Mercury
Teacher's Guide

Lesson Objectives:
                - to be aware of the toxicity of mercury, what to do if it spills and how to dispose of it
                - to develop skills in working together successfully with others
                - to develop community problem solving strategies
                - to develop skills in thinking logically
                - to use English to talk about solving problems
                - to help students develop a textual visual map for solving problems

Multiple Intelligences Developed in this Lesson:
                - Linguistic
                - Logical/Mathematical
                - Interpersonal
                - Intrapersonal
                - Visual/Spatial

Procedure:
- Ask the students what they know about mercury.

- Distribute a Mercury lesson packet to each student. A lesson packet includes a title page, a content outline, a group problem solving activity* and a student feedback form. Have the students complete the left side of the feedback form.

-Read the quote on the title page to the students.

- Have the students take turns reading the outline. Using the glossary, define any unfamiliar vocabulary for the students. Answer any questions the students may have.

- Direct the students to turn to the "What do I do?" page in their packets. Read the problem aloud to the students. Read aloud the parts of the chart to the students. Divide students into groups of 3, 4 or 5 depending on class size. Direct each group to appoint a reader, a secretary and a spokesperson. Once each group has completed its chart, have the groups share their results with the rest of the class. Give the students the option of acting out the problem.

- Direct the students to complete the right side of the feedback form. Collect the forms. Using the facts on these forms for dictation would be an excellent additional use of these forms.

*The group problem solving lessons in this manual have a multiple intelligence focus and are adapted from a unit on social responsibility in A Guidebook for Applying MI Theory in the Second Language Classroom by Maryann Christison, Ph.D., Burlingame, CA: Alta Book Center Publishers, 1999.