Astma & Air Pollution

Morey Chalfin

Roosevelt High School

Introduction

During the past few years, a great deal of publicity has been given to ASTMA and the devastation effect it has on people living in the Bronx.

What causes these problems to a large majority of people in the Bronx and what phenomena in the environment is creating these terrible health problems?

You are going to take on the role of newspaper reporter.

You will investigate the pollutants that are causing the terrible health problems and determine if what pollutants have affect our health and why.

Task

1. You are to prepare a news article on air pollution for a local newspaper in the Bronx . You will need to include the following:

• What are the types of pollutants are being placed in the atmosphere in the Bronx?
• What is causing this pollution?
• What are the major dangers of these pollutants.? Include, dangers to the environment and to personal health.
• What are some signs of pollution in our air?
• What is being done to protect citizens of this problem?
• What are some better solutions to the problem?

2. Using Power point prepare a slide show summarizing your findings.

The Process

You will work in groups of four. Each will have a specific job

One person is to define the problem and gather evidence on air pollution.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/gather.html

One person is to find the causes of pollution in our environment

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/identify.html

One person is to find out what is presently being done to clean up the air.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/existing.html

One person is to gather pictures and graphs to support the other members’ findings

Use the links found under resources

Together develop a better solution to this problem.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/bestsol.html

You will use the internet links to gather information necessary for the

task at hand

Resources

http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/air_risc/3_90_023.html

http://www.lungusa.org/air/envmajairpro.html

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/vehsafe.htm

http://www.scorecard.org/community/index.tclip_code=10455

http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/public/press98/mr126-98.html

Encarta Encyclopedia

http://www.transalt.org

http://www.nsc.org/ehc/mobile/airpollu.htm

Evaluation

Excellent Grade A

more than 11 slides

more than 5 graphics(sketches, graphs ,and pictures included)

3 or more interesting facts

Written news article which answers all five questions

Advance Grade B

9-10 slides

4 graphics

1 or 2 interesting facts on pollution and its causes

written news article with 4 questions answered

Acceptable Grade C

7-8 slides

3 graphics

basic information

written news article with three questions partially answered

Novice Grade D

less than 6 slides

2 graphics

basic description of problem

written news article that has less than 3 questions answered

Conclusion

You have learned that air pollution is caused by many factors, The most

important is the incomplete burning of fossil fuels. In addition, you should

have found out the main causes of pollution in the Bronx. .Have you found out

what is being done to clean up the air in your neighborhood?

Standards

The following standards in the 9th grade science will be met by completing

this assignment :

• {I} Demonstrates understanding of properties and changes of properties in matter.
• {II} Scientific connections and applications
• {III} Scientific investigation and exploration
• {IV} explore and obtain Records and stores data using a variety of formats
• {V} see how scientist communicate Scientific data
• {VI}Demonstrates scientific understanding of the data that you find by completing field work