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Our resources are designed to be used with selected film titles, which are available free for clubs at www.filmclub.org

Scientific Literacy Resource:Promised Land

Promised Land

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Our resources are designed to be used with selected film titles, which are available free for clubs at www.intofilm.org

Introduction

Promised Land 2012 | 106 mins | Cert: 11+

About this filmSteve and Sue are sent to a small farming town where their employer — a big energy company — plans to extract

reserves of natural gas through the environmentally controversial method of fracking. Their task is to convince the

local people to sell the rights to drill on their land. It should be easy, since the failing economy has left the place

in deprivation and despair, but some members of the community protest. The more Steve and Sue try to persuade

them, the more they are forced to confront their own consciences, and consider the value of the new friendships

they have begun to form.

How to use this resourceThis resource comprises three main sections:

• Pupil-facing question sheets (pages 3 - 6)

• Teacher notes that advise on scoring criteria (pages 7 - 15)

• Accompanying Scientific Literacy PowerPoint that contains the relevant film clips, available to download from

www.filmclub.org/resources.

About this resourceUsing film as the stimulus and set in modern-day scientific contexts, this series of resources can be used in the

classroom to develop students’ scientific literacy. They help students apply their scientific knowledge and skills to issues

in the modern world. The question sets focus on the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for scientific literacy

as set out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. They use a similar style and format to the

questions in the OECD PISA tests for scientific literacy, and each question has been linked to the OECD PISA Scientific

Literacy Framework to indicate the knowledge and competencies each question focuses on. You will not only find these

question sets useful in helping prepare your students for the OECD PISA tests, but also in helping them to develop their

scientific literacy skills for the new GCSE examinations, and in preparing them to take an active part in our increasingly

scientific and technological world.

Into Film would like to thank Rebecca Owen, science-subject specialist at the Welsh Government and the Central South

Consortium for her help in creating this resource. For more information on the range of resources created by her team,

visit http://learning.gov.wales/?lang=en.

DVD availabilityYou can order the Promised Land on DVD for free through your Into Film club account via www.filmclub.org, or at:

www.filmclub.org/film/17754/promised-land. Not yet Into Film? Joining Into Film is easy and free – go to

www.intofilm.org/schools-film-clubs to find out more and register, or email [email protected].

Filmmaking supportAs well as viewing the film, this resource offers opportunities for filmmaking. For further information on filmmaking

in the classroom, see Into Film’s resource: www.bit.ly/PrimaryFilmmakingGuide.

Copyright Property of FocusFeatures (2012). All rights reserved.

http://www.filmclub.org/resources

http://learning.gov.wales/?lang=en

http://www.filmclub.org/film/17754/promised-land

http://www.intofilm.org/schools-film-clubs

mailto:support%40intofilm.org?subject=Join%20Into%20Film

http://bit.ly/PrimaryFilmmakingGuide

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Promised LandScientific literacy questions

Scientific literacy questions – Promised Land

Clip 1

In the film, Global Industries are intending to carry out a process called hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to obtain natural gas trapped in the layers of shale rock. QUESTION 1

What type of rock is shale?

A sedimentaryB metamorphicC igneousD volcanic

QUESTION 2

The natural gas in the shale rock has formed over millions of years. Can you explain how the natural gas formed?

QUESTION 3

Jerry says the offer of $30,000 dollars from Global Industries is not enough money to secure his agreement for fracking in his town. He says he has done his research. Suggest two things he may have found out from his research that would make him think that $30,000 dollars was not enough money for him to agree to the fracking.

Explanation 1

Explanation 2

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Clip 2

QUESTION 4

Write down one of the things Frank Yates the science teacher says will be an advantage of extracting natural gas by fracking, and one thing he says is a disadvantage.

Advantage

Disadvantage

QUESTION 5

When Frank Yates challenges him, Steve Butler admits that ‘a few companies involved in fracking have had their share of incidents’. Suggest an example of one of the incidents that he might be talking about.

QUESTION 6

Frank Yates suggests that the people of the town should vote on the fracking scheme. Which of the statements in the table below might be said by a person who will vote for the fracking scheme, and which might be said by a person who will vote against the scheme?

