Environmental Science Activities Kit

About Environmental Education and This Resource Book v Using the Environmental Science Activities Kit xviii A Few Words About Safety xxii Unit One: Human Issues Activity 1. Population—More Is Less 2 1.1 Population—More Is Less: Background Information 11 1.2 Population—More Is Less: Instructions 12 1.3 Population—More Is Less: Questions 15 1.4 Population—More Is Less: Instructor’s Data Sheet 17 Activity 2. Food? What Food? 18 2.1 Food? What Food? Background Information 25 2.2 Food? What Food? Questions 26 Activity 3. We “Auto” Drive Less 27 3.1 We “Auto” Drive Less: Background Information 34 3.2 We “Auto” Drive Less: Instructions 36 3.3 We “Auto” Drive Less: Questions 40 Activity 4. Toxics in the Home 41 4.1 Toxics in the Home: Background Information 48 4.2 Toxics in the Home: Instructions and Data 50 4.3 Toxics in the Home: Questions 51 Activity 5. Wants and Needs 52 5.1 Wants and Needs: Background Information 59 5.2 Wants and Needs: Instructions and Data 60 5.3 Wants and Needs: Questions 63 Activity 6. What’s Happening? 64 6.1 What’s Happening? Background Information 71 6.2 What’s Happening? Instructions and Article Cover Sheet 73 6.3 What’s Happening? Questions 74 Activity 7. Think Globally, Act Locally 75 7.1 Think Globally, Act Locally: Background Information 80 7.2 Think Globally, Act Locally: Instructions 82 7.3 Think Globally, Act Locally: Questions 84 Activity 8. Do It! 86 8.1 Do It! Background Information 94 8.2 Do It! Instructions 95 8.3 Do It! Project Description 96 8.4 Do It! Questions 97 8.5 Do It! Project Ideas 98 Unit Two: Land Use Issues Activity 9. Surface Mining 102 9.1 Surface Mining: Background Information 110 9.2 Surface Mining: Instructions and Data 111 9.3 Surface Mining: Questions 113 Activity 10. Why Recycle? 114 10.1 Why Recycle? Background Information 121 10.2 Why Recycle? Instructions and Data 123 10.3 Why Recycle? Questions 125 Activity 11. Soil Compaction 126 11.1 Soil Compaction: Background Information 134 11.2 Soil Compaction: Instructions and Data 135 11.3 Soil Compaction: Questions 136 Activity 12. What Price Open Space? 137 12.1 What Price Open Space? Background Information 143 12.2 What Price Open Space? Instructions 144 12.3 What Price Open Space? Questions 148 Activity 13. Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? 149 13.1 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Background Information 155 13.2 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Research Assignment 158 13.3 Multiple Use or Multiple Abuse? Questions 161 Activity 14. Runoff Research 162 14.1 Runoff Research: Background Information 170 14.2 Runoff Research: Instructions 171 14.3 Runoff Research: Questions 173 Unit Three: Wildlife Issues Activity 15. Habitats—The Choice Is Yours 176 15.1 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Background Information 184 15.2 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Instructions and Planning Map 185 15.3 Habitats—The Choice Is Yours: Questions 187 Activity 16. Microhabitats 188 16.1 Microhabitats: Background Information 195 16.2 Microhabitats: Data 196 16.3 Microhabitats: Questions 197 Activity 17. Longitudinal Studies 198 17.1 Longitudinal Studies: Background Information 206 17.2 Longitudinal Studies: Instructions and Data 207 17.3 Longitudinal Studies: Questions 209 Activity 18. Saltwater Intrusion 210 18.1 Saltwater Intrusion: Background Information 217 18.2 Saltwater Intrusion: Instructions and Data 219 18.3 Saltwater Intrusion: Questions 220 Activity 19. Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? 221 19.1 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Data Graphing Activity 228 19.2 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Background Information 230 19.3 Endangered Species I—What’s Happening? Questions 232 Activity 20. Endangered Species II—Who Cares? 