Advocating for a Plastic-Free School
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as health advocates, persuade our school community to reduce plastic use for a healthier environment?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- What is advocacy?
- Why is plastic harmful to the environment and our health?
- What are the different ways we can advocate for change?
- Who can we reach out to in our school and community to support our cause?
- How can we communicate our message effectively to persuade others?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Define advocacy and its importance in promoting health.
- Identify the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and human health.
- Develop effective communication and advocacy strategies.
- Identify key stakeholders in the school and community to support the cause.
- Create and deliver persuasive messages to reduce plastic use in the school.
Health Education Standards
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to students"Trash Talk" Challenge
Launch a school-wide "Trash Talk" challenge where students monitor and categorize the school's plastic waste for a week. The data collected will be used to create persuasive presentations advocating for specific changes in plastic usage.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Advocacy 101: Defining Our Mission
Students will begin by defining advocacy and understanding its role in promoting health, setting the stage for their project on reducing plastic use in the school.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA well-defined explanation of advocacy and a personal reflection on its importance.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Define advocacy and its importance in promoting health. Aligns with standard HE.4.IC.A by introducing the concept of advocacy as a means to enhance community health.Plastic's Impact: Unveiling the Evidence
Students will investigate the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and human health, gathering evidence to support their advocacy efforts.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed graphic organizer summarizing the harmful effects of plastic, with properly cited sources.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Identify the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and human health. Supports standard HE.4.IC.A by providing the knowledge base necessary for advocating for a healthier environment.Communication Toolkit: Crafting Persuasive Messages
Students will learn and practice various communication strategies to effectively persuade their school community to reduce plastic use.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA drafted persuasive message using effective communication strategies.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Develop effective communication and advocacy strategies. Directly aligns with standard HE.4.IC.A by practicing interpersonal communication skills to promote health.Stakeholder Mapping: Identifying Allies
Students will identify key stakeholders in their school and community who can support their cause, building a network of allies to amplify their message.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA stakeholder map with profiles and an outreach plan.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Identify key stakeholders in the school and community to support the cause. Aligns with standard HE.4.IC.A by preparing students to use interpersonal communication to build support for their health advocacy efforts.Action Plan: Reduce Plastic Use in the School
Students create a detailed plan to reduce plastic use, combining research, communication strategies, and stakeholder engagement to create a healthier environment.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive action plan for reducing plastic use, including a presentation draft.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Create and deliver persuasive messages to reduce plastic use in the school. Reinforces standard HE.4.IC.A by applying advocacy skills to improve personal, family, and community health.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioAdvocacy Project Rubric: Reduce Plastic Use
Understanding Advocacy
Demonstrates understanding of advocacy and its importance in promoting health and environmental well-being.Definition of Advocacy
Provides a clear and accurate definition of advocacy.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a comprehensive and nuanced definition of advocacy, highlighting its various dimensions and applications. Demonstrates a deep understanding of its significance in creating positive change.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear and accurate definition of advocacy, explaining its role in promoting positive change.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic definition of advocacy but may lack clarity or detail. Shows some understanding of its role in promoting change.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to define advocacy or provides an inaccurate definition. Shows limited understanding of its role in promoting change.
Importance of Advocacy
Explains the importance of advocacy in creating a healthier school environment.
Exemplary
4 PointsArticulates the importance of advocacy with insightful reasons, connecting it to broader impacts on health, environment, and community well-being. Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of its long-term benefits.
Proficient
3 PointsClearly explains the importance of advocacy for creating a healthier school environment, providing specific reasons and examples.
Developing
2 PointsMentions the importance of advocacy but provides limited explanation or examples.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to explain the importance of advocacy or provides irrelevant reasons.
Research & Evidence
Gathers and presents evidence on the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and human health.Evidence of Harm
Provides sufficient and relevant evidence of the harmful effects of plastic.
Exemplary
4 PointsPresents a comprehensive and compelling collection of evidence, demonstrating a deep understanding of the multifaceted harm caused by plastic to both the environment and human health. Evidence is synthesized and presented with clarity and precision.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides sufficient and relevant evidence of the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and human health.