Tick the correct box for each statement.

The statement about the fracking scheme would be said by a person who would vote:

For the scheme

Against the scheme

When natural gas is burnt, it creates less carbon dioxide than coal or oil

Groundwater could be contaminated if the wells or pipes leak

Fracking means that other renewable energies are ignored

Natural gas will not run out so soon because fracking allows us to access to supplies of gas which we wouldn’t otherwise be able to use.

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QUESTION 7

Steve Butler compares fracking to ‘dangerous industries like coal and oil’. Which of these statements supports the idea that coal and oil are dangerous industries?

Circle yes or no for each statement:Coal dust can cause respiratory diseases in miners Yes / No

Burning coal and oil releases sulphur dioxide that causes acid rain Yes / No

There have been incidents of explosions or collapses in coal mines Yes / No

Coal and oil are non-renewable types of energy Yes / No

Clip 3

Mr Noble talks to a class of children about the process of fracking. QUESTION 8

What is Mr Noble trying to show in his demonstration to the children?

QUESTION 9

What will be the most likely effect of Mr Noble’s demonstration on the children?

A They will tell their parents to vote for the fracking schemeB They will want to become farmersC They will tell their parents to vote against the fracking schemeD They will get better marks in their science tests

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QUESTION 10

Mr Noble gives the children lots of information about the process of fracking during his demonstration. Some of the information he gives the children about the process is scientifically correct, some of the information may not be a scientific fact.

Which of the statements in the table below are scientifically correct about the process of fracking? Circle yes or no for each statement:

QUESTION 11

Why might Mr Noble tell the children things that are not scientific facts?

QUESTION 12

The children might decide to try to find out which of the things Mr Noble says are facts and which are not. Which of the methods in the table below could they use to help them decide whether what Mr Noble says is correct or not?

Circle yes or no for each statement:

They drill deep into the ground with huge big drills Yes / No

They have to drill lots of holes to get the gas Yes / No

They shoot water, sand and chemicals into the ground to help the drills Yes / No

There is no way to tell where the chemicals are going to go Yes / No

All the dirty water comes back up to the land Yes / No

Carry out some experiments Yes / No

Ask another scientist to come and talk to them Yes / No

Do some research on the internet Yes / No

Teacher notes


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Promised Land

Teacher notes – Promised Land

QUESTION 1

Scoring:

Full credit:A sedimentary rock

No credit:Other responses and missing.

Narrative:Sedimentary rock forms in layers, from mud and sediment building up and being squashed and compressed by the

sediment that collects on top of it. Natural gas is formed from the remains of marine organisms which have been

trapped in the layers of rock. The layers in the rock make it easier to fracture to release the gas.

PISA Scientific Literacy Framework References:

QUESTION 2

Scoring:

Full credit:Sea creatures/marine organisms died and sank to the bottom of the sea/ocean. These organisms were covered by/

buried by sediment, which became compressed into rock. Heat and pressure created by the rock changed the

organisms into natural gas.

Partial credit:From the remains of animals/sea creatures that lived millions of years ago/got buried under rock – but with no further

explanation.


Narrative:Students must say that the gas forms from animals and not plants (coal was formed from plant matter). They must

explain fully that the organisms were buried under layers of sediment and that heat and pressure led to the formation

of the gas from the remains of their bodies.

Framework categories 2015 PISA Framework

Knowledge type Content knowledge

Competency Explain phenomena scientifically

Context Natural resources -national/global

Cognitive demand Low

Teacher notes


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Promised Land


QUESTION 3

Scoring:

Full credit:Any two reasons from this list:

There was much more natural gas under the town than Steve Butler said there was/the natural gas under the town

was worth more than Steve Butler said it was.

They would be drilling lots of holes to sink the wells, which would damage the environment around the town.

Some of the chemicals used in the process of fracking are harmful/carcinogenic/radioactive/could make people ill.

The fracking scheme would involve lots of vehicles transporting things to and from the site which could cause a lot

of noise and/or pollution in the town.

