Should the work of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences be funded by the government? Middle schoolers weigh in on the status of federal funding for programs that protect the environment with three text passages and writing prompts about the the NIEHS.

Concepts

argumentative writing, arguments, persuasive arguments, persuasive techniques, human impact on the environment, environmental stewardship, environmental safety, animal rights, animal testing

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

english language arts

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Create a cross-curricular assignment between language arts and environmental science

Classroom Considerations

• Designed for eighth grade, but appropriate for high school classes as well
• Establish a protocol for respectful discussion of controversial topics
• Lexile® level 1180L

Pros

• Provides a guide to text complexity, as well as writing rubrics
• Text passages and writing prompts are compelling and engaging

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.7.5 RI.8.1 RI.8.2 RI.8.6 RI.8.8 W.8.1.a W.8.9.a SL.8.1.a SL.8.4