Mr. Vazquez
IS 174
Average global
temperature has increased by almost 1ºF over the past century; scientists expect the
average global temperature to increase an additional 2 to 6ºF over the next one
hundred years. This may not sound like much, but it could change the Earth's climate
as never before. At the peak of the last ice age (18,000 years ago), the
temperature was only 7ºF colder than it is today, and glaciers covered
much of
Even a small increase in
temperature over a long time can change the climate. When the climate changes,
there may be big changes in the things that people depend on. These things
include the level of the oceans and the places where we plant crops. They also
include the air we breathe and the water we drink.
All climate changes
occur naturally. However, during the
Industrial Revolution, we began altering our climate and environment through
changing agriculture and industrial practices.
Before the industrial revolution, human activities released very few gases
into the atmosphere. But, now through
population growth, fossil fuel burning, and deforestation, we have altered the chemical composition of atmosphere
through the buildup of greenhouse gases, primary carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrogen oxide. The function of these
gases is to trap the heat that goes back to the atmosphere. Without the natural greenhouse effect,
temperature would be much lower than they are now. However, problems may arise when the
atmosphere concentration of greenhouse gases increases. An example of such can
be found in weather patterns.
You have been assigned the task of investigator
for the Federal Government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You will write a report investigating the
problem of global warming and pollution. You will then come up with public
policy solutions.
Your
solutions may make others aware and together, you can help save our planet.
1.
You will research to find the answer as to
how an increase in the greenhouse gases would affect the normal average of
temperature.
2.
You will use the public analyst and the worksheets to find evidence of as to why
this problem exists
3.
You will write a report of two pages
to develop public policies that you think will help to reduce this problem. You
will double space and use MS word.
4.
You will present your findings in the form
an oral report to the class. The class will act as the EPA board.
1. You will familiarize yourself with the six
public analysis worksheet before writing your written
and oral
report http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tip
2. You will take an online survey about the
cause and effect of global warming
3. You
will be assigned to a group of three or four students.
4. Each group will investigate four or five websites
listed below and additional two that are not listed.
5.
As you go trough the website focus on the
following questions and guidelines.
a)
Download any charts, tables, graph and statistics about the cause and effect of
greenhouse gases.
b)
In your introduction, you will explain what greenhouse gases and their effect
affect on global warming.
c)
How are human activities altering greenhouse gases?
d)
How an increase in greenhouse gases affect humans and biodiversity
e) What policies are already in existences to
regulated the greenhouse gases and conserve the normal
average
temperature.
f)
What things we can do to help prevent global warming.
You will form groups of g people who want to work
together to complete the assignment:
Research Report (Public Policy Analysis)
1: DEFINING THE
PROBLEM OF GREENHOUSE GASES
2: GATHERING THE
EVIDENCE WORKSHEET
3: FINDING THE
CAUSES FOR THE PROBLEM
4. DETERMINING
EXISITING PUBLIC POLICES
You will use
these worksheets for completing your written and oral reports.
The following links can be used to help you complete the worksheets:
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) for kids
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)-climate
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)-action
Environmental
Web on Global Warming
The
Whitehouse & Global Warming
By
using the PPA web quest, students will have learned content and process. They are now able to explore the internet and
use the computer for academic research.
By exploring the internet, students have learned how to down load
charts, table, graph and statically and relate them to the problem greenhouse
gases. They now have some idea about the effectiveness of creating public
policy and its importance in solving major environmental problems. One of which
is the problem facing mankind today: Global Warming
|
Criteria |
Excellent 3 |
Good 2 |
Poor 1 |
Pts |
|
Gathering Information: PPA |
Problem is identified and researched
thoroughly. All steps of the PPA are
addressed and the handouts are complete.
|
Problem
is identified and researched. All six steps of the PPA are
addressed. Most worksheets are
completed correctly. |
Problem is identified and partially
researched. Some of the worksheets are
incomplete. |
|
|
Research Paper: Content |
All of the required topics are addressed
thoroughly in the paper. Content is
accurate and ideas are supported well by research. |
All of the required topics are addressed
in the paper, however, some topics could have been
researched more thoroughly. Content is
accurate. |
All of the topics are not addressed in
the paper. More than two topics are not covered in
enough detail. Content is inaccurate. |
|
|
Oral Presentation |
Each person participates in the
presentation. Students speak clearly
and address the question completely. |
Each person participates, however the
presentation is unclear at times. The
question is answered completely. |
One or two people present. The flow of the presentation is unclear. Questions are not answered completely. |
|
Total Possible Points: 18 Total
Points Earned:____
15-18pts = A 12-15pts = B 9-12pts = C
5-8pts = D Below 5pts =
F
Science Standard 1:
The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of
natural phenomena in a continuing, creative process.
Science Standard 4, Key Idea 5:
Plants and animals depend on each other and their physical environment
Science Standard 4, Key Idea 6:
Human decisions and activities have had a profound impact on the
physical and living environment.
English Language Arts Standard 1:
As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas, discover relationships, concepts, and
generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and
electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and
written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.
