Tuesday, 10/11: Issue Study #1- Climate Change Intro

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL RESOURCES/HANDOUTS ARE ON THE DOCUMENTS PAGE OF MY DP!  Scroll down to "Science Issue (Issue Study #1): Energy and Climate Change"

Essential Question: 
1. What do you already know about climate change?  What new things do you want/need to learn?
2. What is your senator’s position on climate change/energy?
3. What political dynamics keep lawmakers from taking action on urgent issues?
 
Objectives: 
1. To review what you already know, and get a sense of what you need to know
2. To understand your senator’s views/positions on climate change and energy
3. To compare what is blocking action on issues like climate change with conditions in the 1970s leading to unanimous passing of the Clean Air Act under Nixon.
 
Framing:
Over the next three weeks, we’ll be engaging in some intense study of two critical and controversial issues in preparation for Model Senate.  After that, you will be writing legislation on one of the issues (whichever committee you are assigned is your issue).  The speeches and bills are the primary assessments for Model Senate, so it’s essential that you feel knowledgeable about these issues.
 
STARTER 19: Senator Position Research (20 min)
Turn to page 2 of your Climate Change notebook.  Complete initial research about your senator’s position on climate change and energy policy.

Initial Climate Change Brainstorm (30 min)
Okay, now go to page 3 of your Climate Change notebook.  Work through the initial brainstorm—we’ll check in as a class once you are done.
 
Political Pressure  (30 min)
Turn to the top of page 5, and with the political pressure graphic, consider our question: What political dynamics keep lawmakers from taking action on urgent issues?
1. On the LEFT side, fill in bubbles with forces that apply pressure for lawmakers to RESIST passing legislation.
2. On the RIGHT side, fill in bubbles with forces that apply pressure for lawmakers to act.
3. You must fill in ALL the bubbles!
 
If you are stuck, consider…
1. Lack of voter support in district
2. Party position
3. Persuasion from other lawmakers
4. Mass protest
5. Negative media exposure
6. New, reliable scientific data
7. Increasing technology
8. Individual campaign contributions
9. Personal/social ties
10. Needs of their district and voters (constituents)
11. WHAT ELSE?
 
Clean Air Act  (15 min)
Setting the Stage:  The CAA is important because it is the law under which our EPA has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.  This is THE major political fight on climate change right now, so understanding this law, and the history of it is critical to our political debate.

Video 1:  A summary of the CAA and its social and political context.  (5 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk8NN4nNgs4
Video 2:   An interview with Senator Edmund Muskie who authored the bill. (we'll watch the first few minutes).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oSA5marDzI

After the videos, write your top 3 take-aways on page 5 of your issues packet.
 
HOMEWORK:
Make sure that you have pages 1-5 of your issue packet complete.