4. What risks does cobalt mining present to the surrounding environment? (Cobalt dust is toxic and can lead to lung cancer. It floats through the air, so workers as well as people who live near the mines, are exposed to it.) 5. Why did some companies that produce or use lithium-ion batteries promise to make sure that the cobalt is mined safely? (An investigative report by The Washington Post exposed the dangers of the cobalt mines.) 6. How is the work done by children at the mines similar to and different from the work done by adult workers? (Both the children and adults work long shifts at the mines. However, many children work on the surface, washing and sorting ore, while the adult workers work inside the mines.) 7. Look at the graph titled “Booming Cobalt Demand.” What prediction can you make based on the graph? (The amount of cobalt used for batteries will continue to rise.) 8. If you could change the working conditions in the mines, what is the first thing you would do? (Possible answer: Give miners safety equipment and protective clothing.) 4 Reflect: Ask students to respond in writing to the following questions: Did learning how rechargeable batteries are made make you think differently about using certain technological devices? Why or why not? After students have finished writing, invite volunteers to read their responses. 5 Group Activity: Go to “Necessary or Harmful?” on page 26 of the student handbook. • Divide the class into pairs and have them answer the questions with their partners. • Have students share their responses with the rest of the class. • Encourage students to jot down one good point that each pair made. • After each team has presented, ask students to comment on the best points each team made. To encourage positive feedback, you may wish to give students the sentence starter “I liked ______.” 6 Quick Check: Have students analyze the data in “Mining Cobalt” on page 27 of the student handbook. They can then work as teams to compare answers and discuss any discrepancies. For answers, go to the Answer Key that begins on page 28 of this book.
13
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs