Our Troubled Environment

• Invitation to inquiry

• Open minds• Stimulate

curiosity

Why is our environment so polluted?

Watch this video about an Oklahoma town that had to relocate.

What environmental issues do you see in your neighborhood?

What do you think are causing those issues?

What can you do to help reduce these issues?

How can I help to improve the quality of my environment?

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2. Environmental Science

• Build background knowledge

• Connect to content

• Discover interesting ideas

Environmental science is a wide-ranging and complex field concerned with the study of the natural environment and the effects on that environment of human activity and natural events. It deals with such issues as deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, global warming, and the destruction of plant and animal habitats. Earth Sciences for Students, 2008

How can I help to improve the quality of my environment?

Read the World Book article on environmental pollution.

List 10 types of pollution and give 2 examples of each.

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3. How can you help?You will be investigating an environmental issue in order to develop and implement an action plan for reducing the environmental impact.

Choosing a topic:

• Using this list of topics, choose 4 issues that look interesting to explore. •As you skim through information, jot down thoughts and questions such as:

Why is the issue a problem?How can I help to alleviated these problems?Can I find enough sources of information for the topic?

Fill in the graphic organizer and discuss your findings with your inquiry circle.

• Explore interesting ideas

• Look around

• Dip in

Which issue will you choose?

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4. What big question do I want to answer as I develop my action plan?

• Pause and ponder • Decide direction • Identify inquiry questions

• Use an Idea Cluster graphic organizer to organize your thoughts.

•Use this chart to help you to identify the question you will focus on. Use a separate chart for each question you are considering.

•Look for an important idea and write it within the square.•Look for similar ideas and place each in a circle.•This is an idea cluster.•When you see an idea that does not fit into this idea cluster, start a new cluster.•Look for similar ideas and build another idea cluster around that idea.•Make as many clusters as you can.•Think about each idea cluster. Form a question that represents each idea cluster. Write the question on the chart above the cluster. These are your possible questions for deeper investigation.

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5. What questions do I need to answer to support my action plan?

You might want to consider these Subsidiary Questions:• What are the scientific details concerning my environmental issue? • What role have humans played in this environmental issue? • What are the causes of this environmental issue? • Whom or what does this issue affect (both directly and indirectly)? • What are some possible consequences if this environmental issue is

not addressed or fixed? • Have there been any attempts to solve this issue? Have any of these

attempts been successful? • What could an ordinary citizen do to help solve this issue? • How will these solutions help?

• Pause and ponder • Decide direction • Identify inquiry questions

How can I help to improve the quality of my environment?

Create your questions as you research your topic. Record your questions on the graphic organizer.

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6. Where can I find information on my topic?

• Books – Look for a book on your topic in Destiny• ebooks in Destiny• Encyclopedias are great for general information – Look in the Reference

Section.• BCPS list of web sites• Destiny WebPath Express• Databases – Gale Virtual Reference Library, Science in Context,

Opposing View Points, NBC Learn, netTrekker, World Book, SIRS, and Safari Montage.

• Gather important information

• Go broad (search)

• Go deep (read)

Continue to create your questions as you research your topic. Record your questions and information on the graphic organizer.

Can you trust everything you read on the internet?• Have you heard of the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus?• CMS Web Site Evaluation

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7. How will I present my information?• You will be sharing your research and action plan by Movie, Website, Wiki, Prezi, PowerPoint or Infographic using Piktochart.

• An Infographic is a visual representation of information, data or knowledge that presents complex information quickly and clearly. Have a look at some examples:This Infographic utilizes several pieces of text and graphics about Earth Day. This Infographic on the Water Cycle utilizes charts and data. This Infographic uses text, graphics, charts, and graphs to answer the question, Just How Massive is Google Anyway? -- AND information sources are cited at the bottom.

How can I help to improve the quality of my environment?

• Reflect on learning • Go beyond facts to make meaning • Create to communicate

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8. How will I share my action plan?

• Learn from each other

• Share your learning

• Tell your story

Environmental Showcase:• The Environmental Showcase will be your opportunity to educate your classmates and individuals in your school community about a human-caused environmental issue. • A major purpose of your showcase is to creatively inform others about what they can do to reduce their negative impact on the environment.• As you view other presentations created by your classmates, you will be recording information on a graphic organizer.

How can I help to improve the quality of my environment?

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9. How well did I accomplish my goals?

• Evaluate the achievement of learning goals • Reflect on content • Reflect on process

Take time to think about the research process you just completed.

Story of my research process...• What changes did you make to your original plan? • What worked and what didn't work? • What did you learn about yourself as a researcher?

•Follow these guidelines to help you to prepare your reflection.

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Created by Phyllis Fullem based on Guided Inquiry Design by Carol C. Kuhlthau, Leslie K. Maniotes, and Ann K. Caspari.