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Reporting on Environmental Racism

Secondary

Description

This resource has high school students use their journalism skills to explore and share the impacts of environmental racism. By creating a mock news broadcast to cover an instance of environmental racism, students will build an understanding of the news values that shape media coverage while exploring the concept of environmental justice.

Students will:

  • Explore the terms environmental racism and environmental justice.
  • Use print sources and fellow students' knowledge to collect information about environmental racism.
  • Use the news gathering questions Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why? and How? to record notes.
  • Make inferences and draw conclusions about environmental racism.
  • Create a mock newscast to share their findings with others.

The case studies provided in the resource are based on  environmental racism issuses in Michigan. Here are a few links to case studies or articles of environmental racism issues in Canada.

Mercury Poisoning in Grassy Narrows

Toxic Legacy: The Fight to End Environmental Racism in Canada

Fifty Years Pulp Mill Waste Has Contaminated Pictou Landing First Nations

Chemical Valley

Students can also research and uncover instances of environmental racism in their provinces or communities. 

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

To extend the learning, students should take the initiative to research and uncover instances of environmental racism in their communities. By conducting their own research, they will sharpen their critical thinking and research skills and bring to light the crucial issue of environmental racism. They can draw on their background knowledge by focusing on issues in their area and make a more powerful presentation. Students can create videos on environmental problems and suggest possible solutions. This technique will make the project more engaging and interactive, allowing them to practice their presentation and public speaking skills.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • Alberta
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    • Grade 9
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        • Comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print, and other media texts
        • Manage ideas and information
      • Social Studies
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        • Issues for Canadians: Governance and Rights
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        • Create oral, print, visual and multimedia
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        • English 20: Create oral, print, visual and multimedia texts, and enhance the clarity and artistry of communication
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        • Create oral, print, visual and multimedia texts, and enhance the clarity and artistry of communication
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        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
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        • Creative Writing 10: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world
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        • Social Studies 10 -Canada and the World: 1914 to the Present: Historical and contemporary injustices challenge the narrative and identity of Canada as an inclusive, multicultural society
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        • Composition 11 : Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
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        • Explorations in Social Studies 11: Social justice initiatives can transform individuals and systems
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        • New Media 12: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
      • Social Studies
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        • Social Justice: Individual worldviews shape and inform our understanding of social justice issues.
        • Social Justice: Social justice initiatives can transform individuals and systems
        • Social Justice: Social justice issues are interconnected.
        • Social Justice: The causes of social injustice are complex and have lasting impacts on society
  • Manitoba
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        • Comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print, and other media texts
        • Manage ideas and information
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        • Comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print, and other media texts
        • Manage ideas and information
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        • Citizenship and Sustainability: Area of Inquiry: Social Justice and Human Rights
        • Global Issues
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        • Comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print, and other media texts, through a process.
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        • Issues for Canadians: Governance and Rights
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        • Media Studies (Open) Media and Society
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        • Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice (Workplace Prep.) Promoting Equity and Social Justice
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        • Equity and Social Justice: From Theory to Practice (Univ./College Prep.) Addressing Equity and Social Justice Issues
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    • Grade 9
      • Step 3Select a subject
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        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
    • Grade 10
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Creative Writing 10: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world
        • New Media 10: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Social Studies 10 -Canada and the World: 1914 to the Present: Historical and contemporary injustices challenge the narrative and identity of Canada as an inclusive, multicultural society
    • Grade 11
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Composition 11 : Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
        • New Media 11: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explorations in Social Studies 11: Social justice initiatives can transform individuals and systems
    • Grade 12
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Composition 12: Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
        • New Media 12: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Social Justice: Individual worldviews shape and inform our understanding of social justice issues.
        • Social Justice: Social justice initiatives can transform individuals and systems
        • Social Justice: Social justice issues are interconnected.
        • Social Justice: The causes of social injustice are complex and have lasting impacts on society

Themes Addressed

Human Health & Environment (2)

  • Environmental Contaminants & Health Hazards
  • Quality of Life

Human Rights (2)

  • Environmental Racism/Justice
  • Social Justice

Waste Management (1)

  • Hazardous Waste

Water (1)

  • Water Quality

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