Earth Spheres Case Study

Read the assignment diving into a specific human activity and how this impacts each earth sphere.  This will be due on Friday.

Earth Spheres Case Study

Between The Spheres

Watch this video on interactions between earth spheres

Spheres Interactive Slideshow

Fill this document out as you explore this interactive slideshow by McDougal Littell.

Earth Spheres Presentation

Earth Sphere presentation project description

Watch the link that goes along with your earth sphere. Assignments are in the document linked above.  

Earth Spheres from crash course kids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMxjzWHbyFM  (bio/geo)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXh_7wbnS3A   (hydro/atmo)

Within Each Sphere

Check out this video on each Earth Sphere

Earth Spheres from Space

Get acquainted with the Earth Spheres with NASA images from space.

Earth Spheres NASA activity

Lesson 1 Video: What is the Environment?

Classwork:
Read and take notes on Our Island, Earth
condisder the question: Healthy Pond Q

Homework:
Watch and take notes on the video Lesson 1: What is the environment?

Welcome Back to School

You are the Eighth Grade Class!  I hope you had a wonderful summer and are ready to lead the school in your culminating year at ACDS.  We are going to have a fun and productive semester studying Earth Spheres, Eutrophication, and Sustainability.  Get ready to dive in!!

Final Exam Study Guide

Your science exam is the afternoon of Monday, May 11th.

Final Exam Study Guide

Independent Research: Critically Thinking About Environmental Issues

Environmental science issues are complex, integrated scenarios involving diverse ecological factors, a variety of interest groups, and with that a wide range of perspectives and opinions. Due to the nature of theses issues they can be highly controversial and hotly debated.  This project is your chance to explore an environmental issue of your choice and analyze it using the critical thinking skills developed throughout the year.

Critically Thinking about Environmental Issues - project description and rubric

Project Due: Monday, May 4th 

Alternative Energy Socratic Seminar

Alternative Energy Socratic Seminar Rubric

Climate Change Interactive

National Geographic Interactive

Alternative Energy Project

Alternative Energy Project Description/Rubric

How much does my energy source cost?

Fossil Fuels - Why is your alternative energy better than fossil fuels?  Read this to determine what works and what doesn't when we burn fossil fuels for energy.  Take jot notes to be used later on in your presentation.

Alternative Energy Research Starter
* All research notes and letter to KarmaKarmel are due April 13th
Solar (Energy for Keeps),    Solar (pearson)     Solar (textbook entry) - Stian (PV), Peyton (Parabolic)

Wind (Energy for Keeps),    Wind (pearson)    Wind (textbook entry) - Phin

Ocean (Energy for Keeps),   Ocean (pearson) - Brooke, Sophia

Geothermal (Energy for Keeps),    Geothermal (pearson)    Geothermal (textbook entry) - Eliza

Hydropower (Energy for Keeps),    Hydropower (pearson)    Hydropower (textbook entry) - Sophie

Hydrogen Fuel Cell (Energy for Keeps),    Hydrogen (pearson)   Hydrogen (textbook entry) - Miles

Biomass (Energy for Keeps), Biomass (pearson)    Bioenergy (textbook entry) - Taylor

Nuclear (Energy for Keeps),  Nuclear (textbook entry) - Emerson

Turbine Building Contest

You are a mechanical engineer that specializes in fluid motion and building efficient turbines.  Check out this oportunity to compete with fellow mechanical engineers to win a cash prize! (cash prize not real)

Turbine Building Contest

Introduction to Electricity

hmwk 3/3 read chapter 4 and fill out answers to these questions (due Thursday)

hmwk 3/2 read chapter 3 and take jot notes (due Tuesday)

hmwk 2/26 read chapter 2 and answer questions (due Monday):
Ch 2 - Energy and Electricity - Ch 2 reading Qs

Electricity Notes

Static Electricity Lab,  How to write a lab report

Electricity Blendspace

Inside a coal fired power plant:

Climate Change: The Crossroads Project

Watch this video about the crossroads project and come in prepared to demonstrate your understanding, reaction, and thoughts regarding this initiative toward educating on climate change.

