The Meuse Valley in Belgium contains many
farms, villages, steel mills, factories, and chemical
plants. Its main claim to fame is an 80 year old
mystery, still the subject of speculation today.
Early in December of 1930 a thick fog lay over
much of the country. Over three days, from
December 2 through December 5, many people
who lived in the Meuse Valley complained of
nausea, difficulty breathing, stinging eyes, and
burning throats. By the end of the three days, 60
people had died and thousands more were ill with
an unknown “disease.”
   Fog was mentioned, so I may have to
    consider climate
   People had various symptoms, so I may have
    to consider medical areas
   Steel mills, factories, and chemical plants
    where mentioned, so I amy have to consider
    the industry and chemicals involved
   Farms were mentioned so I may have to
    consider the land or agriculture
Climate Questions
 ◦   What was the weather like? What temperatures?
 ◦   What causes fog?
 ◦   Where there any weather patterns?
 ◦   Did wind affect the area during this time?
Chemical Questions
 ◦ What materials did the factory use?
 ◦ Were there chemicals being released from the
   factories?
 ◦ Do any of these chemicals cause problems when
   released?
 ◦ What are the facts about the chemicals?
Medical Questions
 ◦ What were the symptoms?
 ◦ What did medical reports show?
 ◦ What are some known causes of these symptoms?
Land Questions
 ◦ What is the geography of the land?
 ◦ What type of soil? Water? Plants?
Industry Questions
 ◦   What was being made in the factories?
 ◦   How many people worked in the factories?
 ◦   Were the factories considered dangerous?
 ◦   Did the factory have any history of problems?

Example scenario

  • 1.
    The Meuse Valleyin Belgium contains many farms, villages, steel mills, factories, and chemical plants. Its main claim to fame is an 80 year old mystery, still the subject of speculation today. Early in December of 1930 a thick fog lay over much of the country. Over three days, from December 2 through December 5, many people who lived in the Meuse Valley complained of nausea, difficulty breathing, stinging eyes, and burning throats. By the end of the three days, 60 people had died and thousands more were ill with an unknown “disease.”
  • 2.
    Fog was mentioned, so I may have to consider climate  People had various symptoms, so I may have to consider medical areas  Steel mills, factories, and chemical plants where mentioned, so I amy have to consider the industry and chemicals involved  Farms were mentioned so I may have to consider the land or agriculture
  • 3.
    Climate Questions ◦ What was the weather like? What temperatures? ◦ What causes fog? ◦ Where there any weather patterns? ◦ Did wind affect the area during this time? Chemical Questions ◦ What materials did the factory use? ◦ Were there chemicals being released from the factories? ◦ Do any of these chemicals cause problems when released? ◦ What are the facts about the chemicals?
  • 4.
    Medical Questions ◦What were the symptoms? ◦ What did medical reports show? ◦ What are some known causes of these symptoms? Land Questions ◦ What is the geography of the land? ◦ What type of soil? Water? Plants?
  • 5.
    Industry Questions ◦ What was being made in the factories? ◦ How many people worked in the factories? ◦ Were the factories considered dangerous? ◦ Did the factory have any history of problems?