Environmental Science Activities Kit: Ready-to-Use Lessons, Labs, and Worksheets for Grades 7-12, 2nd Edition

About Environmental Education and This Resource Book v

Using the Environmental Science Activities Kit xviii

A Few Words About Safety xxii

Unit One: Human Issues

Activity 1. Population—More Is Less 2

1.1 Population—More Is Less: Background Information 11

1.2 Population—More Is Less: Instructions 12

1.3 Population—More Is Less: Questions 15

1.4 Population—More Is Less: Instructor’s Data Sheet 17

Activity 2. Food? What Food? 18

2.1 Food? What Food? Background Information 25

2.2 Food? What Food? Questions 26

Activity 3. We “Auto” Drive Less 27

3.1 We “Auto” Drive Less: Background Information 34

3.2 We “Auto” Drive Less: Instructions 36

3.3 We “Auto” Drive Less: Questions 40

Activity 4. Toxics in the Home 41

4.1 Toxics in the Home: Background Information 48

4.2 Toxics in the Home: Instructions and Data 50

4.3 Toxics in the Home: Questions 51

Activity 5. Wants and Needs 52

5.1 Wants and Needs: Background Information 59

5.2 Wants and Needs: Instructions and Data 60

5.3 Wants and Needs: Questions 63

Activity 6. What’s Happening? 64

6.1 What’s Happening? Background Information 71

6.2 What’s Happening? Instructions and Article Cover Sheet 73

6.3 What’s Happening? Questions 74

Activity 7. Think Globally, Act Locally 75

7.1 Think Globally, Act Locally: Background Information 80

7.2 Think Globally, Act Locally: Instructions 82

7.3 Think Globally, Act Locally: Questions 84

Activity 8. Do It! 86

8.1 Do It! Background Information 94

8.2 Do It! Instructions 95

8.3 Do It! Project Description 96

8.4 Do It! Questions 97

8.5 Do It! Project Ideas 98

Unit Two: Land Use Issues

Activity 9. Surface Mining 102

9.1 Surface Mining: Background Information 110

9.2 Surface Mining: Instructions and Data 111

9.3 Surface Mining: Questions 113

Activity 10. Why Recycle? 114

10.1 Why Recycle? Background Information 121

10.2 Why Recycle? Instructions and Data 123

10.3 Why Recycle? Questions 125

Activity 11. Soil Compaction 126

11.1 Soil Compaction: Background Information 134

11.2 Soil Compaction: Instructions and Data 135

11.3 Soil Compaction: Questions 136

Activity 12. What Price Open Space? 137

12.1 What Price Open Space? Background Information 143

12.2 What Price Open Space? Instructions 144

12.3 What Price Open Space? Questions 148

Activity 13. Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? 149

13.1 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Background Information 155

13.2 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Research Assignment 158

13.3 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Questions 161

Activity 14. Runoff Research 162

14.1 Runoff Research: Background Information 170

14.2 Runoff Research: Instructions 171

14.3 Runoff Research: Questions 173

Unit Three: Wildlife Issues

Activity 15. Habitats—The Choice Is Yours 176

15.1 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Background Information 184

15.2 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Instructions and Planning Map 185

15.3 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Questions 187

Activity 16. Microhabitats 188

16.1 Microhabitats: Background Information 195

16.2 Microhabitats: Data 196

16.3 Microhabitats: Questions 197

Activity 17. Longitudinal Studies 198

17.1 Longitudinal Studies: Background Information 206

17.2 Longitudinal Studies: Instructions and Data 207

17.3 Longitudinal Studies: Questions 209

Activity 18. Saltwater Intrusion 210

18.1 Saltwater Intrusion: Background Information 217

18.2 Saltwater Intrusion: Instructions and Data 219

18.3 Saltwater Intrusion: Questions 220

Activity 19. Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? 221

19.1 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Data Graphing Activity 228

19.2 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Background Information 230