The Crossroads Project

Effects of Climate Change

Project Rubric
You will be working in small groups to become an expert on a given Effect of Climate Change.  Research your topic to find:

1- The cause of the observed or predicted change (beyond just rising temperatures)

2- Ecological impacts 

3- Impact on Humans

4- Current events related to this observed or predicted change

5- Possible solutions

As the expert, you will be giving a class on your topic.  Think about making it interactive and interesting for your classmates.  You may present your knowledge in the form of a website, blog, activity, interactive/animation website, prezi, powerpoint presentation, etc...
* You must develop 2-3 deep thinking discussion questions

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
NRDC - Natural Resources Defense Council
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Climate Change - Pearson textbook
Effects of Climate Change - Pearson textbook

Melting Glaciers, Sea Level Rise, and Water Availability - Sophia, Phin
p. 492 Climate Change - Pearson
p. 501 Effects of Climate Change - Pearson

Changes in Precipitation: Flooding or Droughts and impact on Forestry - Stian, Emerson 
p. 492 Climate Change - Pearson
p. 500 Effects of Climate Change - Pearson

Extreme Weather: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Heatwaves, Wildfires - Sophie, Taylor
p. 500 Effects of Climate Change - Pearson

Ocean Acidification - Brooke, Peyton, Eliza
p. 498-499 Effects of Climate Change-Pearson

Shifting Habitats - Miles
p. 497 Effects of Climate change
shifting habitat

Fossil Fuels and Adapting to Extremes

Homework 2/5 ***Finish watching these videos, need to see Sophia and Peyton's.

Possible Solution to the nitrogen issue

Adapting to Extremes

BP Oil Spill - Stian, Sophie, Eliza

What caused the spill? What solution was used? What environmental threats are associated with this?
BP Oil Spill additional reading

Canada Tar Sands - Emerson, Taylor

How is oil removed from Tar Sands? What environmental impact is involved?
Tar Sands additional reading

Hydraulic Fracturing - Brooke 2, Sophia

What is fracking?  What environmental risks are associated?
Fracking additional reading

Keystone Pipeline - Phin, Peyton

What is being proposed? What environmental risks accompany oil pipelines?
Transportation and Keystone Pipeline additional reading
Keystone Pipeline Current Events

Homework 2/3

Continue reading the EcoSigns portion from the "Signs from Earth" article.  Read pages 8-9 and take jot notes.

Greenhouse Effect textbook entry

You have just been hired by a new textbook company.  Your job is to write the section on the Greenhouse Effect for a similar 8th Grade class.  Please write a passage describing all you know about this natural processes as well as the significance of the Greenhouse Effect to climate change and human activity.  You will be assessed using the SAME RUBRIC as your Greenhouse Effect project.
* make it accurate
* make it visual
* make it detailed
* make it easy to understand

Signs From Earth

Signs From Earth reading - National Geographic 2004

For homework Monday (1/26) read and take notes on the 1st page of EcoSigns


For homework Thursday and Friday (1/22-1/23) Read and take notes on the "GeoSigns: The Big Thaw" section. This includes the first 5 pages of the article.

Greenhouse Effect Project

Greenhouse Effect Project Description and Rubric

Its Carbon

Watch these videos on Carbon (Episodes 1-5, excluding episode 3...strangely blocked from youtube).
Then answer the questions linked below.

Carbon Video Qs

What's Behind Greenhouse Gases? --> The Atom

Watch the videos in the blendspace linked below.  COMMENT on each slide to show that you are actively engaged and learning something new.

*You will need to sign in with your google account in order to comment (once you sign in you may have to re-enter the site from the blog)

*You need to comment in order to recieve credit for this assignment.

Videos on the Atom

The Atom

homework: finish this section, we read up to 162 in class.  So, read and take notes on p. 162-165!

The Atom Reading

Climate Change + homework

Homework 1/14: Read pages 248-251 take jot notes
Homework 1/8: Read pages 244-248 take jot notes
Homework 1/7: Read pages 240-245 and take jot notes

Climate Change Reading

In class video: Published on Oct 30, 2013 by BBC

A two part documentary presented by Sir David Attenborough - The Truth About Climate Change.

Climate Intro

Introduction To Climate