, transport, energy, third world countries, water, jobs, lifestyle, good life, leisure and entertainment and above all ways to take action. All this is available in the UNESCO produced downloadable pdf Guidebook.

Creating Our Future

Using an action-planning model, students visualize their desired future, identify objectives, develop a plan to address local and global issues, and implement their vision through action and service learning. How do we create a just and humane world for ourselves and for future generations? Help students identify and plan what they want their future to look like. Using an action-planning model, students visualize their desired future, identify objectives, develop a plan to address local and global issues, and implement their vision through action and service learning. (All lesson plans, resources and more are available from http://www.facingthefuture.org)

Buy, Use, Toss? A closer look at the things we buy.

Buy, Use, Toss? A Closer Look at the Things We Buy, is a free interdisciplinary curriculum unit from Facing the Future that leads students through an exploration of the system of producing and consuming goods that is called the materials economy. Students learn about the five major steps of the materials economy (Extraction, Production, Distribution, Consumption, and Disposal) and are asked to analyze the sustainability of these steps to determine how consumption can benefit people, economies, and environments. (All lesson plans, resources and more can be found from http://www.facingthefuture.org)

Extraction, Production, Distribution, Consumption, and Disposal of Products

Students are surrounded by “stuff” – from blue jeans to the latest cell phone – in their everyday lives. Pique your students’ natural interest in stuff with interdisciplinary, standards-aligned lessons that will build 21st century skills