19.3 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Questions 232

Activity 20. Endangered Species II—Who Cares? 233

20.1 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Background Information 239

20.2 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Assignments 240

20.3 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Questions 242

Unit Four: Water Issues

Activity 21. Oil Spill! 244

21.1 Oil Spill! Background Information 253

21.2 Oil Spill! Data 255

21.3 Oil Spill! Questions 257

Activity 22. Water Treatment 258

22.1 Water Treatment: Background Information 266

22.2 Water Treatment: Instructions and Data 268

22.3 Water Treatment: Questions 269

Activity 23. “Water” We Going to Do? 270

23.1 “Water” We Going to Do? Background Information 277

23.2 “Water” We Going to Do? Personal Water Use Data 279

23.3 “Water” We Going to Do? Home Water Conservation Survey 280

23.4 “Water” We Going to Do? Questions 282

Unit Five: Atmospheric Issues

Activity 24. Detecting Air Pollution 284

24.1 Detecting Air Pollution: Background Information 291

24.2 Detecting Air Pollution: Instructions and Data 293

24.3 Detecting Air Pollution: Questions 295

Activity 25. Acidic Precipitation 296

25.1 Acidic Precipitation: Background Information 305

25.2 Acidic Precipitation: Instructions and Data 306

25.3 Acidic Precipitation: Questions 307

Activity 26. Global Warming 308

26.1 Global Warming: Background Information 317

26.2 Global Warming: Instructions and Data 320

26.3 Global Warming: Questions 322

Unit Six: Energy Issues

Activity 27. Food Chains 324

27.1 Food Chains: Background Information 331

27.2 Food Chains: Questions 333

Activity 28. We’re All in the Web 337

28.1 We’re All in the Web: Background Information 345

28.2 We’re All in the Web: Questions 346

Activity 29. Hidden Energy Uses 347

29.1 Hidden Energy Uses: Background Information 354

29.2 Hidden Energy Uses: Instructions 355

29.3 Hidden Energy Uses: Questions 356

Activity 30. “Watts” the Cost? 357

30.1 “Watts” the Cost? Background Information 364

30.2 “Watts” the Cost? Instructions and Data 366

30.3 “Watts” the Cost? Questions 369

30.4 “Watts” the Cost? Parent Letter 370

Activity 31. Conserve a Watt 371

31.1 Conserve a Watt: Background Information 377

31.2 Conserve a Watt: Instructions and Data 378

31.3 Conserve a Watt: Questions 381

31.4 Some Ways to Conserve Energy 382

Activity 32. Keep the Heat! 385

32.1 Keep the Heat! Background Information 392

32.2 Keep the Heat! Instructions and Data 394

32.3 Keep the Heat! Questions 396

Activity 33. Catch the Sun! 397

33.1 Catch the Sun! Background Information 404

33.2 Catch the Sun! Instructions and Data 405

33.3 Catch the Sun! Questions 407

Activity 34. Fossil Fuel Extraction 408

34.1 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Background Information 414

34.2 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Instructions and Data 416

34.3 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Questions 417

Activity 35. The Nuclear Power Puzzle 418

35.1 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Background Information 427

35.2 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Instructions and Puzzles 428

35.3 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Questions 434

Activity 36. Biofuels 435

36.1 Biofuels: Background Information 445

36.2 Biofuels: Instructions 447

36.3 Biofuels: Questions 448

Activity 37. Energy Alternatives 451

37.1 Energy Alternatives: Background Information 464

37.2 Energy Alternatives: Instructions 466

37.3 Energy Alternatives: Questions 468

Appendix I: Governmental Agencies 470

Appendix II: Selected Private Environmental Organizations 472

Appendix III: Helpful Web Sites 474

Appendix IV: How to Write for Information 475

Appendix V: How to Write a Letter to a Governmental Official 477

Appendix VI: Local Environmental Investigations 480

Resources 483