Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
02/01/2016
Cliffside Homes Near Collapse in California Due to El Nino Erosion
The northern California city of Pacifica declared a state of emergency last week after crushing waves and powerful rains from El Nino eroded the coastal bluffs leaving apartment buildings and homes teetering on the edge of disaster. Officials have tried to preserve the bluffs by piling rock on the beach below, drilling reinforcement rods into their sides and covering the cliff faces with reinforced concrete. But, erosion accelerated dramatically last week despite their efforts.
■Class discussion: Should we spend billions of dollars trying to stop natural erosion along ocean shorelines? What about levees and dams to control natural river flooding and erosion? How many of the world's people live near the the rising oceans? Why have humans always settled near oceans and rivers where they perpetually face the threat of flooding or severe storms? Should the government discourage shoreline building as ocean levels continue to rise amidst climate change?