CCSSTI Project

Digital Literacy of Mountaintop Removal

Essential Question: How do you know if a site is reputable?

Hook: Pull up the website http://www.dhmo.org/ and discuss with the students the information that is on the site. After going over the information, have the students decide if we should support this effort. Once the results are known, show the kids that di means two, so two hydrogens (H₂) and mono means one and oxide is oxygen, so one oxygen (O). In other words: H₂0.

Lesson: Once the hook activity is complete, explain the importance of digital literacy. Next, go over the criteria for the research (see rubric). Students will create an opinion if they are for or against mountaintop removal in West Virginia. Then they will need to research the information about it. Students will navigate the internet to find supporting evidence. The students must cite the exact place that the information was obtained. They will need to gather information from at least 6 different sites. Students will have to submit the sites to me.

Assessment: Students will formulate an argumentative writing piece that argues their side of the debate. All information used must be cited. The writing will be assessed by a rubric.

Rubric:

	3	2	1
Validity of Website	All of the websites appear valid and reputable. Background data is supported by documentation.	Some of the websites appear valid and reputable. Some of the information found can be supported by documentation.	Website does not appear valid. There are not any supporting documents for the data given.
Number of Sites used	At least 6 different websites are used.	Only 4-5 different websites are used.	Less than 4 different websites are used.
Argumentative	I know which side you are taking on mountaintop removal. I feel that you were trying to convince me to think that way too.	I think I know which side you are taking on mountaintop removal, however I am not convinced because you gave arguments for the other side too.	I cannot tell which side you are taking on mountaintop removal.

 

Extra Culminating Activity:

Have students create a PSA for Mountaintop Removal based on the information that they gathered. I will have brief discussions of digital etiquette, communication, law, and rights and responsibilities. Students need to know where to film, how to film, and what they can or cannot say on the video including giving proper credits.