Integrating Diverse Texts Project

By Rebecca Dull

Integrating Diverse Texts

Ecosystem Dynamics

Ecosystem dynamics is a unit explored in 7th grade science. I identify three different resources that I will integrate in this lesson and explain how they contribute to students’ expanding their perspective on the cultural customs around the world.

Interating Diverse Texts

Why do people cut down tropical rainforests when they know it is harmful to the animals that live there?

We decide we need to learn more about the people who farm oil palms. We watch interviews with some of these farmers, and we learn that cutting down tropical rainforests to sell or grow resources is sometimes the only way for people in these areas to support themselves. We revisit our original problem with a new priority: We need to make sure that our solution allows all people to support themselves and their families. This makes us wonder if there are better ways for farmers to grow oil palms that could also save tropical rainforest animals.

Info

Interviews with people who work to grow oil palms in developing countries reveal that this practice, though harmful to animals like orangutans, provides them with a way to make money to support themselves, their families, and their communities.

Go to Title Page

Integrating Diverse Texts

1. The Story of Palm Oil

The first integrative text I plan to integrate into the lesson identifies the cultural signifance of palm oil by outlining the history of the versitile substance.

Info

Go to Title Page

Integrating Diverse Texts

2. How palm oil became the world’s most hated, most used fat source

I will integrate this article about how palm oil has become a ubiquitous commodity due to legacies of colonialism and exploitation, and the challenges of shifting the industry onto a more sustainable path.

Info

Go to Title Page

Integrating Diverse Texts

3. 8 Things to Know About Palm Oil

This article clearly outlines the important information surrounding the controversial issue of palm oil ussage.

‘Diversity’ should just be called ‘reality.’ Your books, your TV shows, your movies, your articles, your curricula, need to reflect reality.” —Tananarive Due, author and American Book Award winner

Info

Go to Title Page

We figure out...

In many places in which oil palms are grown, people do not have a lot of opportunities to make money to support their families. Cutting down tropical rainforests to sell or grow resources may be the only way for people in these areas to support themselves. If we want a solution, we will have to make sure that these farmers can still support themselves and their families.

Diologue Earth

This resource contributes to students’ expanding their perspective on land-use-change by integrating art, history, and cultural signifiance into a science lesson.

• How has the history of colonialism and exploitation shaped the global palm oil industry?
• What are some of the environmental and social consequences of producing palm oil?
• How can sustainable production methods be incentivized so that vulnerable communities and ecosystems are not further impacted by cheap palm oil?

Newsela Resource

This resource will contribute to students' expanding their perspectives on vulnurable communities and ecosystems. Students will read this article and discuss the following questions:

• Why is palm oil everywhere?

• Why don’t we just switch to an alternative vegetable oil?
• What is the problem with palm oil?
• What solutions are there?
• What can I do?

Palm Oil Around the World

Students will interact with artifacts, images, data, and podcasts to expand their perspectives on the cultural customs experienced around the world. Students will explore topics such as: