Environmental Science

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Environmental Science

Janet Cook (in Japan)

Environmental Science Per.: _____ Name: __________________________

Air Pollution Unit-10 class periods

Due: End of class, Feb 14th Total Points _______ Letter grade: _______

Objectives:

Examine the types, causes, and sources of air pollution.

Demonstrate and observe results of smog and acid rain on plants and objects.

Recognize dangers of smog and acid rain and to the environment and determine solutions.

To get a "C" in this unit, get at least 70 points from a combination of any of the projects in the A, B, or C categories:

____ ____ ____ ____ Listen to and take notes on the lectures--5 points per day

____ ____ ____ *** Read a section of the text, take notes--5 points each

____ ____ ____ Listen to the chapter sections on tape. Take notes--5 points each

____ * Make 25 flashcards for chapter vocabulary on note cards or quia.com--10 points

____ * Write 20 quiz or jeopardy questions and answers on note cards or quia.com -10 points

____ * Make a chart showing types and sources of air pollution--5 points

____ ____ Copy or print a brief (2-3 page)article on air pollution, its health effects, or acid rain OR * read one of the provided articles. Take notes or write a summary on the back--5 points each

____ Observe the results of someone else's experiment ,discuss it with them, take notes--5 points

____ Interview someone who treats people suffering from the effects of air pollution, bring in a transcript of your interview and your conclusions--10 points Permission from teacher ____

____ * Write a paper (one page) defending one side of "Is it better to prevent or clean-up air pollution" with 3 supporting reasons and one source --5 points

____ * Make a poster showing in detail how acid rain &/or smog is formed--10 points

____ * Draw and color a world map showing areas most effected by acid rain--5 points

For a "B" you must do at least one of the following and have a total of 85 points:

____ * Write and perform (privately to Ms Cook, publicly to the class, or on video) a skit (3+ minutes), poem, or song (16+ lines) about the effects of air pollution or acid rain--10 points

____ ____ * Design and perform an experiment that shows the effect of acid rain on statues. OR Perform experiment * 6.1, * 6.2 (requires seven day observation period), 6.3 (in class only, requires five days observation and previous arrangements), OR an approved equivalent. If done outside of class, supervising adult must sign your lab report. Write up a lab report--10 points

For an "A" you must earn 15 points by doing of the following and have a total of 95 points:

____ * Read and summarize (max. ½ page each) three current magazine or Internet reports (of at least 3 pages in length each) on one topic concerning air pollution, its health effects, or acid rain. Add an 8+ sentence paragraph giving your opinions or conclusions based on the facts in the articles. In addition to your paragraph, list 5+ ideas as to what should be done &/or is being done to reduce air pollution and its effects. Copy the articles and attach your summaries, paragraph, and list and turn in as one packet.

General Policies

All written work must be typed or neatly printed in dark blue or black ink. There are word processors available in the classroom and computer labs and libraries (you may use the base library Internet with adult supervision) available at lunch and after school.

All work is due by the end of class, the last day of the topic. If you have an unplanned, excused absence, you get one extra day for each absent day. Prearranged absences, leaves, sports trips or other school sponsored trips are due the day after you return to school. Be sure to take your book and any articles (print them out before you leave or access a library or computer while you're gone) and/or lab procedures with you. Absences due to required activities in other classes or school testing will allow one extra day after the due date of the unit.

Activities which should be easy to do outside of class are starred with an asterisk (*).

You must be occupied every day, all day. Do not sit around claiming you did/will do work at home. This is class work. You will have 5 points subtracted for each day you waste time. If for some strange reason you run out of things to do, get a project from Ms Cook rather than lowering your grade. You will, naturally, also get points deducted for disturbing other students.

You will need to do some work at home, especially if you want a B or A (the school recommendation is 30 minutes per class three times per week or three hours for this unit). Don't do so much that you are unoccupied in class.

When you are ready to get checked off, show your work to Ms Cook (or the sub) as soon as she is available.

If she is busy, start working on something else while you wait!

Be prepared to answer some questions about your topic and/or how you did your project.

