This article, by Karin Kirk of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College, offers a great step by step guide to engaging students with environmental science topics that might be controversial.
Her recommendations:
- Teaching the science first
- Teach with data
- Use active learning techniques
- Controversy, ambiguity, and topics with incomplete or missing evidence can be used constructively (but need to be introduced judiciously)
- It's not all doom and gloom
- Clearly define your role and your teaching approach
- Lead by example, but don't preach
The site also offers selected literature, teaching methods, and activity collections.