People in areas around other fracking sites have developed illnesses.

There have been previous incidents of water being contaminated near to fracking projects.

Farmers’ crops could be/have been killed by chemicals used in the fracking process.

Fracking may be linked to the occurrence of small earthquakes/earth tremors.

There may not be enough water available for farmers to grow crops as lots of water is needed for fracking.

Partial credit:Any one reason from the list above.

He has read that fracking is dangerous – without being specific about the danger.





Context Natural resources - national/global

Cognitive demand Medium

Teacher notes


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Promised Land

Narrative:There is a lot of information about fracking available on the internet, where Jerry has got his information from. Some

of it is produced by fracking companies themselves, and some by environmental groups. Some of the information

on the internet may be biased and scientifically incorrect. This question is not concerned with whether the information

is biased or correct, it is just asking the students to use the information available on the internet to explain why Jerry

may not be happy with the sum of money that is offered.


QUESTION 4

Scoring:

Full credit:Advantage - natural gas is a clean and efficient fuel/resource

Disadvantage – water may be contaminated or extracting the gas is a dirty business


Narrative:Students must only use the advantages and disadvantages that are given by Frank Yates in the film. No credit is given

for giving their own advantages and disadvantages. Students can be given credit if the wording is similar but not exactly

as Frank Yates says, so long as the same meaning is retained.





Context Natural resources - national/global

Cognitive demand Medium/high




Context Natural resources - local/national or global


Teacher notes


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Promised Land

QUESTION 5

Scoring:

Full credit:One example from this list:

Water has been contaminated with poisonous chemicals from leaking pipes or wells.

Small earthquakes/tremors have occurred as a result of fracking.

People have suffered illnesses in the areas around fracking schemes.

Air pollution has increased in the areas around fracking schemes.

Flooding has occurred in areas around fracking schemes.

Workers on fracking schemes may have suffered illness from the chemicals they are using.

Explosions may have occurred because of water containing lots of chemicals catching fire.

No credit:Other responses or missing.

Narrative:During the film clips, lots of different examples of such incidents are mentioned, which could be what Steve Butler

is referring to. Students may recall their own examples if they have watched television news or documentaries, or have

studied fracking in class.


QUESTION 6

Scoring:

Full credit:For, against, against, for – in that order







Teacher notes


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Promised Land

Narrative:Natural gas is considered to be a cleaner fuel than coal or oil because the emissions of carbon dioxide gas during its

combustion are lower than coal or oil. People might use this as an argument for the fracking scheme as it would enable

us to use the cleaner gas as a fuel rather than coal or oil and thus reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (which can

contribute to global warming) going into the air. Possible contamination of groundwater by the chemicals that

are pumped into the wells is a common argument against fracking as, were this to happen, the drinking water of a large

number of people could be affected and this could lead to illness. Some people argue that fracking continues to rely

on fossil fuels to create energy rather than investing in renewable energies, which are less harmful to the environment.

Extracting natural gas by the process of fracking can create fuel security for a large number of people for many years.

This could be considered a good thing because without fracking that gas would not be accessible and there may be fuel

shortages in years to come.


QUESTION 7

Scoring:

Full credit:Yes, yes, yes, no – in that order.


Narrative:The first three statements support the idea that coal is dangerous. Many former miners have suffered from respiratory

diseases as a result of breathing in coal dust, so this statement argues that coal is dangerous to their health. Sulphur

dioxide gas, which is released during the combustion of coal and oil, is dangerous for the environment as it can cause

acid rain, which can kill trees and animals like fish that live in lakes and rivers. Mining disasters, such as those in Aberfan

and the Gleision Colliery in Wales, have killed large numbers of people, so mining can be considered dangerous for

the workers who extract the coal, and also the wider community, as with the Aberfan disaster. The fact that coal and oil

are non-renewable is not dangerous, although it does mean there is a need to explore alternative forms of energy for

when they run out.






Teacher notes


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Promised Land


QUESTION 8

Scoring:

Full credit:Mr Noble is trying to show that the fracking scheme is dangerous/may be harmful to them/may harm the environment.