233 20.1 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Background Information 239 20.2 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Assignments 240 20.3 Endangered Species II—Who Cares? Questions 242 Unit Four: Water Issues Activity 21. Oil Spill! 244 21.1 Oil Spill! Background Information 253 21.2 Oil Spill! Data 255 21.3 Oil Spill! Questions 257 Activity 22. Water Treatment 258 22.1 Water Treatment: Background Information 266 22.2 Water Treatment: Instructions and Data 268 22.3 Water Treatment: Questions 269 Activity 23. “Water” We Going to Do? 270 23.1 “Water” We Going to Do? Background Information 277 23.2 “Water” We Going to Do? Personal Water Use Data 279 23.3 “Water” We Going to Do? Home Water Conservation Survey 280 23.4 “Water” We Going to Do? Questions 282 Unit Five: Atmospheric Issues Activity 24. Detecting Air Pollution 284 24.1 Detecting Air Pollution: Background Information 291 24.2 Detecting Air Pollution: Instructions and Data 293 24.3 Detecting Air Pollution: Questions 295 Activity 25. Acidic Precipitation 296 25.1 Acidic Precipitation: Background Information 305 25.2 Acidic Precipitation: Instructions and Data 306 25.3 Acidic Precipitation: Questions 307 Activity 26. Global Warming 308 26.1 Global Warming: Background Information 317 26.2 Global Warming: Instructions and Data 320 26.3 Global Warming: Questions 322 Unit Six: Energy Issues Activity 27. Food Chains 324 27.1 Food Chains: Background Information 331 27.2 Food Chains: Questions 333 Activity 28. We’re All in the Web 337 28.1 We’re All in the Web: Background Information 345 28.2 We’re All in the Web: Questions 346 Activity 29. Hidden Energy Uses 347 29.1 Hidden Energy Uses: Background Information 354 29.2 Hidden Energy Uses: Instructions 355 29.3 Hidden Energy Uses: Questions 356 Activity 30. “Watts” the Cost? 357 30.1 “Watts” the Cost? Background Information 364 30.2 “Watts” the Cost? Instructions and Data 366 30.3 “Watts” the Cost? Questions 369 30.4 “Watts” the Cost? Parent Letter 370 Activity 31. Conserve a Watt 371 31.1 Conserve a Watt: Background Information 377 31.2 Conserve a Watt: Instructions and Data 378 31.3 Conserve a Watt: Questions 381 31.4 Some Ways to Conserve Energy 382 Activity 32. Keep the Heat! 385 32.1 Keep the Heat! Background Information 392 32.2 Keep the Heat! Instructions and Data 394 32.3 Keep the Heat! Questions 396 Activity 33. Catch the Sun! 397 33.1 Catch the Sun! Background Information 404 33.2 Catch the Sun! Instructions and Data 405 33.3 Catch the Sun! Questions 407 Activity 34. Fossil Fuel Extraction 408 34.1 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Background Information 414 34.2 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Instructions and Data 416 34.3 Fossil Fuel Extraction: Questions 417 Activity 35. The Nuclear Power Puzzle 418 35.1 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Background Information 427 35.2 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Instructions and Puzzles 428 35.3 The Nuclear Power Puzzle: Questions 434 Activity 36. Biofuels 435 36.1 Biofuels: Background Information 445 36.2 Biofuels: Instructions 447 36.3 Biofuels: Questions 448 Activity 37. Energy Alternatives 451 37.1 Energy Alternatives: Background Information 464 37.2 Energy Alternatives: Instructions 466 37.3 Energy Alternatives: Questions 468 Appendix I: Governmental Agencies 470 Appendix II: Selected Private Environmental Organizations 472 Appendix III: Helpful Web Sites 474 Appendix IV: How to Write for Information 475 Appendix V: How to Write a Letter to a Governmental Official 477 Appendix VI: Local Environmental Investigations 480 Resources 483