Projects may be done in any order.

You must be present to receive credit for lectures.

If you post to quia.com, send URL and your name to Ms Cook: janet_cook@pac.odedodea.edu

You may work quietly with one other person on these. Each person will be questioned about knowledge of the material covered.

Science fair project books are a good source of experiments. Experiments must be approved by Ms Cook and supervised by an adult for credit.

DO NOT LOSE THIS PAPER!!! It is the only record you have of your grade!!! Staple it to your in-class folder and NEVER remove it from the classroom. Take another copy with you on trips. You may keep your notes, worksheets, and other work in progress in your folder for easy access.

I'm sending parents the following letter:

Dear Environmental Science Parents:

Due to the mobile nature of the our students and the zillions of exciting programs coming up-Far East tournaments, Terra Nova and AP testing, journalism and science trips, etc., I am changing to a "Layered Curriculum" form of classwork. This was developed by a science teacher in Utah and used by many teachers nationwide with great success. My students in Colorado loved this format. More information on the layered curriculum theories are available at the class website.

What we will do is:

At the beginning of each unit, students will receive a handout listing a variety of activities, each giving them a certain number of points relative to the difficulty of the task. They can choose from any of the activities in order to learn about and demonstrate their knowledge of the topic. These activities will range from listening to lectures or tapes, watching videos, or reading a textbook to writing poems, making charts and posters, creating an original play or TV commercial, etc. Students are also encouraged to develop their own methods of presenting their work.

To receive a grade of "C" students will need to do enough projects to get 70 points of credit.

A "B" requires performing a laboratory experiment or similar activity related to the topic and earn at least 85 points.

To earn an "A" students must also perform some library-type research, report on their findings and earn at least 95 points.

It is possible to earn any grade in or out of the classroom. I will provide enough material at the start of each unit so that students who need to miss class for any reason can take what they need to do the work at home, on vacation, or at another base. Activities marked with a star (*) on the activity sheet should be easy enough to do outside of class.

The activity sheets will be posted on the class website:

http://www.homestead.com/envsciehs/EnvSciHomePage.html

and on our page of Schoolnotes.com.

You can always reach me with questions or comments at: janet_cook@pac.odedodea.edu

The current unit, Air Pollution, is at: http://envsciehs.homestead.com/AirPollCurr.html

Students should find it necessary to do some homework, especially if they want to receive an A or B. If they are not in class, they will also need to find an adult willing to supervise the lab they choose to do and sign it off on the lab sheet. Those doing the library research will need to be able to either access a public or school library and/or the Internet in order to copy current (less than 5 years old) information. Your cooperation is requested in such circumstances, as they may need a ride to a library or an hour of your time watching them perform a lab and ensuring their safety! Detailed instructions for all labs from class will be provided. Students may also design their own labs or get labs from science books at the library and use those instead, if they are approved first.

For students fortunate enough to stay in school daily, they MUST be working on class work all day, every day. They should not say, "I did mine at home, so I'm going to do xyz now." These activities are for doing in class and if they are "finished" they will be assigned extra credit work or given another project. Students deciding to be slothful, disruptive, or otherwise not cooperative will be assigned detention, have points removed from their total scores for the unit, and/or otherwise punished.

Thank you very much for your support and cooperation. You have a great bunch of kids. I am looking forward to an exciting and successful semester with them.

Janet K. Cook, Environmental Science Instructor, 226-4377 x 311

General Policies [on the unit sheet so the students have no doubt as to the rules! ]

All written work must be typed or neatly printed in dark blue or black ink. There are word processors available in the classroom. The computer labs and school and base libraries (you may use the base library Internet with adult supervision) available at lunch and after school.

All work is due by the end of class, the last day of the topic. If you have an unplanned, excused absence [illness], you get one extra day for each absent day. Prearranged absences, leaves, sports trips or other school sponsored trips are due the day after you return to school. Be sure to take your book and any articles (print them out before you leave or access a library or computer while you're gone) and/or lab procedures with you. Absences due to required activities in other classes or school testing will allow one extra day after the due date of the unit.