Sample Module: Flint Michigan Water Crisis Case Study
Module Description:
This lesson explores the political, social, and financial factors that led to the Flint water crisis and the consequences of environmental injustice. Students develop critical thinking questions about the crisis and discuss them in class.
Instructor Resources included in Module:
File: “01 - Flint Water Crisis Resources” – A list of multiple resources describing the history and impacts of the Flint Water crisis.
File: “02 - FWATF FINAL REPORT – 2016” - The final report of the Flint Water Advisory Task Force, which provides an executive summary of the issues and findings as well as detailed findings and recommendations for governmental agencies, environmental justice, recovery and remediation, and state-wide initiatives.
Sample slides:
Pre-class activities:​
Video “Poisoned Water” pre-class assignment: “03 - Pre-Class Assignment”. A key is provided for the assignment: “04 - Pre-Class Assignment (Answer Key)”.
Group Discussion:​
Students divide into groups and discuss their responses to the pre-class homework assignment (see prompts in the presentation).
Each group comes up with three critical thinking questions.​
The groups will share their questions with the rest of the class. The instructor writes them on the board, arranging by theme or learning objective (e.g., environmental injustice, water chemistry).​
Discuss the critical thinking questions as a class. (A presentation is provided to aid the discussion of common questions: “05 - Flint Michigan Water Crisis”.)