Caching in on Propaganda Techniques
Please note: This activity is a modified, reduced version of the lesson plan.
Title: Caching in on Propaganda Techniques
Subject: Social Studies
Grade Level: 6 - 8
Overview:
The student will become aware of the potential problems associated with the increasing human invasion of wildlife areas, the ecological changes incurred as a result of pollution, loss of wetlands, and urban development as they use GPS units in this lesson. Students will cache in on propaganda techniques which will be used with an ELA lesson.Approximate Duration: 4 Fifty Minute Periods
Objectives:
1. The student will locate cache sites using a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver.
2. The student will create an awareness project to inform the community about the issues they discovered in the cache sites that they located with the GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver.
Lesson Procedures:
Pre-Field Experience - Day 1 - School Site
1. Introduce the project, Probing Issues on Black Bayou Lake Refuge. Point out to the students that this lesson, Caching in on Propaganda Techniques, will be a lesson which will include classroom activities as well as on-site activities to be conducted at Black Bayou Lake Refuge.
2. Review latitude and longitude and give the characteristics of each. Have students show where these lines are on a map and globe. For a worksheet on latitude and longitude, go to http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/activity/latlong/.
3. Go to United Streaming and locate the video, Maps and Globes: Globes and Their Use (13:22). Show the video to the students.Pre-Field Experience - Day 2
1. The students will use a research guide and work in groups as they visit a track to review lines of latitude and longitude. Go to What's That Line!Pre-Field Experience - Day 3
1. Introduce the students to the terms Geocaching, cache, and GPS units as the teacher describes how the concepts are related by viewing a video from United Streaming, Earth Science: Mapping the Earth. Watch the four- minute segment on GPS: Global Positioning System.
2. Go to http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/edu_k-12/5-8/technology/latitude_longitude.html and click on the interactive game, The Great Global Postcard Search! Have fun as you experience GPS interactive units. We will be working these receivers on the refuge.Black Bayou Lake Refuge - Field Study
1. Introduce the use of GPS handhelds.
2. Using the Propaganda Mission Cards assign the students duties within their groups. Direct the students to the Mission Duties Sheet and discuss the responsibilities of each group member during the mission:
Cameraman
Data Specialist/Reader
Recorder
GPS Specialist
3. Inform the students that they have 30 minutes to work as a group to navigate through the caches. At each cache the group will find illustrated examples of common propaganda techniques. The students will use the Propaganda Information Sheet to help identify which technique is being used. The students will record information which describes the techniques identified in their Group Logs. (Each group needs two logs.) The propaganda techniques illustrated will be some which will help students become more aware of ecological changes which incurred as a result of pollution, loss of wetlands and urban development. When the students return to school, they will use common propaganda techniques to write pro-active letters to the editor which will promote the support and protection of our Black Bayou Lake Refuge.
4. Now, the students will locate the second cache.
5. After the cache is located, the students will again use their Group Log to identify the propaganda techniques located as well as any additional information. The students will also take photographic documentation of this cache.
6. Before leaving each cache, the students will leave information about their thoughts on the project by completing the Group Artifact and leaving it at the cache.Post-Field Experience(s) - School Site
Note:
You will find a list of suggested activities that develop curriculum content areas that were addressed in this project; however, post trip activities to be completed should be a collaborative curriculum effort decided by the core teachers.A newsletter will be produced by each school highlighting the project. Each curriculum area will contribute to the newsletter. A letter to the editor will be written by the students. One from each school will be selected to actually be emailed to the editor of the local paper.
Assessment Procedures:
Teamwork RubricReproducible Materials:
Mission Duties
Group Log
Group Artifact
Propaganda Information Sheet
Map of Black Bayou Lake Refuge
What's That Line! Research Guide
Caching in on Propaganda Techniques Teamwork Rubric
Explorations and Extensions:
Check out a set of GPS units and geo-cache around the school.Home | Activities | Resources | Photo Gallery | Black Bayou Project Home