Activity 1: Assessing Environmental Problems and Solutions

In groups of four or five, select an environmental issue to research. Use the prompts below to create a fact sheet about your issue. Distribute your fact sheets to the rest of the class for further examination and discussion.

• Give a description of the environmental problem:

• Who is affected by this problem? How are they affected?

• How did this problem arise?

• What are the long-term consequences of not addressing this problem now?

• Does any people or groups feel the problem is being overstated? What's their rationale?

• List two or more proposed solutions to the problem, and explain the obstacles to getting them implemented:

• What has the United States done about the problem?

Web Activity 2: Political Cartoons About the Environment

Chris Madden is a British-based cartoonist who focuses on environmental issues. Check out some of his cartoons online at http://cagle.slate.msn.com/news/EnvironmentMadden/main.asp. Pick one cartoon that you find compelling and analyze it, using the following questions as prompts:

• What is depicted in the cartoon? What is the action?

• What is the cartoon's punchline? Is it amusing? Why or why not?

• What statement, in a broad context, is the cartoonist making? Is this statement clear or does it take a more thorough reading of the cartoon to figure out the statement?

• Most importantly: Is the cartoon effective? Why or why not?