DDT Ban:
A Mistake or a Wise Decision
Johanna Peperzak

Science- Chemistry and Biology
11 th – 12 th grade

Essential Questions
• Should DDT be banned worldwide?

Unit Questions
• Why was DDT banned in the United
States?
• Why is their controversy over banning
DDT worldwide?
• What is the chemical nature of DDT?
• How does DDT impact the environment? Mammals?

Unit Questions Cont’d
• What is malaria?
• Where is malaria prevalent and how do people catch it?
• How to control the spread of malaria?
• What is the connection between DDT and malaria?

Colorado State Standards
Standard 1:
• identifying major sources of error or uncertainty within an investigation (for example, particular measuring devices and experimental procedures)
• communicating and evaluating scientific thinking that leads to particular conclusions
• recognizing and analyzing alternative explanations and models

Colorado State Standards
Cont’d
Standard 2.1
• examining, describing, measuring, classifying, and predicting common properties of substances (for example, chemical reactivity, relationships in the periodic table)
• describing and explaining properties and composition of samples of matter using models (for example, atomic and molecular structure, the periodic table)

Colorado State Standards
Cont’d
Standard 2.3
• identifying, describing, and explaining physical and chemical changes involving the conservation of matter and energy (for example, chemical reactions)
Standard 5
• analyzing benefits, limitations, costs, and consequences involved in using technology or resources (for example, agricultural chemicals)

Colorado State Standards
Cont’d
Standard 6
• evaluating print and visual media for scientific evidence, bias, or opinion
• explaining that the scientific way of knowing uses a critique and consensus process (for example, peer review, openness to criticism, logical arguments, skepticism)

Learning Objectives
• SWBAT: Discuss the controversy over DDT
• SWBAT: Assess validity of scientific evidence.
• SWBAT: Justify or argue against the DDT ban in the United States.
• SWBAT: Examine the chemical nature of
DDT and the consequences of its use.

Learning Objectives Cont’d
• SWBAT: Analyze the benefits and limitations of using DDT.
• SWBAT: Examine malaria and identify how malaria is spread and where it is prevalent.
• SWBAT: Choose and defend the best strategy to control the spread of malaria.
• SWBAT: Evaluate the connection between
DDT and malaria.

Student Samples
• Slide show defending whether or not DDT should be banned worldwide including:
– the chemistry of DDT
– impact of DDT on the environment
– critique of scientific evidence
– demonstrate the DDT-malaria link.

Student Samples Cont’d
• A Web page with general information about malaria that includes:
– discuss what malaria is
– estimate where it is prevalent
– discuss how people catch it
– defend the best strategy for malaria control

Sources Cited
• Microsoft Office Clip Art
• State of Colorado for Standards
• ChemFinder
– http://www.chemfinder.com
• ERM Mosquito control
– http://www.co.palmbeach.fl.us/erm/divisions/mosquito/index.htm

Sources Cited Cont’d
• VirtualZoo
– http://students.cs.byu.edu/~ik7/virtualzoo/