Lesson Title: Salmon RAFTS Preparation

Social Studies Standards

■ SSS1.9-12.4 Gather relevant information from multiple sources representing a wide

range of views while using the origin, authority, structure, context, and corroborative
value of the sources to guide the selection.
■ G2.9-10.2 Explain how humans modify the environment with technology.
■ G2.9-10.3 Explain that the environment is modified through agriculture, industry,
settlement, lifestyles, and other forms of activity.

Learning Targets

■ Students will be able to analyze and understand how dams affect the environment.
■ Students will be able to convey and share their knowledge with others.

Time Teacher Procedure Student Procedure

10 min. Teacher posts a link to Prior Students navigate to the link in their
Knowledge Survey on the students’ OneNote and complete the Prior
OneNote pages and directs them to it Knowledge Survey

5 min Teacher pulls up results from the
vocabulary question in the Prior
Knowledge Survey. Shows the bar
graph of which words are least
known. Provides explanations of top
3 least known words. Teacher asks
students if there are any other words
they would like to know more about.
Students write down explanations of words
in their vocabulary logs at the back of their
journals. Students raise their hands to ask
for explanations of any other words from
the survey. Students write down these
words as well.

2 min. Teacher passes out reading and
handouts and tells the students that
they will be reading and analyzing
one of two articles about why dams
should or should not be removed.
Students will listen to directions as the
reading and handouts are being passed out.
Students will pull out their pens and
highlighters from the supply caddies on the
desks.

30 min. As the students work, the teacher will
move around the classroom and
answer any clarifying questions they
might have. The teacher should make
note of any students from the Prior
Knowledge Survey who may need
specific help with vocabulary.
Students read the article and follow the
directions on the worksheet, annotating the
text and answering questions. Students can
turn their stoplight cards to red if they have
an urgent question or yellow if they have a
less pressing question.
3 min. Once everyone has finished their
worksheets, the teacher will tell the
students to turn to someone near them
and talk about what they’ve learned
or what lingering questions they still
have about the topic.
10 min. Teacher begins the Yarn Trail
conversation activity by holding on to
one end of a ball of yard and passing
it to a student. If no volunteers raise
their hands after a student shares,
teaching can select another student for
the yarn to be thrown to.
Students “turn and talk” with a partner.
They may choose to use the sentence stems
available on the “sentence stem placards
Students catch the ball of yarn and share
their own thoughts or spotlight an idea they
resonated with from their partner with the
class. They then throw the ball to another
student, who repeats this process.
Name:
Period:

Dam Removal Worksheet

1. Annotate: Underline at least one word/phrase in each paragraph. Write a key idea or
question in the margin next to each page.

2. Close Reading: Choose one quote from the document that best captures its overall
meaning. Write the quote below and explain why you chose it.

a. Quote:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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b. Explanation:

______________________________________________________________________________
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3. What are two reasons why someone would be for/against dam removal? These reasons
could be scientific, historical, social, etc.
a.____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

b.____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

4. What is one question you have about dam removal?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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