What in the World? Level 2 Issue 5

All about Batteries

Questions for online exploration (p.9)

1. Learn how an EV plant functions:

2. Learn more about the two EV plants that are being built in Ontario by Volkswagen and Stellantis, and Honda's plans to set up shop here in Canada:
Volkswagen:

Stellantis:

Honda:

3. Visit the sites of four companies who support Canada's future as an EV leader:

4. Explore the Ring of Fire and the Indigenous consultations that are ongoing in this mineral-rich region:

5. How do EV batteries and cars work?

6. Learn more about why recycling EV batteries poses environmental concerns:

Picking a President

Before reading (p. 14)

Have students view this news report about the Iowa Republican caucus on January 15, 2024:

Questions for online exploration (p.19)

1. How do American caucuses and primaries work?

2. Learn more about the Iowa caucuses and how this process differs from primaries:

3.Why does Iowa go first and how effective are Iowan voters in predicting the next president?

4. Check out this infographic which explains how to become president of the United States:

5. Visit the campaign websites of the 2 remaining Republican presidential candidates (Donald Trump, Nikki Haley) and incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden:

6. Watch this summary of the 91 criminal indictments that Trump is facing while trying to win back the White House:

Election in Taiwan Angers China

Before reading (p. 21)

1. Project a map of southeast Asia, such as the one found at:

2. Have students watch this summary of China’s reaction to the election results in Taiwan:

Questions for online exploration (p.26)

1. Meet Taiwan's newly elected president, Lai Ching-te, and learn what his win means for Taiwan:

2. See how other world leaders have reacted to Mr. Lai's win:

3. Learn more about the complex relationship between Taiwan and China:

4. Find out more about why China is angered by Taiwan's election:

5. Explore why this election will have implications around the globe:

6. Learn more about Taiwan:

Tobacco Use in Canada

Questions for further thought (p.37)

Over the years, there have been a number of campaigns in Canada to add health warnings, both written and visual, to cigarette packaging in an effort to discourage smoking. Recently, the federal government announced plans to print written health warnings on individual cigarettes, making Canada the first country to do so:

Questions for online exploration (p.38)

1. Watch this video from the World Health Organization (WHO) about the effects of tobacco on humans and the planet:

2. Check out these infographics with statistics on tobacco use in Canada:

3. Health Canada and The Center for Disease Control (U.S.) have dedicated websites for educating the public about the effects of smoking and vaping:

4. Unsmoke Canada is an organization dedicated to reducing the number of smokers in Canada. Explore this site:

5. How does smoking cigarettes affect your body?

6. The Canadian Paediatric Society has researched and developed recommendations for preventing youth smoking:

7. The Canadian Lung Association has resources for quitting smoking:

Graphing ( p.42)

Inquiry project

The Steps of an Inquiry Project (p. 46)

Check out these short videos to learn how to check the credibility and reliability of websites:

How to evaluate sources for reliability:

How to check if a website is credible:

Helpful Teacher Resources on Inquiry-based Learning (p. 49)

1. Check out Trevor MacKenzie’s website with links to podcasts, blogs, social media links, and other resources on Inquiry‑based learning:

• https://www.trevormackenzie.com

2. John Spenser is another educator whose videos, blogs, and resources offer practical strategies and structures for engaging students in inquiry. Here are two to get you started:

“Helping Students Ask Better Questions by Creating a Culture of Inquiry”

“Using a Wonder Week to Spark Inquiry-based Learning”

3. Edutopia has a number of articles on student inquiry, including:

“What the heck is Inquiry-based Learning?”

“Resources and Downloads to Facilitate Inquiry-based Learning”

Well-written, well-researched and well-represented! Students really like to use this material.

A. Longo, Grade 6 teacher Richmond Hill, ON