Research Project An exploratory study Modeling environmental effects in the classroom

Environmental Themes: Climate Change/Climate Differences  Global Warming  CO 2 increase  Insolation  Water  Acid Rain  Ozone  Geologic differences

Global Warming How do we measure it?

History of Change in the U.S. It’s not the same everywhere

Carbon Dioxide Questions of fairness

Long-term Temperature Change The Earth was much warmer in the past.

Volcanoes, El Niño & Global Warming El Niño index Non-anthropogenic sources

Precipitation Change With climate change precipitation patterns change

Acid Rain The problems occur far away from the source

Ozone Pollutants are causing changes in trace molecules

Local Geology Do we put the lands to their best use?

Generating Experimental Ideas The Four Question Strategy Cothron, Giese, & Rezba. Students and Research. Kendall/Hunt What materials are readily available for conducting experiments on (plants)? Soils, Water, Radish Plants & Seeds, Light, Carbon Dioxide, Containers, … 2. How do (plants) act? Plants grow.

The Four Question Strategy 3. How can you change the set of (plant) materials to affect the action? Earth—type —compaction Air—composition —temperature 4. How can you measure or describe the response of (plants) to the change? Measure the height, Number that germinate, Count the number of leaves, Health of plant Water—method of application —amount —acidity Fire—amount of light —intensity of light 5. How does your experiment model the environment?