Lessons
Industrial Revolution
Guiding Questions
- Which two scientific advancements affected society the most?
- Why did the industrial revolution start in Great Britain?
Students will be grouped in fours. They will read and review primary source documents from this time period. The documents can be obtained on line by accessing the Library of Congress - sub topic Industrial Revolution. Students will discuss with group members and generate a chart depicting inventions found and their effect on society. The next day they will do a jigsaw activity with each member from the group joining another group. Students will then discuss their findings and choose which inventions had the most effect and create a time line representing those inventions. Assessment can be having the students write a cause and effect essay using the information from the time line.
Greenhouse gases
Guiding questions
- What are greenhouse gases?
- What benefits do they offer Earth?
- What happens when greenhouse gases increase in the atmosphere?
Lesson will exhibit a modified greenhouse effect increasing temperature.
Students will be paired up with each other and given two plastic cups or small jars. They will fill both containers with two to three inches of dirt (potting soil), and moisten the soil with water using a spray bottle. One of the container’s tops will be covered with plastic wrap and secured with a rubber band. In approximately 15 minute intervals “inside temperature” will be taken from both. The thermometers need to be above the soil line. When accessing the plastic covered container for temperature recording purposes pay careful attention to limiting outside exposure time- as you are reading and recording the inside temperature. Place your information in your notebook. On the next day, chart temperatures and times on graphs and discuss your findings.
Carbon Footprint
Guiding questions
- What impact does your footprint cause within your community?
- What are you going to do to commit to reduce your “prints” on a monthly basis?
There are four separate lessons in this unit. The Carbon Footprint worksheet found online at www.championenergyservices.com will start the students thinking about their involvement in the production of greenhouse gases.
“How Big is Your Carbon Footprint?” www.energystar.com, further explains the adverse effects carbon presents to their health, to the environment, and provides a comprehensive approach to protecting our environment. Students will find the carbon footprint (provided in the handout) to fill in along with the carbon footprint survey. Completion of the survey will draw a more realistic picture to their personal carbon consumption.
“How Big is Your Family’s Carbon Footprint?” invites students to color and label each family member’s footprints. Specific instructions are provided on how to chart the amount of carbon each family member produces.
Finally the “Go Green Family Challenge” will have family members pairing up and competing against each other to see who is the biggest carbon offender in their household. For single parents or guardians teams can be adjusted accordingly.
All of the above worksheets except for the Carbon Footprint worksheet are available from www.energystar.com website. The worksheet can be accessed through www.championenergyservices.com.
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