|
More Class Lessons for Chemistry Topics 2000
|
Keeping California Clean
|
Summary:
Students will be able to research and analyze specific information on their assigned topic on the internet. They will create their own PowerPoint presentation that includes the information they found. Students present their work to their classmates. Finally, they turn in a two page summary of their research along with their references.
There are five essential questions which must be included in their project:
1. Identify their topic and describe it as a renewable/nonrenewable resource.
2. Describe the technology used to harness the energy source.
3. List the pros and cons for the alternative energy resource.
4. State the % current usage of the alternative energy resource. Project the % usage for 2025.
5. Describe the federal/state government support for the energy source.
|
Grade Level: 10,11,12
Curricular Area:
Cbemistry and the Environment
Class Time Required:
3 days for research; 4 days for presentations (Estimated)
|
|
| Standards: |
My students are frequently unaware of the "big picture"--the consequences of man's interaction with his environment. This project forces the students to consider science-based societal issues. It strongly supports the content standard on Investigation and Experimentation.
|
|
| top |
| Learning and Teaching Activities: |
Students spend three weeks on petroleum/fossil fuels. They study about greenhouse gases generated by fossil fuels. They have little to no knowledge of alternative energy resources. This project gives them lots of science-related societal issues. Chemistry becomes very alive when they analyze problems which relate directly to their immediate neighborhood, e.g., smog from auto emissions, pathogens in beach water and damage to ecosystems from industry and urban sprawl. Although this is not "hard chemistry," it teaches them to be responsible and knowledgeable voters. They learn to research technical publication, analyze complex problems, evaluate the information and communicate their findings to others.
|
|
| top |
| Outcomes and Assessment: |
| 1. Students demonstrate ability to research the internet for specific information about their topics.
2. Students serve as experts/teachers about their specific topic for their peers. .
3. Students present a PowerPoint presentation that answers specific questions about their resource.
4. Students take an test on information on alternative fuels given in the PowerPoint presentations.
5. Students turn in a two-page written summary of information that they researched.
6. Student assessment is based on three factors:
the PowerPoint presentation, the oral presentation and the written summary of their projects.
7. Students will assess their peers' PowerPoint presentations by means of a criterion list.
|
|
| top |
| Materials Needed: |
Internet access, LCD projector for the computer, powerpoint software, handouts, printer.
|
|
| top |
| Resources: |
Resource 1
- Resource: Power Point
- URL/Publisher: Microsoft
- How Used: presentations
Resource 2
|
|
| top |
| Ideas for extending the lesson: |
This type of lesson could be applied to other topics in Environmental Science. Some suggestions for suitable topics: the Elements (Natural Resources), Atmospheric Chemistry, Land Management.
|
|
| top |
|
|
