The Thunder Bolt
Grade 6 Students Explore Environmental Costs of Innovations
By Mr. Bart Maas and Mr. Ed Sul, MS Teachers
In Grade 6 Social Studies class, students tackle the questions of "How did we get here?" and "Why is the world the way that it is?" In this unit, students tried to answer these questions through a study of unintended consequences. They practiced their research and source analysis skills and applied them to the topic of unintended consequences of innovation on the environment. After researching and gathering information, students have created infographics that synthesized their research in a way to promote environmental awareness.
Three Grade 6 students reflected on their experience and what they have learned through this unit:
Henry (Grade 6A):
"My research topic was ships. I have learned that ships can harm the environment by creating air pollution by using toxic heavy fuel. I have also learned that ships have also dumped food waste that is mixed with plastic into the ocean. Ships can also spill oil into the sea. Lastly, I learned how a cruise ship is built and how ships have developed from earlier times."
"What I find interesting about this unit is how there are many vocabulary words that apply to inventions and innovations. These words are new to me and I find them really interesting. For example, ingenuity means the ability to be clever or imaginative. I also found it important and interesting to learn how to create specific research questions on my own."
Anna (6A):
"I chose to do research on plastic. I've learned that every year, there are at least 14 million tons of plastic that end up in the ocean and people produce more than 300 million tons of plastic in the world, every year."
"I find it is really interesting to research and learn about plastic and how it has negatively impacted the environment. I also find designing and making the infographic not only interesting but also really helpful for me because it helps me to review my knowledge about plastic."
Ella, (6A):
"My research focus is on airplanes. I learned that airplanes run on kerosene fuel, and when combusted it will release a large amount of carbon dioxide and additional gasses into the environment."
"During this unit, I find that getting to learn and know more about one specific innovation and how it has negatively impacted the environment is very interesting since normally I would have not known how those innovations have affected the environment around us."