Partial credit:He is trying to show that the fracking scheme is a bad thing – without explaining why.


Narrative: The film clip starts with Mr Noble appearing to explain to the children how fracking works, but it soon becomes clear

he is trying to persuade the children that the fracking scheme will be bad for their town. He does this by saying things

like the fracking scheme will take all the water, and that all the poisonous chemicals will come back up to the land, and

showing them that the land will catch on fire. He gives the children the impression that these events happen with every

fracking scheme. Although there are a number of such incidents documented on the internet, many scientists believe

that these events are very rare and fracking is a safe process. Mr Noble does not give this side of the argument.




Competency Interpret data and evidence scientifically

ContextHazards - local/nationalNatural resources - local /national





Context Hazards - personal/local/national


Teacher notes


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Promised Land

QUESTION 9

Scoring:

Full credit:C They will tell their parents to vote against the fracking scheme


Narrative: The demonstration given by Mr Noble in which he tells the children that all their water will be used up, that poisonous

chemicals will go into the ground and then come back up to the land, and even that the land may catch on fire, will

likely have the effect of scaring the children and making them think the fracking scheme is dangerous and harmful.

The children may then try to persuade their parents that the scheme is bad, and parents will be likely to vote against

the scheme if they see their children are scared and upset.


QUESTION 10

Scoring:

Full credit:Yes, yes, yes, no, no – in that order.


Narrative:The first three statements are correct about the fracking scheme. They do use large drills to dig deep into the ground,

as the gas is often found miles beneath the surface. They also need to drill lots of holes as the gas is spread out within

the shale rock, rather than collecting in large pockets in one place. Water, sand and chemicals are pumped into the

wells to help the drills work and to extract the gas from the rock. The last two statements are not scientifically correct.

The water, sand and chemicals should remain within the wells and pipes and so the fracking company should know

where the chemicals are going. Only if there is a leak in a well or pipe, will the movement of water and chemicals be

uncontrolled. Under normal circumstances, there should not be free movement of water and chemicals under the

ground. The statement ‘all the water and chemicals come back up to the land’ is not scientifically correct because,

in most cases, the water and chemicals are pumped back up out of the well, and may sometimes be recycled and used

again. Students may recognise that, in some cases, the events described by the last two statements have occurred, but

this should not be routinely true for the fracking process.




ContextHazards - local/nationalNatural resources - local /national


Teacher notes


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Promised Land


QUESTION 11

Scoring:

Full credit:He wants to scare them into thinking that the fracking scheme is bad/he wants them to tell their parents they think

the fracking scheme is a bad idea/he wants them to be against the idea of fracking.

Partial credit:He might be biased against the fracking company.


Narrative:At the start of the clip, it appears that Mr Noble is trying to explain to the children how the process of fracking works,

but after a time, as explored in previous questions, he begins to talk about and show the children things which may not

actually happen, or happen only rarely. He may tell them these things in order to scare them so they will influence their

parents against the fracking scheme. Partial credit may be given for saying that Mr Noble might be biased against the

fracking scheme, without an explanation as to why.

NB: Students who have watched the entire film will know that Mr Noble is not all he seems and has other motives for

his actions (he is actually working for Global Industries). However, students should answer the questions on the basis of what they have seen in the film clips provided only.





ContextHazards - local/nationalNatural resources - local/national



Knowledge type Epistemic knowledge



Cognitive demand Medium/high

Teacher notes


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Promised Land

QUESTION 12

Scoring:

Full credit:Yes, yes yes – in that order.


Narrative:All of the methods suggested can help the students to decide if Mr Noble has given them correct information. They

can use experiments to collect data that can prove or disprove what he has said. They can get another scientist to talk

to them – allowing them to hear information from more than one source and help to eliminate bias. Researching on

the internet will also help them to gather more information from various sources which may help them to get a

balanced view and eliminate bias.



Knowledge type Epistemic knowledge

Competency Evaluate and deign scientific enquiry



scientific literacy resource: promised land€¦ · promised land intofilm.org 2 our resources are...

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