Renewable Energy

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 07.05.03

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Part I: Atomic Inventory and Classification of Matter
  3. Part II: Nomenclature and Reactions
  4. Part III: Global Warming and Stoichiometry
  5. Part IV: The Energy Potential of Biodiesel
  6. Sample Activity 1
  7. Sample Activity 2
  8. Sample Activity 3
  9. Sample Activity 4
  10. Implementing District Standards
  11. Annotated Bibliography
  12. Suggested Additional Readings for Educators and Students

Environmentalists and Chemists Unite: A Chemistry Class for our Changing World

Cherisse Campbell

Published September 2007

Tools for this Unit:

Sample Activity 4

(Part IV: The Energy Potential of Biodiesel)

Critical Reading of Biofuel's Big Bean. Utne Magazine July 2007 p. 68

  • How has eastern Paraguay changed since the amount of soybean farms increased?
  • What were some of the human affects that the author mentioned as a result of the increase in soybean farms in eastern Paraguay?
  • What happened to the animals?
  • Who owns most of the land in Paraguay?
  • Why is the demand for soy increasing?
  • In what other countries are soy farms growing and what are some of the effects in those countries?
  • Why does the author believe that some biotechnology companies are attracted to these countries?
  • What impact does replacing rainforests with soybean plants have on the balance of carbon dioxide?
  • How has the Ramirez family been impacted by the soybean farms?
  • How has the growth of the soy industry impacted Paraguay's campesino leaders?
  • Why do you think that this trend will continue or end?
  • Do you think that the benefits of biodiesel outweigh the problems that the farmers in South America are enduring?
  • How might the problems currently in South America possibly affect you and your community?

Comments:

Ayla Arsel Wilk

March 22, 2022 at 11:58 pm

This is incredible!

Thank you so much for preparing this curriculum! I have been looking for a way to better integrate Earth Science into my school's project-based curriculum and this is exactly the type of resource I would need to do so! I would be very interested in hearing more about how you prepared and tested this curriculum, and would love to collaborate on future curriculum projects!

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