This resource outlines the importance of teaching teenagers about electronics waste (e-waste) and the articles and other content will educate them about responsible e-recycling and engage them in taking personal action.
The e-waste lesson includes bell-ringers, discussion questions, a PBS video about an undercover investigation of e-waste, a case study about e-waste in Ghana, and extension ideas.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This article provides specific follow-up activities and pre-scripted questions, making it a resource packed with ready-to-use information for classrooms.
The links included within the resource provide teachers with a variety of additional information including interactive media, news stories, and links to responsible e-waste recyclers.
Additional Prerequisites
Students will need an understanding of e-waste and, therefore, accessing the blog referenced in the article may be beneficial.
The links to "host an e-waste drive" and "investigate e-waste in their state" are broken.
Differentiation
Cross-curricular connections could be made in science and social studies classes as students look at issues such as the local and global impacts of e-waste and the environmental and health problems associated with e-waste.
The variety of resources included in the article allows different types of learners to access additional information in the formats that best meet their learning needs.
Scientist Notes
This resource highlights the concept of e-waste, recycling, and management. It can help students to develop a civic engagement skill set, thus, this is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
ETS1: Engineering Design
HS-ETS1-1 Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Civics
D2.Civ.13.9-12 Evaluate public policies in terms of intended and unintended outcomes, and related consequences.
Dimension 4: Taking Informed Action
D4.7.9-12 Assess options for individual and collective action to address local, regional, and global problems by engaging in self-reflection, strategy identification, and complex causal reasoning.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.5 Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.
