Environmental Science Activities Kit

THE AUTHOR MICHAEL L. ROA was a classroom teacher and school administrator for 38 years and is currently the science education specialist for the Sonoma County Office of Education in California. He is the author of several books on environmental science and is a frequent presenter at local, state, and national science conventions.

• About Environmental Education and This Resource Book vUsing the Environmental Science Activities Kit xviiiA Few Words About Safety xxiiUnit One: Human IssuesActivity 1. Population—More Is Less 21.1 Population—More Is Less: Background Information 111.2 Population—More Is Less: Instructions 121.3 Population—More Is Less: Questions 151.4 Population—More Is Less: Instructor’s Data Sheet 17Activity 2. Food? What Food? 182.1 Food? What Food? Background Information 252.2 Food? What Food? Questions 26Activity 3. We “Auto” Drive Less 273.1 We “Auto” Drive Less: Background Information 343.2 We “Auto” Drive Less: Instructions 363.3 We “Auto” Drive Less: Questions 40Activity 4. Toxics in the Home 414.1 Toxics in the Home: Background Information 484.2 Toxics in the Home: Instructions and Data 504.3 Toxics in the Home: Questions 51Activity 5. Wants and Needs 525.1 Wants and Needs: Background Information 595.2 Wants and Needs: Instructions and Data 605.3 Wants and Needs: Questions 63Activity 6. What’s Happening? 646.1 What’s Happening? Background Information 716.2 What’s Happening? Instructions and Article Cover Sheet 736.3 What’s Happening? Questions 74Activity 7. Think Globally, Act Locally 757.1 Think Globally, Act Locally: Background Information 807.2 Think Globally, Act Locally: Instructions 827.3 Think Globally, Act Locally: Questions 84Activity 8. Do It! 868.1 Do It! Background Information 948.2 Do It! Instructions 958.3 Do It! Project Description 968.4 Do It! Questions 978.5 Do It! Project Ideas 98Unit Two: Land Use IssuesActivity 9. Surface Mining 1029.1 Surface Mining: Background Information 1109.2 Surface Mining: Instructions and Data 1119.3 Surface Mining: Questions 113Activity 10. Why Recycle? 11410.1 Why Recycle? Background Information 12110.2 Why Recycle? Instructions and Data 12310.3 Why Recycle? Questions 125Activity 11. Soil Compaction 12611.1 Soil Compaction: Background Information 13411.2 Soil Compaction: Instructions and Data 13511.3 Soil Compaction: Questions 136Activity 12. What Price Open Space? 13712.1 What Price Open Space? Background Information 14312.2 What Price Open Space? Instructions 14412.3 What Price Open Space? Questions 148Activity 13. Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? 14913.1 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Background Information 15513.2 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Research Assignment 15813.3 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Questions 161Activity 14. Runoff Research 16214.1 Runoff Research: Background Information 17014.2 Runoff Research: Instructions 17114.3 Runoff Research: Questions 173Unit Three: Wildlife IssuesActivity 15. Habitats—The Choice Is Yours 17615.1 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Background Information 18415.2 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Instructions and Planning Map 18515.3 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Questions 187Activity 16. Microhabitats 18816.1 Microhabitats: Background Information 19516.2 Microhabitats: Data 19616.3 Microhabitats: Questions 197Activity 17. Longitudinal Studies 19817.1 Longitudinal Studies: Background Information 20617.2 Longitudinal Studies: Instructions and Data 20717.3 Longitudinal Studies: Questions 209Activity 18. Saltwater Intrusion 21018.1 Saltwater Intrusion: Background Information 21718.2 Saltwater Intrusion: Instructions and Data 21918.3 Saltwater Intrusion: Questions 220Activity 19. Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? 22119.1 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Data Graphing Activity 22819.2 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Background Information 23019.3 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Questions 232Activity 20. Endangered Species II—Who Cares? 23320.1 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Background Information 23920.2 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Assignments 24020.3 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Questions 242Unit Four: Water IssuesActivity 21. Oil Spill! 24421.1 Oil Spill! Background Information 25321.2 Oil Spill! Data 25521.3 Oil Spill! Questions 257Activity 22. Water Treatment 25822.1 Water Treatment: Background Information 26622.2 Water Treatment: Instructions and Data 26822.3 Water Treatment: Questions 269Activity 23. “Water” We Going to Do? 27023.1 “Water” We Going to Do? Background Information 27723.2 “Water” We Going to Do? Personal Water Use Data 27923.3 “Water” We Going to Do? Home Water Conservation Survey 28023.4 “Water” We Going to Do? Questions 282Unit Five: Atmospheric IssuesActivity 24. Detecting Air Pollution 28424.1 Detecting Air Pollution: Background Information 29124.2 Detecting Air Pollution: Instructions and Data 29324.3 Detecting Air Pollution: Questions 295Activity 25. Acidic Precipitation 29625.1 Acidic Precipitation: Background Information 30525.2 Acidic Precipitation: Instructions and Data 30625.3 Acidic Precipitation: Questions 307Activity 26. Global Warming 30826.1 Global Warming: Background Information 31726.2 Global Warming: Instructions and Data 32026.3 Global Warming: Questions 322Unit Six: Energy IssuesActivity 27. Food Chains 32427.1 Food Chains: Background Information 33127.2 Food Chains: Questions 333Activity 28. We’re All in the Web 33728.1 We’re All in the Web: Background Information 34528.2 We’re All in the Web: Questions 346Activity 29. Hidden Energy Uses 34729.1 Hidden Energy Uses: Background Information 35429.2 Hidden Energy Uses: Instructions 35529.3 Hidden Energy Uses: Questions 356Activity 30. “Watts” the Cost? 35730.1 “Watts” the Cost? Background Information 36430.2 “Watts” the Cost? Instructions and Data 36630.3 “Watts” the Cost? Questions 36930.4 “Watts” the Cost? Parent Letter 370Activity 31. Conserve a Watt 37131.1 Conserve a Watt: Background Information 37731.2 Conserve a Watt: Instructions and Data 37831.3 Conserve a Watt: Questions 38131.4 Some Ways to Conserve Energy 382Activity 32. Keep the Heat! 38532.1 Keep the Heat! Background Information 39232.2 Keep the Heat! Instructions and Data 39432.3 Keep the Heat! Questions 396Activity 33. Catch the Sun! 39733.1 Catch the Sun! Background Information 40433.2 Catch the Sun! Instructions and Data 40533.3 Catch the Sun! Questions 407Activity 34. Fossil Fuel Extraction 40834.1 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Background Information 41434.2 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Instructions and Data 41634.3 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Questions 417Activity 35. The Nuclear Power Puzzle 41835.1 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Background Information 42735.2 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Instructions and Puzzles 42835.3 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Questions 434Activity 36. Biofuels 43536.1 Biofuels: Background Information 44536.2 Biofuels: Instructions 44736.3 Biofuels: Questions 448Activity 37. Energy Alternatives 45137.1 Energy Alternatives: Background Information 46437.2 Energy Alternatives: Instructions 46637.3 Energy Alternatives: Questions 468Appendix I: Governmental Agencies 470Appendix II: Selected Private Environmental Organizations 472Appendix III: Helpful Web Sites 474Appendix IV: How to Write for Information 475Appendix V: How to Write a Letter to a Governmental Official 477Appendix VI: Local Environmental Investigations 480Resources 483