Hands-on Activity: What's a Kid to Do? Environmental Letter Campaign

Learning Objectives

After this activity, students should be able to:

• write letters as part of an environmental action campaign.
• incorporate source materials into their speaking and writing (for example, interviews, news articles, encyclopedia information).
• write and speak in the content areas using the technical vocabulary of the subject accurately.
• read, respond to and discuss literature that represents points-of-view from places, people, and events that are familiar and unfamiliar.

Educational Standards

Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.

All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN), a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).

In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.

NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards - Science

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology

State Standards

Materials List

• Paper and pencils
• Access to the internet

Pre-Req Knowledge

A general familiarity with the issues and problems of air pollution.

Introduction/Motivation

Never underestimate the "power of one," especially when that "one" is part of "many." Today we are going to take part in a letter-writing campaign. We will be writing letters to our elected officials about a common concern: air pollution. Why letters? Letter-writing campaigns can help citizens reach out to elected officials, such as mayors, city councils, state representatives and even the president. Elected officials want to hear from their constituents. By contacting your officials, you can tell them what is important to you. This information helps them as they make decisions that affect your community and the people who live there. Since reelection depends on the votes of their constituents, elected officials pay close attention to the mail they receive.

Procedure

Background

A letter writing campaign is an easy, effective tool by which a group of people voice their opinions about specific issues. The letters may be directed toward the president, a member of Congress, or a particular government agency. Knowing that reelection depends on the votes of their constituents, Senators and Representatives pay close attention to the mail they receive.

Observing

Research thoroughly before you write. Keep in mind all you have learned in the Air Pollution unit.

Thinking

Letter writing always provides an opportunity for thought. Choose your words carefully for best effect. Mark Twain once said, "If I'd had more time I would have written a shorter letter." What do you think he meant? An old saying is, "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar." (You can win people to your side more easily by gentle persuasion and flattery than by hostile confrontation.) How might this apply to your letter writing?

Writing

Polite, positive, informed letters work the best. They are easy, inexpensive and powerful. Here are some letter-writing tips, listed below (formerly found at http://www.culturalsurvival.org/current-projects/global-response):

• Make your letter personal. Tell why you care about this issue.
• Say that you are writing in support of the local communities and organizations that are working to protect the environment.
• Stick to the facts. One inaccurate statement, accusation or innuendo can invalidate an otherwise excellent letter. Quote relevant and valid facts from scientists and engineers.
• Avoid political or ideological issues unless specifically recommended.
• Applaud positive environmental steps taken by the targeted corporation, agency or government.
• Suggest why it is in the interest of the corporation, agency or government to prevent environmental destruction.
• Ask for a reply to your letter.
• Keep copies of responses you receive.

Vocabulary/Definitions

campaign: An operation or series of operations energetically pursued to accomplish a purpose: an advertising campaign for a new product; a candidate's political campaign.

Assessment

Pre-Activity Assessment

Use in-class call-out questions to check students' comprehension of background material.

Activity Embedded Assessment

Use call-out questions during the Thinking discussion to reinforce understanding.

Post-Activity Assessment

Review students' letters for grasp of the facts of the particular campaign, for grammatical correctness and overall persuasiveness. Consider having students "peer-review" letters with a partner in order to gather feedback. 

Troubleshooting Tips

Plan on one 50-minute class session to introduce concepts (Observing and Thinking sections), and another 50-minute class session to coach students on letter writing.

Activity Extensions

Become a reporter for Kids for Saving Earth (see https://kidsforsavingearth.org/programs/action-programs/kse-reporter/).

Investigate other youth-led environmental action groups listed at FreeChild.org (see https://freechild.org/technical-assistance/actions/). Consider joining one of the groups and report back to your class about your activities.

Activity Scaling

• This is an individual activity. While the students' work is checked for grammar, spelling, and content, the best reward is the satisfaction of participating in the campaign.

References

Copyright

Contributors

Supporting Program

Acknowledgements

The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. 0338326. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.