“Belleville” Coal Ash Dumping
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Civics, English Language Arts, Health
What it is
- This problem-based learning activity introduces students to the dangers of coal ash and how it affects people in nearby communities of a fictional North Carolina town.
- Students will watch a video, read an article, brainstorm solutions, and take part in a group activity where they present their concerns about coal ash from the perspective of a specific member of a community.
- The lesson includes teacher materials, links to additional information and resources, the student worksheet, vocabulary terms, and the roles for the activity.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The lesson plan is very detailed and comprehensive, so minimal planning is required.
- The resource includes the materials in PDF and Google Docs formats for students and teachers.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers need to make a free account to access the materials.
Differentiation
- Social studies classes could use this resource when discussing income inequality, environmental justice, environmental regulations, and the risks of living, working, or going to school near sources of pollution.
- Science classes could use this resource for lessons about bioaccumulation, environmental toxins, pollution, genetics, or environmental science.
- After the activity, have students join new groups and take different roles to extend this activity and gain a new perspective.
From the scientist review
This resource is recommended for teaching students to develop site-specific solutions in regards to the environmental challenges they experience in their environment. In this case, the problem of coal ash disposal and pollution is addressed. There is a contradiction in the diameter of a coal ash, especially fly ash. It is stated in the resource that fly ash, a fine, silt-like particle from coal ash is about 0.5-300 micrometers. This is not true as the maximum size of fly ash is 100 micrometers or less in diameter, depending on how the coal was combusted. Anything more than this is a bottom ash.
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