Mollie Deuel's Teaching Portfolio
Argumentation Activity
Here is an example of an argumentation activity I created.
(It is a Structured Academic Controversy (SAC) lesson,
which is also a form of the cooperative learning technique.
More information on SAC's can be found HERE)
​
Topic: Human Impact: Farming Practices in Virginia
Grade level: High School
​
Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs):
​
Primary VSOLs for Biology:
Bio.8 The student will investigate and understand dynamic equilibria within populations, communities and ecosystems. Key concepts include:
d) the effects of natural events and human activities on ecosystems
Secondary VSOLs for Biology:
Bio.1 The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning, logic, and the nature of science by planning and conducting investigations which:
e) conclusions are formed based on recorded quantitative and qualitative data
Learning Objectives:
​
Understand:
-
Based on past observations of patterns in succession, we can predict how human development will impact nearby ecological communities.
​
Know
-
As the human population increases, so does human impact on the environment. Human activities, such as reducing the amount of forest cover, increasing the amount and variety of chemicals released into the environment, and intensive farming, have changed the earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere. Some of these changes have decreased the capacity of the environment to hold some life forms
​
Do
-
Use local ecosystems to apply ecological principles like population growth and human impact on local ecosystems in the classroom
-
Give examples of human activities that have negative and positive impacts on Virginia ecosystems
​
Students will be: Formulating an argument based on the information given to them and for their assigned role in the activity. Students should be working with their partners and groups to formulate their argument for their assigned stance and then come up with a joint position for both sides of the argument.
Teacher will be: Keeping time throughout the activity and will provide all instructional resources and lesson plan outline for the students.
​
Assessment: Teacher will collect the graphic organizer and give feedback. The teacher will also be circulating throughout the class during the activity doing informal formative assessments.
​
​
​
Click Here for more examples of SAC's
​
​