Introduction

You CAN make a difference!  How can you help to protect the air, water, and land?  How can you clean up the water you drink and the air you breathe?  How do you do to contribute to global warming and where does acid rain come from?  Everyday you make decisions that affect your environment. 

Are you ready to take affirmative action?  You will need to become an environmentalist, a political activists, an author, an artists, and a dramatist.  The choice is yours!
 
 

Your job as an environmental researcher will be to explore harmful attributes to the environment and what you can do to prevent or eliminate them. 
 
 

• design a Power Point presentation to describe the effects of acid rain?
• prepare a debate scenario which discusses the pros and cons of environmental issues;
• create an art project which demonstrates recycling;
• statistically analyze ratio of classroom recyclers;
• participate in an organized trash collection and;
• observe and document the occurrences of polluted areas; 
• write a two page point-of-view essay entitled "Should Students Participate in a Monthly School Wide Clean Up Program?"

Be aware of plagiarism!!

1.  Your first challenge is to visit the web site, http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/kids/difference.html

At this site, you need to:

• learn what acid rain and/or global warming is and its effects on the mountain environment
• find the definition of environment
• learn how you can make a difference 
• answer the question, "What is the BIG DEAL?"
• assess your knowledge of global warming by clicking on the word , shown here. Choose one of the games listed and upon completion, if applicable, print out your work to turn in.  If not, write a brief description of what you played.

Be sure to take good notes on the above information.  You will use them to create a Power Point presentation.  The presentation must have at least 6 slides and have at least 4 graphics. You will present your information to your classmates. 
 

2.  Form a group of 4-5 classmates (see teacher to approve group) and prepare a debate concerning environmental issues.  Examples are causes of air and water pollution, positive effects of recycling, cause and effect of the greenhouse effect and global warming on the environment, ozone depletion, and acid rain by exploring the following web sites: 

http://www.ems.org/air_pollution/ozone_environment.html

http://www.ems.org/air_pollution/for_the_consumer.html

http://www.grandfather.com/museum/acidrain.htm

http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide/New/new_basinwide_water_quality_mana.htm#ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY IN THE NEW RIVER BASIN
 
 

3.  Bring to class, newspapers that you and your family are no longer using.  We will complete an art project by making greeting cards from recycled newspaper.  The Art teacher will provide further instructions for this project. 
 

4.  Take a survey at home, or a friend's or relative's home, about recycling.  Find out what products they recycle (paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, cardboard, etc.).  Bring your results to class to conduct a class survey.  Make a chart of the occurrence of each recycled product.  Using a spreadsheet, you will input your information according the products and numbers, and make a chart/graph to represent your information.  Analyze your data and find out what percentage of people in your class recycle and what products are recycled most often.

Click here for an example.
 ../spreadsheet.xls

5.  As a class, we will take an environmental walk around campus and using the digital camera we will take pictures of occurrences of pollution on and around our school.  You may use these pictures in your Power Point presentation or make a collage.  We will also be involved in picking up trash around the school to make our school environment clean and refreshing.
 

6.  You must complete a two page point-of-view essay entitled "Should Students Participate in a Monthly School Wide Clean Up?"  You must have an introductory paragraph three supportive reasons, for or against, and a conclusion.  While writing your paper, keep in mind the research you have done and the information you have learned about the environment.
 

Click here for brainstorming map:
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/tcluster.htm
 

Click here for a writing check list:
http://www.abcteach.com/writing/checklist.htm
 
 

You will be evaluated according to this rubric. 

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Research	Resources are limited and not correctly cited.	A few resources are used, but seldom    cited.	Several  resources are  used.  Most resources  are  appropriately cited.	A wide variety of  resources are used and depicted during presentation. Resources are properly cited.
Art Project	Lacking organization.  Poor use of time.	Limited creativity and effort.	Some evidence of organization and structure.	Creative, well planned, demonstrates effort.
Power Point	Lacks resources and organization.	Resources are irrelevant and non linked.	Resources and information are present, yet disconnected.	Excellent use of resources, knowledge depicted in a creative way.
Active Participation	Failed to understand objective.	Participated somewhat, but short attention span.	Participated, but failed to present data.	Active participate, creative display of information.
Writing Project	No evidence of writing process.	Illegible writing, no evidence of organization.	Somewhat organized, lack of elaboration.	Exhibits all NC State Writing Standards.

By participating in making sure the environment is in the best condition and free of waste products, you CAN make a difference.  Being aware of pollutants, environmental hazards and issues, provide you with the armor to combat environmental crime and also teach others to be aware of their surroundings.

For more information on the environment, visit these sites:

http://www.cnie.org/nle/

http://www.p2pays.org/

We acknowledge the following web site:

http://environment.about.com/library/weekly/blpic5.htm