Problem Based Learning Projects PA Projects

sun Global Warming and Climate Change

A feature at the American RadioWorks web site caught your attention. Reports from a Warming Planet
describes the effects of global warming that are being felt all over the planet.

question markConduct a survey of your class.

Do you think people's actions are causing global warming?

magnifying glass Explore some examples of the consequences of a prolonged rising temperature of the earth.

Examine why/how it is a problem.

 

What consequence does this process have for the common citizen or your community?

Actions:

Write a letter regarding this issue to one of the individuals that represent you in the U.S. Congress.

Tell them how you feel about this issue and what you believe should be done about it. Endeavor to cite
specific examples that relate to your community. Point to their previous voting record on relevant issues.

Your challenges include: finding their office address, using the correct salutation including title,
as well as, following appropriate business letter writing format.

*Many elected officials have an email form/link in their web site. It is reasonable to use this, in lieu of paper and postage, but format and style expectations remain the same. Write the letter in word processing. Edit it as needed.
Then copy .. paste it into the email form. Some have a maximum character limit to the emails.
If that is the case, write the formal letter. Then drop the address heading and date from it in the email.

OR Be a part of the change.

Your America: Take action resources

Look around your community or school campus. Identify an action that will contribute to mitigating the effects of global warming. It does not need to be a big action. Craft a plan regarding the action. Appeal to your community leaders, the memebrs of your family, the members of a club you below to, your student council, your school's administration and/or your school board to make the change.

Or Carbon Sequestration

Explain carbon sequestration and its role in climate change. How could your community get involved in carbon sequestration?

Set a SMART goal - (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results oriented, Time related.)

Or Make a VE video about the global warming issue.
(VE Rating - Very educational making a strong use of data and critical thinking skills.) Excellent examples: Requiem for the Honeybee from Charles Greene CSPAN Student Cam project, Down to the Last DROP from Madison Richards CSPAN Student Cam project

Further thinking:

The Yes Men - Examine this approach to dealing with the problem/issue.

Examples on : WTO/GATT | Dow- Union Carbide | Ice Age Petition new How to's for iMovie software

The number one cause of global warming isn't cars, but buildings.

 

“We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost's familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road / the one less traveled by / offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth.” Rachel Carson

Resources:

Global Warming at Time magazine online CSpan - thousand sof videos on political issues and government
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Only action produces change - Social Marketing
EPA's Climate Change Writing to persuade
Goldilocks and the Greenhouse movie THOMAS - legislative information from the Library of Congress
Accuweather Global Warming blog opensecrets.org
Fastest Glacier @ NOVA Now Alternative Energy Project
Global Climate changes Exploratorium USCAP A Call for action
Oil and gas royalties activity Crude Oil is more than gasoline
Oil Production Examining History - Finding the truth States and Energy Initiatives video Governors Assoc. Conf. CSPAN
Government, Statistics and the Media Pennsylvania Energy and Global Warming look into it
Exposing the Myth of Clean Coal Power Time Saving Energy Survey - Chart - Action
Center for Media and Democracy - PR Watch investigating and exposing public relations spin and propaganda USA.gov is the official web portal to all federal, state and local government web resources and services.
What should be America's Mood? What is yours? Toxic coal ash piling up in ponds in 32 states AP
Green Maps Around the World Coal Ash Spill raises questions New York Times
Alaska: The Senator and the Oil Man  
Capturing Carbon - Nova Science Now online video Jul. 2008
An eighth-grader's science fair project prompts her scientist father to develop a new way to pull excess carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Can a letter make a difference?

Look into the story of Sarah Josepha Hale. Her letter writing campaign is important to us every November.
Or consider the advocacies of Anna Jarvis and Rachel Carson.
Picking Letters, 10 a Day, That Reach Obama
Kids’ letter campaign spells end for green beans

 

Jobs related - The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs for Surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians grew by 21% in 2006 Much faster than average growth. Increasing demand for fast, accurate, and complete geographic information is expected to lead to new jobs for these workers.

Geoscientists jobs grew by 22% in 2006. Much faster than average growth. The need for energy, environmental protection, and land and water management is expected to spur growth. Those with a master’s degree should have excellent opportunities, especially in the management, scientific, and technical consulting industry. Budget constraints are expected to limit opportunities in governments.

Rubric template - teacher resource

Problem Based Learning Projects / Internet Hunts / Nature / Computers / Pennsylvania Projects / Puzzles & Projects / Home

developed by Cynthia J. O'Hora Released to public domain and Posted 1/2007

tree icon Use a Digital Answer Format : Highlight the text of the questions on this web page, copy them - Edit .. Copy. Open a text document or word processing document. Paste the questions into the blank document. Answer the questions in the word processing document in a contrasting color (not yellow)or font ( avoid fancy fonts like: black, Symbol, dearform fomnt or broad. Save frequently as you work. I do not like losing my work. You will not like it either. Put your name and the date in a header. Bad things happen. Retain a copy of your work on your computer.

Proof your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work. smiling icon Make Your Own Printed answer sheet.

Tech Tip: Working in a group or in two different places like the library & home? You do not have to be physically together to work together. gold starWatch Google Docs video TAI - How could you use free, Google Docs to do a project? How would this facilitate group projects?