Project: Climate and Carbon Cycle Problems and Solution
Health Topics
Natural value
Specific Health Community Problem
Climate change environmental risks
Guided Discovery
Started looking at the biosphere as part of Earth systems. Explored Felix Neck Salt Marsh collecting data and understanding implications of climate change on the salt marsh. Native plant identification and implementing native plant restoration in the school garden related to biodiversity preservation.
Investigation/Research
Watched “Kiss the Ground”. Carbon Cycle Game and Carbon Cycle information from Inpsire Earth Science McGraw Hill Textbook. Used and explored Project Drawdown and Vineyard Climate Action Plan around climate solutions. Exploratorium https://www.exploratorium.edu/climate Global Climate Change Explorer to identify impact on the biosphere
Lesson Plan with YRBS Data
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HerMRtgjuxrMtc1Vj5zD4nQlZ3IJKLUWQ2APRLc0RIA/edit?usp=sharing
Solution
Students chose a solution from a suite of environmental solutions; policy (laws, subsidies, taxes), education and awareness, technological advances, conservation or restoration. Students identified steps to their solution and stakeholders. ,
Community Impacts
Shared information
Connection to Curriculum
Massachusetts Framework (online pg. 78-79) HS-ESS2-2. Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s hydrosphere can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems. Clarification Statement: • Examples can include how decreasing the amount of glacial ice reduces the amount of sunlight reflected from Earth’s surface, increasing surface temperatures and further reducing the amount of ice; how the loss of ground vegetation causes an increase in water runoff and soil erosion; how dammed rivers increase groundwater recharge, decrease sediment transport, and increase coastal erosion; and how the loss of wetlands causes a decrease in local humidity that further reduces the wetland extent. HS-ESS2-4. Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth’s systems over different time scales result in changes in climate. Analyze and interpret data to explain that long term changes in Earth’s tilt and orbit result in cycles of climate change such as Ice Ages. Clarification Statement: • Examples of the causes of climate change differ by timescale: large volcanic eruption and ocean circulation over 1–10 years; changes in human activity, ocean circulation, and solar output over tens to hundreds of years; changes to Earth’s orbit and the orientation of its axis over tens to hundreds of thousands of years; and long-term changes in atmospheric composition over tens to hundreds of millions of years. State Assessment Boundary: • Changes in climate will be limited to changes in surface temperatures, precipitation patterns, glacial ice volumes, sea levels, and biosphere distribution in state assessment. HS-ESS2-6. Use a model to describe cycling of carbon through the ocean, atmosphere, soil, and biosphere and how increases in carbon dioxide concentrations due to human activity have resulted in atmospheric and climate changes.
SEL Competencies
Self Management
Specific SEL Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes
Planning ahead, managing materials and information and organizing a plan
District Name
Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools
School Name
Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School
Class/Program
Freshman Earth Science
Number of Teachers
2
Number of Students
65
Grade Level(s)
9-12
Duration/Intensity
End of April – June 14th
Community Partners
Felix Neck Massachusetts Audubon, Polly Hill Arboretum and Island Grown School
Content Areas
Science & Technology Engineering