Organizing Evidence Mini-Unit

Organizing Evidence Mini-Unit

This resource focuses on selecting, connecting, and organizing evidence in multiple ways. Students will identify and organize evidence in an approach that accounts for multiple views rather than a pro/con argument, and leads to a nuanced claim. Also, students will experiment with argument structures by planning and writing two purposefully organized arguments.

Organizing Evidence Instructional Sequence

Click here for a downloadable version of the lesson sequence.

Exploring and Unpacking the Organizing Evidence Mini-Unit

This slideshow is intended to be used with teachers as they prepare to teach the Organizing Evidence mini-unit. It was originally designed for a 90 minute introductory workshop.

Click here for a downloadable version of the slideshow.

Sample Text Set

Text Options for Lesson #1

Reading #1(Select one that fits your students and context)

This National Geographic article provides historical background on space junk, including information about the source and effects of space junk. The article also explains why it is not simple to just remove it. (middle school or high school).

Lovgren, Stefan. "Space Junk Cleanup Needed, NASA Experts Warn." National Geographic. 19 January 2006. Web. 9 August 2016.

Also providing historical background on space junk and the reasons behind it, this article includes graphics that capture the quantity of space debris. If you select a different article, consider using just the graphic from this text. (middle school or high school)

Goddar, Jacqui. "Waste in space: how NASA is going to add to it Space station to add to sea of celestial Junk." The Telegraph. 19 November 2006. Web. 9 August 2016.

This 2011 text provides background information on space junk, including where it comes from, what problems, it causes, and why it is difficult to get rid of. The complex language in this article makes it more appropriate for high school students. (high school).

"Space Junk. . .A Major Problem?" Accuweather.com. 11 May 2011. Web. 9 August 2016.

The author of this 2011 article makes an argument for why we can't wait any longer to deal with space junk, providing the solution that we should deal with it like we should use the ideas of reduce, reuse, recycle like we do on earth. The article also includes links to several other resources about space junk. (high school)

Rogers, Lucy. "What Can We Do About the Space Junk Problem?" Seeker. 4 September 2011. Web. 9 August 2016.

This short and simple text provides limited background information on space junk. This text is best suited for middle school to provide a basic introduction to what space junk is. (middle school)

"How Much Stuff is in Orbit Around the Earth and is it Dangerous?" By Ask Smithsonian via Tween Tribune. 4 November 2015. Web. 9 August 2016.

Reading #2: Movie Clip

This clip from the 2013 film Gravity is a great way to create public awareness. Students are likely to find the dramatic movie clip interesting even though it's an extreme example of Kessler's Syndrome. The opening scenes portray a tragic disaster caused by space debris.

Cuaron, Alfonso, director. Gravity. Warner Bros Pictures. 2013.

Click here for additional, optional texts that present background information on space junk.

Text Options for Lesson # 2

Reading #1: Teacher Model

This National Geographic article moves beyond historical context to a deeper understanding of the problem. It provides both pros and cons for action or types of solutions. It also includes visuals that represent the complexity of the issue.

Lemonick, Michael D. "The Big Idea: Clearing Space." National Geographic. 2016. Web. 10 August 2016.

Jigsaw Readings:

NOTE: This topic calls students to encounter and use some technical science vocabulary, but it is possible to write this argument without deep knowledge of science. Add texts or excerpt some texts to meet the needs and interests of your students.

This text provides a mixture of words, images, and video to further explain the complexity of the space junk issue. Both the texts provided for the jigsaw focus on problem and solution rather than pro/con.

Feltlinger, Sarah Benton. "The Quest to Find a Solution to Clean Space Junk Continues." DogoNews. 28 January 2016. Web. 10 August 2016.

Without coming to any definitive conclusions for how to clean up space debris, Jillian Scudder explains several strategies that have been tried and failed. She ultimately argues that until clean satellites can get up there to clean up the pieces the best thing we can do is focus on not adding anymore junk to what is already there.

Scudder, Jillian. "How Do We Clean Up All that Space Debris?" Forbes. 6 January 2016. Web. 10 August 2016.

Text Options for Lesson # 3

Reading #1: Whole Class Guided Model

This is an image from the European Space Agency that also includes a description of what it is. The images shows an impact chip in the International Space Station from a tiny piece of debris.

"Space in Images: Impact Chip." ESA. 12 May 2016. Web. 10 August 2016.

Jigsaw Table Group Set:

NOTE: The texts in this group are designed to support students in writing nuanced claims and with making a countering move in their writing. The focus of the lesson is on providing an opportunity for students to see the issue as complex and to engage with multiple views and angles on the issue.

This text provides a brief overview of space debris from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. It also includes links to recent documents related to space debris.

"Space Debris." United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. nd. Web. 10 August 2016.

Also from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, this text explains the policy of registering objects that are launched into space. Recent registration submissions are linked at the bottom of the page.

"United Nations Register of Items Launched Into Space." United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. nd. Web. 10 August 2016.

This article explains how the European Space Agency is working on strategies for reducing space debris moving forward by running simulations of reentry to the atmosphere. It reiterates how complicated the issue is and how difficult it is to ensure no debris is left in space.

"Simulating Reentries for Safer Satellites." ESA. nd. Web. 10 August 2016.

The Swiss have developed a device that can locate small targets in space and scoop them up. They have moved past the prototype phase and hope to have a model ready to launch by 2018.

Dent, Steve. "Real Life 'Pac Man' Satellite Will Clean Up Space." Engadget. 6 July 2015. Web. 11 August 2016.

A Japanese company has secured $30 million in funding to develop technology to clean up space debris. They have plans to develop two pieces of technology, one for mapping debris and the other will use an adhesive method to catch debris.

McKirdy, Andrew. "Company Aiming to Clear Space Junk Wins Funding." The Japan Times. nd. Web. 11 August 2016.