A Level; Arctic - Oil and gas in the Arctic Tundra - decision making exercise

This is a debate / decision making exercise and should take place over a three of lessons, two to plan and one to undertake the debate. Firstly, there are two video clips about the oil industry in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in order to develop the students sense of place. Next, based on a geofile (website for access supplied) students should evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of oil and gas production and consumption in Prudhoe Bay. After that students are split into 4 groups. Each group is given a character card with details about their viewpoint and a writing frame. Using the writing frame and geofile students should develop a speech about their views on oil and gas production and exploration in Prudhoe Bay. This will take 2 lessons.

In the third lesson the groups should give their presentations. whilst speaking sheets are provided to take notes on the viewpoints of others and writing down questions to ask them. After every speech undertake a discussion activity based on what has been said. Then debate the two key questions once everyone has spoken. Next the students will be asked to suggest compromises and work towards and agreement, before final voting. At the end pupils will be asked to complete and opinion line task for both the questions and to feedback the reasons for their opinions. To increase student engagement each student is assigned two other students to observe using the engagement tally chart, they should record the student’s engagement at 3 points in the lesson. At the end of the lesson the students can give feedback to the students that they have observed. There are also ask and answer stickers for the studnets to stick on themseves. they can take these off once the have asked/answered a question.

I have added an essay question at the end of the powerpoint which could be planned in the lesson and completed for homework. There are planning sheets and fact sheets to help the students to produce high quality essays. All resources are included at the end of the PowerPoint.