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NIMBYVILLE
Program
Area
This activity
is designed for Grade 10 Advanced Science, Core Unit 1: Interactions,
as well as Grade 10 General Science, Core Unit 1: Community Ecology,
and Core Unit 5: Wise Use of Resources.
There are
two ways to incorporate this activity. It will work as a one period,
quick debate and group-building activity which may introduce a
local environmental problem such as the landfill crisis or the
principles of resource use. This activity may also be extended
into a research project. After the initial introduction of the
problem, students go to the library and research topics such as
incinerators, landfill, or resource use. After researching the
issue, students would present their views to the group on a more
formal level.
Learning
Outcomes
Teaching,
learning and evaluation will focus on the student's ability to:
- Examine
the reasons for and against incinerators as a solution to the
garbage crisis;
- Clarify
and present information;
- Analyze
a problem from various perspectives-individually, or as a member
of either a small or large group;
- Examine
an issue before formalizing a position statement;
- Consider
the ideas of others when making a decision;
- Tolerate
the ideas of others and different points of view;
Classroom
Development
- An overhead
of the map will focus the group's attention.
- This
is a good vehicle for involving students in roles and to get
them thinking about an issue from a personal then a group perspective.
- Even
though an incinerator is the only choice, some students may
wish to explore various methods of handling this problem.
- Assign
each student an address and occupation. They should then record
their opinions on the location of the incinerator. Next, move
the students into small groups based on location or occupation.
Each small group must reach a consensus before presenting their
decision at the town council meeting. At the conclusion of the
meeting, hold a vote to determine where the incinerator should
go.
- "Not
In My Backyard" and the use of prime agricultural land
for such purposes should be discussed at some point.
Timing
Depending
on the depth of research required, allow between one and three
periods to introduce research and discussion in small groups before
presentations at the town council.
Resources
Consult
with the school librarian to secure resource material on waste
management and incineration case studies. Also, contact the Ministry
of the Environment for additional fact sheets and data regarding
incineration and alternate waste management programs.
- Waste
Management Master Plans: What You Should Know. Waterloo Public
Interest Research Group, 1987.
- The Ban
on New Garbage Incinerators in Ontario. Ministry of the Environment,
1992.
- The Case
Against Municipal Solid Waste Incineration. Ministry of the
Environment, 1992.
Cross-disciplinary
Links
This activity
is a natural integrator of Mathematics, Science and Technology,
Art (Drama), Languages (literacy and communication skills), plus
Self and Society (Geography, Business and Economics).
Student
Activity
Nimbyville
Purpose
To determine
where in your town an incinerator should be placed.
Background
Information
The town
of Nimbyville has a garbage crisis. The town council has decided
that the solution to this problem is to build an incinerator which
would burn the garbage. This incinerator must be built within
the township limits. A town meeting has been called to decide
where the incinerator should be built. The chosen site will be
determined by a majority vote. The owners of the land required
will be given a fair market price.
Consider
the map of the town and your location in it.
My name
is:
My address
is:
My occupation
is:
MY CHOICE
FOR THE INCINERATORS LOCATION IS...
I THINK
THAT THIS IS A GOOD CHOICE BECAUSE...
MY CONCERNS
WITH MY CHOICE ARE...
OUR GROUP'S
DECISION IS...
OUR GROUP'S
REASONS FOR OUR CHOICE...
OUR GROUP'S
CONCERNS WITH OUR CHOICE ARE...
OTHER GROUP'S
CHOICES...
THE TOWN'S
CONCERNS...
THE RESULT
OF THE VOTE...
Not
In Nimbyville Roles
Chairperson
(1)
Council
Members (2)
Landfill
Engineers (2)
Incinerator
Engineers (2)
Residents
of Nimbyville (3)
Environmental
Activists (3)
Farmers
(3)
Owners of
Local Industries (2)
Downtown
Business Owners (3)
Downtown
Residents (2)
Mayor (1)
City Planner
(1)
Owner of
Golf Course (1)
Environmental
Lawyer (1)
Reduce-Waste
Representatives (1)
Reuse-Waste
Representatives (1)
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