Free Lesson - Earth Day and Civics

FREE LESSON

Earth Day and Civics Acting Out a City Council Meeting - 30 min

OMADIC | PROCEDURES | VIDEO | STUDENT JOURNAL | ACTIVITY NCARDS

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A C T I V I T Y

Earth Day Acting Out a City Council Meeting Lesson Overview

Students simulate a city council meeting and learn how to use the political system to advocate for change in their community.

Teacher Prep

1. Prepare copies of Activity Cards A-D: Florida Community Issues. If preferred, post copies of handouts around the classroom in four stations.

2. Decide how the class will brainstorm local issues. If preferred, post chart paper near the Activity Card D stations.

Procedures

1. Watch a video. Show this video of fourth-grade students speaking to their mayor and city council about banning plastic straws and utensils. Discuss: How does this video show leadership? What local problems would you like your city council to help solve?

2. Conduct research. Divide students into groups of three. Have groups fill out the Activity Notes as they review Activity Cards A-D. 3. Act out a City Council Meeting. Decide on roles. You can divide the class so that half, a third, or a fourth of your students are City Council Members and the rest are Concerned Citizens. Go through each issue in the cards and act out the City Council Meeting.

• Concerned Citizen: share opinions and reasoning with the council.

• City Council Member: listen to and ask questions of the citizens who speak at the meeting.

4. Vote. After the meeting, set up a place for voting. Students can write A, B, C, or D on a slip of paper and drop it into a container that serves as a ballot box. You can have only the city council members vote or allow the entire class to vote.

5. Discuss. Ask: What will you remember most about the meeting? What more could you do to help solve problems in your community? How can citizens work with their local and state governments to solve problems?

EXPLORE MORE: This lesson is an excerpt from Florida and Its People, Lesson 12, Governing Florida. Full support, including a ready to teach slideshow, is available online at www.teachtci.com.

Florida Civics Benchmark: •

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4.CG.2.1 Identify and describe how citizens work with local and state governments to solve problems. © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

V I D E O

Video of City Council Meeting Watch this video of students speaking to their mayor and city council about banning plastic straws and utensils.

Discuss: • How does this video show leadership?

• What local problems would you like your city council to help solve?

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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Algae Blooms

Algae blooms are producing toxic chemicals that harm organisms.

The Problem

Aquifers provide clean drinking water. They can get damaged by pollution and saltwater.

Aquifer Issues

A. Florida’s Water Quality Agricultural Pollution

Pesticides, fertilizers, and animal waste can contaminate Florida’s water.

Water Overuse

Rapid development in Florida has led to an increased demand for water.

What do all these water issues have in common? They all impact Florida’s people and their ability to have clean and healthy water.

Algae blooms cause health problems for fish, marine life, and humans. Agricultural practices can pollute groundwater used for drinking. Aquifer issues lead to an increase in costs for water and a decrease in water quality. Water overuse can lead to shortages for Florida’s growing population.

All of Florida’s native habitats—marine, freshwater, and land—are threatened by poor water quality. But this problem can be solved with collective effort.

Brainstorming Solutions What ideas do you have for solutions to this problem? Talk with your group and brainstorm three possible solutions for Florida’s water quality issues.

What water quality laws might be passed?

How could Florida citizens study the problem to learn more about it?

How might people make changes in their lives to help improve Florida’s water quality?

Here are some questions to get you thinking: • • •

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Activity Card: Florida Community Issues

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Social Studies Alive! Florida and Its People Unit 3: Civics Lesson 12: Governing Florida

Burmese Python

Burmese pythons are consuming native fish, reptiles, and mammals in the Everglades.

The Problem

Sugar gliders are bringing parasites and diseases to Florida.

Sugar Glider

B. Florida’s Exotic Pet Trade Lionfish

Spectacular-looking lionfish along the coast are hungrily eating up young native fish.

Tegu Lizard

Three-foot long Tegu lizards are eating native reptile and bird eggs in Florida’s wetlands.

What do these species have in common? They were all brought to Florida as part of the exotic pet trade.

Did you know that Florida’s fragile ecosystems are in danger of being overrun by exotic pets? This is a major problem throughout the state.

Because Florida’s climate is so warm and welcoming, exotic pets that have escaped from their owners cause more problems here than anywhere else in the continental United States. All of Florida’s native habitats—marine, freshwater, and land—are threatened by these invasive species.

Brainstorming Solutions What ideas do you have for solutions to this problem? Talk with your group and brainstorm three possible solutions for Florida’s exotic pet trade.

What pet trade laws might be passed?

How could scientists study the problem to learn more about it?

How might citizens help curb the exotic pet trade and remove invasive species?

Here are some questions to get you thinking: • • •

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Unit 3: Civics Lesson 12: Governing Florida

Activity Card: Florida Community Issues

Social Studies Alive! Florida and Its People

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Emotional Impacts

People are often irritable when hungry. This can cause aggression or feelings of anxiety.

The Problem

When people are hungry, they are not able to concentrate or learn as well.

Learning Problems

C. Food Insecurity in Florida Economic Costs

Nutritious food is more expensive. Many students eat less healthy foods as a result.

Long-Term Health Effects

That donut may taste good, but choosing the orange will prevent a wide range of health issues.

What do all these have in common? They are all consequences of food insecurity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity leads to hunger, the physical sensation of the discomfort that comes from not eating.

Did you know that fewer than 1 in 10 U.S. adults and adolescents eat enough fruits and vegetables? An unhealthy diet can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems.

In Florida, 1/8 of all adults and 1/6 of all children currently experience food insecurity. Both government programs and charity programs are necessary to help families afford food.

Brainstorming Solutions What ideas do you have for solutions to this problem? Talk with your group and brainstorm three possible solutions for food insecurity in Florida.

What laws might be passed to help with food insecurity?

How could volunteers help with this problem?

How might citizens provide economic or emotional support to those experiencing food insecurity?

Here are some questions to get you thinking: • • •

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© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Unit 3: Civics Lesson 12: Governing Florida

Activity Card: Florida Community Issues

Social Studies Alive! Florida and Its People

Safety

Are there safety issues Created by Adrien Coquet infrom your community?

How the Noun Project can you help make where you live safer?

Waste Management

Does your community Created

by Eucalyp from the Noun Project have any problems with trash, landfills, recycling, or composting?

What other local problems do you see in your community?

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D. Free Choice: Problems in Your Florida Community Affordable Housing

Templatein need AreCreated therebypeople from the Noun Project of shelter? Is housing too expensive for many families where you live?

The Problem

What do all these problems have in common? They are all common issues in communities throughout Florida, and they all need concerned citizens like you to help solve them!

What laws might be passed to help with one of these problems?

How could your group bring awareness to a local problem so that others learn more about it?

What could you create or do to persuade others to help solve this local problem?

Activity Card: Florida Community Issues

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Social Studies Alive! Florida and Its People Unit 3: Civics Lesson 12: Governing Florida

Think about where you live. Are any of these problems something you have experienced in your home, school, or community? What other problems do you see locally?

Choose a problem that is meaningful to you or your group. It can be an issue listed above, or you can come up with your own. Then think about what actions your group could take to solve it.

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Here are some questions to get you thinking:

What ideas do you have for solutions to your local problem? Talk with your group and brainstorm three possible solutions that you could realistically do to help.

Brainstorming Solutions TextIndented

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