Description
Book SynopsisThis timely update of the popular
Environmental Science Activities Kit includes more than 35 lessons for middle and high school science teachers on the most compelling and relevant environmental topics, such as global warming, food and water production, alternative energy sources, endangered species, land-use issues, and many more.
Table of ContentsAbout Environmental Education and This Resource Book v
Using the Environmental Science Activities Kit xviii
A Few Words About Safety xxii
Unit One: Human Issues
Activity 1. Population—More Is Less 2
1.1 Population—More Is Less: Background Information 11
1.2 Population—More Is Less: Instructions 12
1.3 Population—More Is Less: Questions 15
1.4 Population—More Is Less: Instructor’s Data Sheet 17
Activity 2. Food? What Food? 18
2.1 Food? What Food? Background Information 25
2.2 Food? What Food? Questions 26
Activity 3. We “Auto” Drive Less 27
3.1 We “Auto” Drive Less: Background Information 34
3.2 We “Auto” Drive Less: Instructions 36
3.3 We “Auto” Drive Less: Questions 40
Activity 4. Toxics in the Home 41
4.1 Toxics in the Home: Background Information 48
4.2 Toxics in the Home: Instructions and Data 50
4.3 Toxics in the Home: Questions 51
Activity 5. Wants and Needs 52
5.1 Wants and Needs: Background Information 59
5.2 Wants and Needs: Instructions and Data 60
5.3 Wants and Needs: Questions 63
Activity 6. What’s Happening? 64
6.1 What’s Happening? Background Information 71
6.2 What’s Happening? Instructions and Article Cover Sheet 73
6.3 What’s Happening? Questions 74
Activity 7. Think Globally, Act Locally 75
7.1 Think Globally, Act Locally: Background Information 80
7.2 Think Globally, Act Locally: Instructions 82
7.3 Think Globally, Act Locally: Questions 84
Activity 8. Do It! 86
8.1 Do It! Background Information 94
8.2 Do It! Instructions 95
8.3 Do It! Project Description 96
8.4 Do It! Questions 97
8.5 Do It! Project Ideas 98
Unit Two: Land Use Issues
Activity 9. Surface Mining 102
9.1 Surface Mining: Background Information 110
9.2 Surface Mining: Instructions and Data 111
9.3 Surface Mining: Questions 113
Activity 10. Why Recycle? 114
10.1 Why Recycle? Background Information 121
10.2 Why Recycle? Instructions and Data 123
10.3 Why Recycle? Questions 125
Activity 11. Soil Compaction 126
11.1 Soil Compaction: Background Information 134
11.2 Soil Compaction: Instructions and Data 135
11.3 Soil Compaction: Questions 136
Activity 12. What Price Open Space? 137
12.1 What Price Open Space? Background Information 143
12.2 What Price Open Space? Instructions 144
12.3 What Price Open Space? Questions 148
Activity 13. Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? 149
13.1 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Background Information 155
13.2 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Research Assignment 158
13.3 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Questions 161
Activity 14. Runoff Research 162
14.1 Runoff Research: Background Information 170
14.2 Runoff Research: Instructions 171
14.3 Runoff Research: Questions 173
Unit Three: Wildlife Issues
Activity 15. Habitats—The Choice Is Yours 176
15.1 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Background Information 184
15.2 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Instructions and Planning Map 185
15.3 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Questions 187
Activity 16. Microhabitats 188
16.1 Microhabitats: Background Information 195
16.2 Microhabitats: Data 196
16.3 Microhabitats: Questions 197
Activity 17. Longitudinal Studies 198
17.1 Longitudinal Studies: Background Information 206
17.2 Longitudinal Studies: Instructions and Data 207
17.3 Longitudinal Studies: Questions 209
Activity 18. Saltwater Intrusion 210
18.1 Saltwater Intrusion: Background Information 217
18.2 Saltwater Intrusion: Instructions and Data 219
18.3 Saltwater Intrusion: Questions 220
Activity 19. Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? 221
