Process

Task 1: Think about it...

You might be thinking to yourself, "How much of an impact do I really have on the environment? I recycle most of the time, I'm not the problem it's other people."

Well, its time to find out: How energy efficient are you? Take the quiz. Each group member should take the quiz individually.

Think about it. Answer each question with a brief paragraph in your science journal with your reaction to these questions after taking the quiz. This is to be handed in to Mr. Grant.

  1. What is your impact on the environment?
  2. Are you really living a sustainable lifestyle?

  

Task 2: Research

You and your team must research your topic using the internet resources below. 

Note: if you wish to, you may find other sites than the ones provided. However, if you do so, be sure to record the URL (web address) of the sites in your science journal.

  1. INDIVIDUALLY: Visit all of the links for your group's assigned topic.
  2. Pick 3 of the links to become an "expert" on.
  3. INDIVIDUALLY: Research your 3 sites (make sure you know everything about your link). You will be talking about what you found out with your group members later.
  4. INDIVIDUALLY: For each of your 3 sites, record the 3 most interesting or important facts on the Website Research Recording Form. 
  5. You will act as a "guide" and teach your teammates about your link and its resources.
 

Task 3: T-Chart

Download the Energy Webquest T-Chart handout. Print 1 for each each group member and one extra for the final group copy (6 total).

  1. INDIVIDUALLY: After researching all of your links, each student should fill out the t-chart individually listing at least 5 ideas for conservation.
  2. INDIVIDUALLY: Explain the impact each of your ideas would have on the environment.
  3. Put your Individual T-Chart in your science duotang.
  4. AS A GROUP: Talk to your group members and compare ideas. Discuss your Individual T-Charts with your group members' charts and  select at least 5 common or interesting ideas to write on your Group T-Chart.
  5. AS A GROUP: Create a rough copy Group T-Chart on another copy of the Energy Webquest T-Chart with the best ideas from your individual T-Charts.
  6. AS A GROUP: Copy your Group T-Chart to chart paper. This will become part of your group presentation. Make this T-Chart look as good as you can as you will be presenting it to the class later.
  7. Hand in the rough copy of your Group T-Chart.
  8. Put your Individual T-Chart in your science duotang.

 

Contingent Activity 1

 If the computer lab is not available, print out this activity and complete with a partner. 
 
 

Task 4: Questions

As a group, pick a Team Recorder. The Team Recorder should have neat handwriting.

Working together as a group, answer the following questions on lined paper.

  1. What are renewable and non-renewable resources? In your own words, give a definition and an example of each. Is your topic a renewable or non-renewable resource? Why or why not?
  2. How are the words "sustainable" and "renewable resource" related? Are they related at all? Explain your answer.
  3. Why is your topic important and why do we need to conserve? State the problem(s) your group identified regarding your topic.
  4. What's currently being done about your problem(s)? What conservation programs are already in place? List 2 programs or conservation projects and explain in 1 sentence what each does.
  5. What are ways you can conserve?

You will turn in one group copy of questions 1-5 and a group t-chart, however, each student must also write the answers to questions 1-5 and place their Individual T-Charts into their science journals . 

Journals will be collected throughout the project to check progress.

 

Note: if you wish to, you may find other sites than the ones provided. However, if you do so, be sure to record the URL (web address) of the sites in your science journal.

Internet Resources:

Air Pollution

Video: Air Quality & Health


What is Air Pollution?

What causes Air Pollution?

Carbon in the Atmosphere

Air Pollution & The Greenhouse Effect

Kids Saving the Earth

 

 

Water Pollution

Video: Protecting Canada's Drinking Water


The Water Cycle

The Story of Water

Taking action in your community

Water Use in Canada

 

 

 

Fossil Fuels

Video: Alberta Oil Sands



Renewable vs Non-Renewable Energy

What makes Acid Rain?

Fossil Fuel Facts

Fossil Fuel Use in Canada

Fossil Fuels & Nuclear Fuels

 

 

Recycling

Video: Recycling in Ontario

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Recycling in Durham Region

Paper or Plastic?

Garbage & Recycling

Waste Managment

 

 

Energy Conservation

Video: Ways to Save Energy

Renewable vs Non-Renewable Energy

Energy Tips

Electricity in Ontario

What are LED light bulbs?

What is Geothermal Energy? 



Task 5: Brochure

Now that you finished your research, your team will create an informational brochure and presentation board to share with your classmates and Environment Canada representatives at the Environment Convention.

How to create your brochure using Microsoft Office:

  1. Go to your desktop and click on the Microsoft Office program icon
  2. Once Microsoft Office opens, select "Business Forms" and then click on "Brochures"
  3. Choose a template for your brochure from the list of pre-designed templates provided
Video: Here is a brief video on how to create a brochure in MS Word.
 

What to include in your brochure:

  1. A clear explanation of your topic and why it's an important issue.
  2. 3-5 important facts or statistics about your topic.
  3. What is currently being done to conserve your resource? List 2 programs currently in place and include a 1 sentence explanation about each program.
  4. 5 ideas of ways to conserve in every day life.
  5. What are some possible long term solutions to your problem?
  6. Include at least 3 pictures.
  7. List 2-3 internet resources (local, state, and national websites) where you can get additional information about your topic.
 

Task 6: Presentation Board

What to include in your presentation board:

At the Environment Convention you will present a workshop on your topic. Your presentation board should help you explain your topic at the workshop. It should include important attention grabbing facts you will use to expand and further explain your topic and informational brochure.

  1. You're presentation board should clearly state which topic you are covering.
  2. Include a short explanation of your topic.
  3. Include your 5 ideas of ways to conserve.
  4. Include at least 2 pictures.
  5. Include other information you think is important.


Task 7: Group Presentation

As a group, in a 5 minute presentation, present your presentation board and brochure to the class. After your groups presentation, your classmates should have a good understanding of your topic. 

 

 

Task 8: 3 Paragraph Essay

In a 3 paragraph essay explain what you think it means to live a "sustainable lifestyle". 

What is a natural resource and what is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources? 

Make sure to include concrete examples to help explain your argument using the ideas you learned from this project. 

Are you living currently a sustainable lifestyle? If so, what are you doing to help conserve? If not, what will you change in the future to reduce your impact?