Teacher: Gerlach Course Title: World Studies II

Unit: West Asia

Lesson Topic: Environmental Issues

Resources & Materials:

• Smart Notebook File “TS # 74 – Environmental Issues”
• Student Notebooks
• Internet Connection
• http://bangladesh-floods.wikispaces.com/
• http://www.delicious.com/jjgerlach/bangladesh-floods
• Interactive Whiteboard (SmartBoard)

Time Activities and Procedures

7-10 • Thought Starter # 74

min o Students will work quietly and individually for the first five minutes to answer the
following question for TS # 74:

Circle Map Choice: Put either “MLK” or “Natural Disasters” in the middle of a circle map in
your Notebook. You must put at least 8 things in your circle map. When you finish your circle
map, copy the other one into your notebook. As we discuss these as a class you should be adding
to both circle maps.

o Every student should respond to these questions quietly in their notebook.

o After the first five minutes, allow the students to have a whole class discussion
using their responses to the questions as guidance.
o Allow students to continue the conversation as long as good ideas and
information are being shared.
o Key Idea of TS: MLK circle map will help capitalize on the recent holiday just
past. It will also help to link to conflict/cooperation lessons from last week.
Natural Disasters circle map will help engage student prior knowledge of a
subject we are about to discuss.

15min • Class Discussion about natural disasters

o Key Conceps
 Natural Disaster - The effect of a natural hazard that affects the
environment, and leads to financial, environmental and/or human losses.
 Natural Hazards include flood, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, volcano
eruption, earthquake, or landslide
o Make connections to TS
o Use examples of Hati Earthquake (2010), Hurricane Katrina (2005), and Indian
Ocean Earthquake/Tsunami (2004)
o Introduce Bangladesh as a place in West Asia where a lot of floods and other
related natural disasters have occurred throughout history.
o Show map of Bangladesh and ask students to describe its relative location and
make hypothesis’s as to why this area may be prone to flooding.
20 • Wiki-Saviors!
min o Key Objective: Students will learn about the history, causes & effects, and
impact of Natural Disasters with Bangladesh as a case study.
o Students will work collaboratively through the use of a Wiki to create a master
source document on the subject at hand.
o A carefully selected resource list should be used to ensure focused research on
the part of the students. (One has been created by me using Delicious here)
o The teacher should use the final wiki to update the Wikipedia article about
Bangladesh Floods.
o Once updated, show students the before and after of the Wikipedia article so
that they may see their impact on the global learning community.
o **NOTE: If students have been given proper instruction/training in wiki
contribution, it would be desirable to allow them to contribute directly to
Wikipedia. However, this version of the lesson should be given if students’
ability to source/defend their contributions is in question.
1- • Three Interesting Things
3min o In the last few minutes of class, check with students to see what they’ve
learned. Amongst the class, at least three students should share something that
they learned today in class.