English/Language Arts
Explore definitions
Author Whiting gives a descriptive definition of a privy - that allows the reader to visualize the space. Pair your students and have each member choose some “thing” - a noun - from one of their writing pieces and write a description of the item. Have students trade their descriptive definitions with each other and try to guess the object. If the guess is incorrect, the writer must go back and revise. See which of your students can elicit the correct guesses with the least amount of revision. Encourage students to use words for all senses!
Social Studies
Explore cultural and historical occupations
Occupations often exist within the constraints of a historic time period, or within a specific culture group. Whatever culture or historical period your students are exploring, have them think about what occupations may have been needed that we do not need in our own place and time. Are all occupations treated equally within a culture? Certainly, this Minute indicates that they are not. Have students look at how occupations can define your “place” in the social strata of a given society. Can the type of government change the existence of a social hierarchy within a culture? Should all occupations be treated as equal? Is value determined by your social standing or your ability to generate income?
Explore economics - occupational hazards
All occupations have some risks associated with them. Some are extremely benign, and others present significant danger. Challenge your students to think about how we get people to perform tasks that present higher risks, and what solutions might be available other than financial solutions. What kinds of things come from occupational hazards? How can they advance a society?
STEM
Explore chemistry - decomposition
Author Whiting mentions the presence of poisonous gases that could emanate from the waste. Take a closer look at the process of decomposition and what kinds of things can be done to speed up the process. Have students do some decomposition experiments (with something other than human waste!) like the ones found on this Science blog or other similar online science sites.
Explore biology - bacteria and disease.
Use this Minute as an opportunity to take a closer look at bacteria. Have them take some swabs around your classroom and grow their own petri dish of bacteria.
Research Skills
Explore questions
No matter what our students read, they should always be left with questions. Practicing questioning their reading material and searching for adequate answers are skills necessary if we want our students to become discerning and thoughtful citizens. In this Minute, Author Whiting concludes with a sentence that should leave students asking where exactly are sanitation methods still looking like the “gong” farming he’s described. Ask students to list questions and then develop strategies for finding the answers to their questions.
Explore definitions
Author Whiting gives a descriptive definition of a privy - that allows the reader to visualize the space. Pair your students and have each member choose some “thing” - a noun - from one of their writing pieces and write a description of the item. Have students trade their descriptive definitions with each other and try to guess the object. If the guess is incorrect, the writer must go back and revise. See which of your students can elicit the correct guesses with the least amount of revision. Encourage students to use words for all senses!
Social Studies
Explore cultural and historical occupations
Occupations often exist within the constraints of a historic time period, or within a specific culture group. Whatever culture or historical period your students are exploring, have them think about what occupations may have been needed that we do not need in our own place and time. Are all occupations treated equally within a culture? Certainly, this Minute indicates that they are not. Have students look at how occupations can define your “place” in the social strata of a given society. Can the type of government change the existence of a social hierarchy within a culture? Should all occupations be treated as equal? Is value determined by your social standing or your ability to generate income?
Explore economics - occupational hazards
All occupations have some risks associated with them. Some are extremely benign, and others present significant danger. Challenge your students to think about how we get people to perform tasks that present higher risks, and what solutions might be available other than financial solutions. What kinds of things come from occupational hazards? How can they advance a society?
STEM
Explore chemistry - decomposition
Author Whiting mentions the presence of poisonous gases that could emanate from the waste. Take a closer look at the process of decomposition and what kinds of things can be done to speed up the process. Have students do some decomposition experiments (with something other than human waste!) like the ones found on this Science blog or other similar online science sites.
Explore biology - bacteria and disease.
Use this Minute as an opportunity to take a closer look at bacteria. Have them take some swabs around your classroom and grow their own petri dish of bacteria.
Research Skills
Explore questions
No matter what our students read, they should always be left with questions. Practicing questioning their reading material and searching for adequate answers are skills necessary if we want our students to become discerning and thoughtful citizens. In this Minute, Author Whiting concludes with a sentence that should leave students asking where exactly are sanitation methods still looking like the “gong” farming he’s described. Ask students to list questions and then develop strategies for finding the answers to their questions.
© Karen Sterling, 2017 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission