Bailey Moran

TAG Strategy in this lesson: Creative Problem Solving

UNIT NAME Asian Geography

LESSON NAME Solving the Smog

Time Needed (Hours/Days) 50 minutes (1 day)

Grade 7th

Subject Social Studies

Course World Studies

STANDARDS/ELEMENTS: CCGPS, GPS/GSE (where applicable) and TAG Standards

SS7G10 The student will discuss environmental issues across Southern and Eastern Asia.
b. Describe the causes and effects of air pollution and flooding in India and China.

Creative Thinking and Problem Solving

5. The student develops original ideas, presentations, or products through synthesis and evaluation.
6. The student, independently or through collaboration with classmates, clarifies, illustrates, or elaborates on an idea
for product improvement.
2. The student designs, applies, evaluates, and adapts a variety of innovative strategies to when problem solving
(e.g., recognizes problems, defines problems, identifies possible solutions, selects optimal solution, implements
solution, and evaluates solution).
3. The student incorporates brainstorming and other idea-generating techniques (synectics, SCAMPER, etc.) to solve
problems or create new products.

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING:
Students will know:
The causes of air pollution in China.
Students will:
Distinguish between fact and opinion
Use brainstorming techniques
Design, apply, evaluate, and adapt a variety of innovative strategies to when problem solving

ESSENTIAL QUESTION(s)
How does pollution affect a way of life?

TEACHER LESSON PREPARATION

Teacher will need to arrange the appropriate handouts and index cards in each group before students enter
the classroom (see materials).
ACTIVATING STRATEGY
Teacher will display an image of a person looking out a clouded window and will pose the question
Where do you think this picture was taken? What evidence do you have to support your
answer?

Instructional Sequence and Activities including use of technology

1. Mess and Data Finding
a. Students will work in groups of 4-6 and will use their notes to categorize
i. Current conditions of air quality in China
ii. Causes of the air pollution
iii. Attempted solutions
b. Students will decide as a group what the specific mess is with air pollution by writing a
problem statement.
2. Problem Finding:
a. Students will then formulate a problem statement, which should include a description of
the pollution and its effects on Chinas air quality. Students should independently identify
these elements, then as a group suggest one overall problem statement.
3. Idea Finding:
a. Students review rules of brainstorming (facilitator will initiate this). Students then begin
suggesting ideas as to how to correct the pollution problem as the recorder writes them
down. Facilitator ensures rules are followed.
b. Students are encouraged to refer back to their notes taken during their reading.
4. Solution Finding:
a. Working in groups students create a checklist of criteria that the solution should address so
that the agreed upon solution is the most optimum. This should be documented using the
chart outline (4-5 criteria and 4-5 solutions). Using a yes/no rating, students should give
each solution a rating for each criteria then tally the total. Based on the total number of
yes ratings, students then come to a conclusion on the most optimum solution.

5. Acceptance Finding:
a. Now each group works to prepare a game plan for implementing this solution. This game
plan should include the following:
i. All parties involved
ii. A timeline of the order of events and decisions
iii. Summative explanation of why this solution will reach success in resolving this
controversy

Assessment Strategies

Students will post their solution to a Padlet and will provide feedback to another groups solution. Feedback
should include some kind of commentary on what issues may arise from their solution as well as what
positive impact it could have on the country/world.

Differentiation
Lesson is clearly differentiated for gifted learners through the use of designated group roles, assigned
based on ability level.

Materials/Links/Text References/Resources
o Resources from previous lessons on the topic of pollution
o Problem statement handout
o Brainstorming handout
o Solution criteria chart handout
o Game plan for solution handout
o Padlet for peer evaluation/reflection
o Photo for activator:
 Problem Finding

Signs of Air Pollution Effects on life in China

Causes of Air Pollution

After sharing ideas with group members, as a group create 1 problem statement.
Since you already know some details of how it was resolved, you must put this
knowledge aside and isolate the problem and its impact alone in this statement.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
 Let it Storm!
Rules of Brainstorming (must be reviewed as a group 1st):

1) establish time limit

2) only recorder is writing

3) ideas are recorded without judgements

4) each group member must offer an idea before proceeding to the next group
member

5) process must move rabidly so ideas flow

6) build on each others ideas

7) generate as many ideas as time will allow

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Solution Finding
Create a checklist of criteria that the solution should address so that the agreed
upon solution is the most optimum. This should be documented using the chart
outline (4 criteria and 4-5 solutions). Using a yes/no rating, give each solution a
rating for each criteria then tally the total. Based on the highest number of yes
ratings, come to a conclusion on the most optimum solution.

Criteria:
Totals

Solution:
Optimum solution based on total score:____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Game Time!

Now as a group formulate a game plan to carry out your proposed solution.
Remember your game plan should include the following:

All parties involved

A timeline of the order of events and decisions
Summative explanation of why this solution will reach success in
resolving this controversy