Webquest: acid rain.

Joseph Mahabir

Living Environment Class

APRIL, 2003

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

Introduction:

“Hey, stop the car! Look at that beautiful lake! What a marvelous sight! It looks so clean and calm. The water is clear and inviting. Let’s have our picnic right here! But, hey! Where are the fish? There are hardly any plants around! This is very strange, there is no sign of life here!” This is a common situation in the lakes of the North Eastern parts of the USA. What is the cause of this phenomenon? Acid Rain. It also erodes many of our historical monuments, buildings and even our clothing left outside in the rain.

http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/

What causes acid rain? The gases such as sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, which are produced from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal in our power plants and gasoline in automobiles. These gases are also produced when we burn fossil fuels in industrial boilers, smelters, paper mills chemical plants, and even from petroleum refineries. Sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides combine with water vapor in the air and rain to form sulfuric and nitric acids respectively. These are very strong acids and when they get into lakes they cause havoc. This is prevalent especially during the spring when, the rain washes molten snow into the lakes and rivers. A heavy rush of acids, occur that changes the pH of the water suddenly. This is called “Acid shock” and it really does harm the living things. The acids weaken the eggshells of the fish and even cause the embryos that hatch to be deformed or become sterile. The food chains in the ecosystem are all disrupted and soon animals are very few or no more in the lake. The acids also destroy the roots of trees and can damage entire forests thus destroying the habitats of many living things. Now man depends on many of these ecosystems for food, medicines, and recreation, so this is a social problem for us.

Imagine you have been selected by the Federal Government as a Public Policy Analyst (PPA) to investigate this social problem and develop effective and feasible solutions. How will you carry out this very important study?

The work as a public policy analyst is explained below. You can access the various parts of the article to find out further information.

Welcome to the Public Policy Analyst (PPA)

PPA U.S. Contemporary Public Policy Analyst IPPA International Public Policy Analyst AHPPA American History Public Policy Analyst GHPPA Global History Public Policy Analyst

A public policy is a government action usually intended to deal with a social problem. Every day policies are enacted in your school, city, state, country and throughout the world that will affect your life. Consider these examples: Central High School requires drug-testing for student athletes Your state enacts tougher graduation requirements The federal government enacts a tax cut The United Nations authorizes military intervention involving U.S. troops Policy decisions play a very large part in shaping our American and global history, as well as a member of today’s global community, it is essential to have the skills related to analyzing historical and current public policy issues. The four versions of the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) in the left column will guide you through the problem solving skills necessary to study historical and current American and global public policy issues. Since public policy affects all aspects of life, these skills can be used not only in social studies courses, but also in subjects such as science and language arts. In addition to policy skills, you will also be learning how to effectively use the Internet to research and gather information, engage in collaborative problem solving, and communicate with knowledgeable people regarding your public policy issue. These technology skills will help you now as a student and after you graduate.

Project TIPS CompuLEGAL Ask A LEGAL Eagle CRITICAL Lessons Public Policy Analyst

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

Define the Problem

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

YOUR TASK:

You will use the six steps of the PPA to produce a research paper of at least three typewritten pages (of not less than 10 point typing) and a power point presentation of at least six slides to describe the following:

1. How acid rain is produced.

2. How acid rain causes problems in the environment.

3. Quote at least three pieces of supporting evidence to show the relationship between acid rain and the problems you described.

4. Explain and evaluate the existing Public Policies on how the problems can be reduced.

5. Select and evaluate three other recommendations on how the problems can be reduced.

6. Create a Power Point presentation of at least six frames to support your written report.

7. Answer the questions in the worksheets given below:

8. Present your power point slides and research to the rest of your class.

9. Identify the New York State ELA, SS, Science and Math. Standards you used during your project.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet4.doc

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet5.doc

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet6.doc

PROCESS:

You will work in groups of three-four to carry out a research project on this problem. Each partner will be responsible for performing a particular task as a Public Policy Analyst as you follow the six steps of the PPA. You will then discuss collaboratively in your teams the policies you would recommend to solve the environmental problems: This is how you can carry out your project:

! Use the Internet and library to do the research of each item described in the task section.

! Use the websites listed below to gather information and analyze the problem.

! Collaborate with your team members to arrive at refined answers to each item in the “Task” section.

! Describe at least three other problems associated with acid rain in your research.

! Discuss the existing public policies on problems related to acid rain and also your recommendations for solutions.

! Produce a typewritten report of at least three pages describing the findings of your research.

! Produce at least six slides in a power point presentation to highlight the main parts of your report and analysis.

! Briefly identify the NY State Standards that you used during your research.

! Allow at least five minutes for questions and answers from the audience.

RESOURCES: Here are some useful websites for your project:

http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/acidrain/society/index.html

http://www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain/

http://www.pepa.com.hk/problems/air_pollution/problems_e.html

http://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/

Your can also use your Holt Environmental Science and Living Environment texts and other reference books, journals and magazines.

EVALUATION:

Your group will be evaluated based on your level of performance in the following areas:

Ø Evidence of research using the Internet and other reference materials (5 pts).

Ø Description and analysis of the web articles (10 pts).

Ø Evidence of teamwork (5 pts).

Ø Description of the health problems associated with the urban crises (5 pts)

Ø Analysis of the existing Public Policies on this problem situation (5 pts).

Ø Recommendations for possible solutions to this problem (5 pts).

Ø The written research paper (20 pts).

Ø The six slides of the Power Point presentation (20 pts).

Ø The oral presentation of your Power Point and research paper (20 pts).

Ø Identification of the New York State standards in

(a) ELA, (b) SS, (c) Science, (d) Math that were covered during this activity (5 pts).

http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~elaine.coxon/rubrics.htm (Rubrics)

http://webquest.sdsu.edu/designsteps/index.html