19.1 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Data Graphing Activity 228
19.2 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Background Information 230
19.3 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Questions 232
Activity 20. Endangered Species II—Who Cares? 233
20.1 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Background Information 239
20.2 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Assignments 240
20.3 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Questions 242
Unit Four: Water Issues
Activity 21. Oil Spill! 244
21.1 Oil Spill! Background Information 253
21.2 Oil Spill! Data 255
21.3 Oil Spill! Questions 257
Activity 22. Water Treatment 258
22.1 Water Treatment: Background Information 266
22.2 Water Treatment: Instructions and Data 268
22.3 Water Treatment: Questions 269
Activity 23. “Water” We Going to Do? 270
23.1 “Water” We Going to Do? Background Information 277
23.2 “Water” We Going to Do? Personal Water Use Data 279
23.3 “Water” We Going to Do? Home Water Conservation Survey 280
23.4 “Water” We Going to Do? Questions 282
Unit Five: Atmospheric Issues
Activity 24. Detecting Air Pollution 284
24.1 Detecting Air Pollution: Background Information 291
24.2 Detecting Air Pollution: Instructions and Data 293
24.3 Detecting Air Pollution: Questions 295
Activity 25. Acidic Precipitation 296
25.1 Acidic Precipitation: Background Information 305
25.2 Acidic Precipitation: Instructions and Data 306
25.3 Acidic Precipitation: Questions 307
Activity 26. Global Warming 308
26.1 Global Warming: Background Information 317
26.2 Global Warming: Instructions and Data 320
26.3 Global Warming: Questions 322
Unit Six: Energy Issues
Activity 27. Food Chains 324
27.1 Food Chains: Background Information 331
27.2 Food Chains: Questions 333
Activity 28. We’re All in the Web 337
28.1 We’re All in the Web: Background Information 345
28.2 We’re All in the Web: Questions 346
Activity 29. Hidden Energy Uses 347
29.1 Hidden Energy Uses: Background Information 354
29.2 Hidden Energy Uses: Instructions 355
29.3 Hidden Energy Uses: Questions 356
Activity 30. “Watts” the Cost? 357
30.1 “Watts” the Cost? Background Information 364
30.2 “Watts” the Cost? Instructions and Data 366
30.3 “Watts” the Cost? Questions 369
30.4 “Watts” the Cost? Parent Letter 370
Activity 31. Conserve a Watt 371
31.1 Conserve a Watt: Background Information 377
31.2 Conserve a Watt: Instructions and Data 378
31.3 Conserve a Watt: Questions 381
31.4 Some Ways to Conserve Energy 382
Activity 32. Keep the Heat! 385
32.1 Keep the Heat! Background Information 392
32.2 Keep the Heat! Instructions and Data 394
32.3 Keep the Heat! Questions 396
Activity 33. Catch the Sun! 397
33.1 Catch the Sun! Background Information 404
33.2 Catch the Sun! Instructions and Data 405
33.3 Catch the Sun! Questions 407
Activity 34. Fossil Fuel Extraction 408
34.1 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Background Information 414
34.2 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Instructions and Data 416
34.3 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Questions 417
Activity 35. The Nuclear Power Puzzle 418
35.1 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Background Information 427
35.2 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Instructions and Puzzles 428
35.3 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Questions 434
Activity 36. Biofuels 435
36.1 Biofuels: Background Information 445
36.2 Biofuels: Instructions 447
36.3 Biofuels: Questions 448
Activity 37. Energy Alternatives 451
37.1 Energy Alternatives: Background Information 464
37.2 Energy Alternatives: Instructions 466
37.3 Energy Alternatives: Questions 468
Appendix I: Governmental Agencies 470
Appendix II: Selected Private Environmental Organizations 472
Appendix III: Helpful Web Sites 474
Appendix IV: How to Write for Information 475
Appendix V: How to Write a Letter to a Governmental Official 477
Appendix VI: Local Environmental Investigations 480
Resources 483
