- Explains a local, regional, and/or global issue; poses a specific researchable question on the issue that requires social science investigation; and explains its significance to the global community.
- Makes connections between sources by grouping similar positions or identifying differences between sources, demonstrating a substantial understanding of the issue.
Description:
TGPlan stands for Think Globally, Plan Locally, Act Neighborly. We first chose 5 topics that we were interested in and wrote them on an index card. The teachers then assigned groups with the one of the global issues we were interested in. I got Global Warming, and we were tasked to find a way to help this issue and take action. My group and I first did our research on global warming, to get a more in depth understanding of the issue. We realized that urbanization has a big effect on global warming and the environment as well, so we decided we also wanted to focus on that issue.
Then our group got together and brainstormed ideas of how were were going to take action. We went through many ideas like hosting a rally, or making posters, but then we came up with the idea of going to an elementary school and teaching then about global warming, urbanization and how they can reduce their carbon footprint. We thought this idea would be fun and effective because we think it is important that kids learn about global warming from a young age, so they can get in the habit of recycling, composting, and reducing their overall carbon emission. Next we contacted several different schools, to ask if we could teach a class of students. We finally got a reply from Zilker Elementary, and set up a date to teach a class of 5th graders.
We made a lesson plan that included a power point with videos, to give a background on global warming and urbanization. Then we created three different simulations. The first one was called the balloon game, which is where we asked class for two brave volunteers to represent the cities. Then asked them to think of a name for their city and then handed them a balloon and their crown. We explained to the rest of the class that they are the people who live in the country area away from cities.Then have the kids lined up and we told them to move from the country to the city one by one with certain reasons, "like more jobs opened up so 5 people move to each city". With each person there was a new puff of air added to the balloon, which represented the amount of green house gasses that were being emitted into the air. The second simulation was the Bean Simulator where we Gave students a cup and then told them that each time that you have done one of the “carbon footprints” that we said to add the correct number of lima beans each time. The goal is to have the least amount of lima beans in your cup. This simulation gave the students a visual of their carbon footprint. The last simulation was the Small Gruop Simulation, where we grouped the class into 5 groups (each leader is with a group) and give them a situation card. Each card will have a situation relating to global warming or urbanization that they will have to try to solve in their cities. After each group came up with a solution, each group read their situation to the class, and gave their solution. Then it was time to teach! We taught the class everything in our lesson plan, and everything went super well. The class was engaged and interested in what we were teaching.
After our take action portion of the project, came our individual advocacy projects. I made a documentary of our take action, footage that took around Austin, including facts about global warming, urbanization, and how to reduce your carbon footprint. Next we put together a presentation about our overall TGPlan project that we would present at showcase night.
Pillar:
I put TGPlan under the pillar take action because that was our over arching goal, to take action and make an impact. I felt like we were able to make an impact on the kids that we taught, and making the lesson plan could be used by other teachers to also teach about global warming and urbanization. Our advocacy products also gives a sense of take action because we put something out there that could spread our ideas, and make people more aware of this global issue. This project has made me be able to asses options and plan action because I had to brainstorm ideas. Then once we chose what take action we would be doing, we had to plan out how we were going to accomplish it by, arranging a class to teach and making a lesson plan.
Reflection:
The experience I had was truly amazing. I was able to make in impact on the class I taught, by teaching them about the effects of global warming, urbanization, and how they can reduce their carbon emission. It had a great impact on myself, because I was able to learn all about global warming and urbanization as well. I was also able to get the satisfaction of knowing that I made and was able to make, an impact. This project was eye opening and something I will never forget.
Showcase Presentation
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Interview
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Lesson Presentation
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Lesson Plan
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