First Week of School!
The semester has started off on a great note! Here is a quick look at what we have done this week.
Dynamics of the Biosphere NotesWe have gone over most of the notes about the biosphere. This includes history of environmental issues and. environmental problems.
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First Current EventYou were either given or you chose an article and did a current event about it. The article was either about Beluga Whales or about Forest Fires.
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Pyramid Cup ChallengeYou did this with either 2 or 3 others where you built a pyramid out of 6 cups without using your hands.
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You need to have your 1.5-2 inch binder with 12 dividers monday! This is your HW!
Monday August 8th, 2016
Today we finished notes over they dynamics of the biosphere and the major themes of environmental science. Your HW is to have your binder with 12 dividers!!!!
Tuesday August 9th, 2016
Today we explored the major themes of environmental science and the cycles of matter.
Wednesday August 10th, 2016
Today we finished the cycles of matter and watched the Lorax. Keep in mind we will do a project about the movie.
Thursday August 11th, 2016
Today we took the pre-test and watched the Lorax.
Friday August 12th, 2016
1st- Finished the Lorax
2nd- Finished the Lorax and did the Poster
2nd- Finished the Lorax and did the Poster
Links for Food Web Webquest
- http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorer/ecosystems/be_an_explorer/map/foodweb_play.html
- http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/food/food_menu.html
- http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/foodchaingame.html
- http://www.iknowthat.com/ScienceIllustrations/foodchains/science_desk.swf
- http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/foodpuzzlechain.html
- http://www.blue-iceberg.com/rutgersfoodweb/food_web_game.html
Links for Populations WebQuest
http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_population.html
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep12.htm
http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
http://www.demographia.com/db-2000stater.htm
http://desip.igc.org/mapanim.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worldbalance/numbers.html
http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep12.htm
http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
http://www.demographia.com/db-2000stater.htm
http://desip.igc.org/mapanim.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worldbalance/numbers.html
Cycles of Matter Web Quest
Instructions: Click on the links or copy and paste them into an URL browser to access the information for each section of this web quest.
You can either:
Introduction
Precipitation, evaporation and condensation are all terms that you recognize, but what do they really mean? They are all part of the water cycle, which is a complex process that not only gives us water to drink and food to eat, but also helps our plants grow. Only about 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh, and 1% of that water can be used for many human purposes. Why can’t we use the other 2% of the fresh water found on the Earth? What about the other 97% of the water found in the world? To find these answers and to discover more, come along for an interactive journey through the water cycle!
Click “to begin your journey”
As you work through this game, answer the questions below about where you go as a carbon atom. Make sure you visit all reservoirs!
The deep ocean accounts for more than _________% of the Earth’s Carbon.
How much Carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere AND release it into the atmosphere.
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up CO2 as they grow.
When Carbon enter the deep ocean, how long does it stay there? __________________
OR to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html
To find the information for the following questions concerning the Nitrogen cycle.
Animals obtain phosphorus by eating plants and/or herbivores. Dead organisms and animal wastes return phosphorus to the soil, to streams and eventually to ocean floors as rock deposits.
Instructions: Click on the links or copy and paste them into an URL browser to access the information for each section of this web quest.
You can either:
- Type your answers into this Word document, save and then upload into Schoology.
- Write you answers on a hard copy web quest and turn it in directly to your teacher.
- Water Cycle
Introduction
Precipitation, evaporation and condensation are all terms that you recognize, but what do they really mean? They are all part of the water cycle, which is a complex process that not only gives us water to drink and food to eat, but also helps our plants grow. Only about 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh, and 1% of that water can be used for many human purposes. Why can’t we use the other 2% of the fresh water found on the Earth? What about the other 97% of the water found in the world? To find these answers and to discover more, come along for an interactive journey through the water cycle!
- Diagram the water cycle: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/water_cycle.html&edu=elem
- Out of the 3% of freshwater here on Earth, why can we only use 1% of the water? Where is the other 2% located?
- Click on “Scientific Concepts”
- Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes from its __________________________ state to a __________________________ state.
- Why is evaporated water so clean?
- Condensation occurs when a _______________________ is changed into a _______________________.
- Condensation is the opposite of __________________________.
- When the ____________________________ and ________________________ are right, the small droplets of water in clouds form larger droplets and precipitation occurs.
- Using the terms “evaporation,” “condensation,” and “precipitation,” explain the water cycle in your own words.
- Explain surface runoff.
- Click on “The Cycle”
- What factor is most important in determining whether water is a solid, liquid or gas?
- Is the amount of water on Earth always changing or is it a constant amount?
- Carbon Cycle
- Go to: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html
- Diagram the carbon cycle
- How does carbon exist in the atmosphere?
- How are fossil fuels created?
- Describe two ways that carbon enters the atmosphere.
- How are the oceans in the carbon cycle?
- How is the temperature of the earth partly controlled by carbon?
- What role do rocks have within the carbon cycle?
- Play the Carbon Game: http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html
- Where are you starting within the carbon cycle?
Click “to begin your journey”
- How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide?
- By how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere during the past 150 years?
As you work through this game, answer the questions below about where you go as a carbon atom. Make sure you visit all reservoirs!
- Next stop = ____________________________________
The deep ocean accounts for more than _________% of the Earth’s Carbon.
- Next stop = ____________________________________
How much Carbon does the surface ocean absorb from the atmosphere each year?
- Next stop = ____________________________________
True or False: When plants die and decay, they bring carbon into soil.
- Next stop = ____________________________________
True or False: Plants both absorb CO2 from the atmosphere AND release it into the atmosphere.
- Next stop = ____________________________________
True or False: Phytoplankton are tiny plants and algae that float in the ocean and take up CO2 as they grow.
When Carbon enter the deep ocean, how long does it stay there? __________________
- Nitrogen Cycle
OR to: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9s.html
To find the information for the following questions concerning the Nitrogen cycle.
- How is nitrogen important for our lives?
- Why are nitrogen-fixing bacteria contributions to the nitrogen cycle so important?
- Nitrogen gas makes up ___________________ of the air we breathe.
- Nitrogen __________________ converts _____________________ to ____________________ for organisms to use.
- Another useable form of nitrogen, NH4, can be converted to ______________________ by _________________________ for organisms to use.
- Plants are both ___________________ and ___________________ to incorporate nitrogen into DNA, protein and other molecules.
- Explain how animals get their needed amount of nitrogen.
- Explain how nitrogen cycles through the land and ocean ecosystems.
- How does the human impact of fertilizers impact the nitrogen cycle?
- Once in plants and animals, explain how does nitrogen return to the atmosphere?
- Phosphorus Cycle
Animals obtain phosphorus by eating plants and/or herbivores. Dead organisms and animal wastes return phosphorus to the soil, to streams and eventually to ocean floors as rock deposits.
- Go to: http://enviroliteracy.org/air-climate-weather/biogeochemical-cycles/phosphorus-cycle/
- Explain why phosphates are a critical part of life.
- How is the phosphorus cycle different from other biogeochemical cycles? Explain.
- The largest reservoir of phosphorus is in _________________________ rock.
- Explain how phosphorus travels through the cycle from rock to omnivores.
- Why are excessive concentrations of phosphorus sometimes considered a pollutant?
- How do humans contribute to these excessive levels of phosphorus?