Developing
2 PointsProvides some evidence of the harmful effects of plastic, but may lack detail or relevance.
Beginning
1 PointsProvides limited or irrelevant evidence of the harmful effects of plastic.
Source Citation
Properly cites all sources used for research.
Exemplary
4 PointsConsistently and accurately cites all sources using a recognized citation style. Demonstrates a thorough understanding of academic integrity and attribution.
Proficient
3 PointsProperly cites all sources used for research.
Developing
2 PointsCites some sources but may have inconsistencies or omissions.
Beginning
1 PointsFails to cite sources properly or omits citations altogether.
Communication & Persuasion
Develops and utilizes effective communication strategies to persuade others.Persuasive Message
Crafts a persuasive message tailored to a specific audience.
Exemplary
4 PointsCreates a highly persuasive and compelling message that resonates deeply with the target audience. Demonstrates a masterful understanding of rhetorical techniques and audience psychology.
Proficient
3 PointsCrafts a persuasive message tailored to a specific audience, using effective language and arguments.
Developing
2 PointsDrafts a message with some persuasive elements, but may lack clarity or a strong connection to the audience.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to create a persuasive message or fails to tailor it to a specific audience.
Communication Strategies
Utilizes effective communication strategies (e.g., emotional appeals, logical arguments, visual aids).
Exemplary
4 PointsSkillfully integrates a variety of communication strategies to enhance the persuasive power of the message. Strategies are thoughtfully chosen and effectively executed to maximize impact.
Proficient
3 PointsUtilizes effective communication strategies to enhance the persuasive power of the message.
Developing
2 PointsAttempts to use communication strategies but may lack effectiveness or clarity.
Beginning
1 PointsShows limited understanding or use of communication strategies.
Stakeholder Engagement
Identifies and engages key stakeholders to support the cause.Stakeholder Identification
Identifies key stakeholders in the school and community.
Exemplary
4 PointsIdentifies a comprehensive range of stakeholders, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of their roles, interests, and potential influence on the project. Insightfully analyzes their perspectives and motivations.
Proficient
3 PointsIdentifies key stakeholders in the school and community who can support the cause.
Developing
2 PointsIdentifies some stakeholders but may miss key individuals or groups.
Beginning
1 PointsStruggles to identify relevant stakeholders.
Outreach Plan
Develops a plan for reaching out to key stakeholders and engaging them in the project.
Exemplary
4 PointsCreates a strategic and well-articulated outreach plan, detailing specific approaches tailored to each stakeholder group. Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of engagement techniques and relationship-building strategies.
Proficient
3 PointsDevelops a clear and feasible plan for reaching out to key stakeholders and engaging them in the project.
Developing
2 PointsOutlines some steps for reaching out to stakeholders but may lack detail or feasibility.
Beginning
1 PointsLacks a clear plan for reaching out to stakeholders.
Action Planning
Creates a detailed action plan for reducing plastic use in the school.Action Plan Specificity
Action plan includes specific steps to reduce plastic in school.
Exemplary
4 PointsPresents a highly detailed and actionable plan with innovative and practical steps to reduce plastic use throughout the school. Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the school's operations and potential areas for improvement.
Proficient
3 PointsAction plan includes specific and feasible steps to reduce plastic use in school.
Developing
2 PointsAction plan includes some steps to reduce plastic use, but may lack detail or feasibility.
Beginning
1 PointsAction plan is vague or lacks specific steps.
Presentation Design
Presentation incorporates persuasive messages and visual aids.
Exemplary
4 PointsPresentation is exceptionally engaging and persuasive, seamlessly integrating compelling visuals, data, and storytelling techniques to captivate the audience. Demonstrates a masterful command of presentation skills and design principles.
Proficient
3 PointsPresentation effectively incorporates persuasive messages and relevant visual aids.
Developing
2 PointsPresentation includes some persuasive messages and visual aids, but may lack impact or clarity.
Beginning
1 PointsPresentation lacks persuasive messages and visual aids.