Grade Levels:  Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth

Subjects:  Language Arts, Science and Technology

Learner Outcomes:
The students will:

• gain information through research about pollution and how it affects the weather of the earth.
• understand parts per million
• describe the process that heats the lower atmosphere
• list human activities that contribute to Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect.
• use observation skills to predict a correlation between rainfall and air quality.
• use graphing software to display data on the effect of acid rain on plants.
• understand the problem of acid rain and find out if acid rain is a problem in their area.
• define Global Warming , Greenhouse Effect , Ozone , Air Pollution , and Acid Rain .
• describe the environments and conditions which are needed for the survival of living things and explain why it is important to keep the environment free of pollution.
• organize and use subject related information and vocabulary in an oral presentation.
• prepare a PowerPoint presentation to present information about man-made actions/activities that
• http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0802334.html

Materials:  Groups of four:  newspapers, weather map, poster board, markers, scissors
Poster board, colored pencils and other art supplies, eyedropper, cylinder with 10 ml graduate, 3-12 oz clear plastic cups, masking tape, 1 bottle dark food coloring, box of crayons

Technology Tools/Courseware:   Computer and Internet connection, graphing software, calculator

Teacher Notes:

• Students should have some background on the composition of the Earth and why too much carbon dioxide has a negative effect.
• Print out the activity sheets, "Changes and Cycles - Where Land, Air, and Water Meet.
• Plan for a field trip to a power plant and/or chemical plant.
• Invite guest speakers on pollution prevention and/or environmental safety.
• Continue to add to the concept map.

1.  Ask, "What do you know about pollution and its affect on the weather?"  Write their responses on chart paper and continue adding to the chart throughout the lesson.

2.  Pass out a copy of "Changes and Cycles - Where Land, Air, and Water Meet" (see above) to each group of three or four.  After completion of the activity, discuss the questions at the end of the activity sheet.

3.  Ask students to think of ways they can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.  Write their suggestions on the chart paper.

4.  Discuss what acid rain is.  Ask students to speculate about whether the rain in their area is acidic.  Is there any evidence of damaged plants or trees?

5.  Ask, "Why do you think the rain in the Eastern United States is more acidic than the rain in the West and Mid-West?"  Encourage discussion by reviewing the direction of the wind.  (The earth rotates counterclockwise and as a consequence the jet stream and other steering wind currents move weather systems along with the carbon dioxide and the carbonic acid produced in the West, across the United States from West to East.)

6.  Pass out the research activity and discuss the topics below.  Divide the class into groups to research and write a one page report on two of the following topics.  When the research is complete, each group should give several reasons why their topics are more harmful to the environment.
 

The students should focus on the following questions:

• What is causing the pollution?
• How might this problem affect the weather?
• How will the change in weather affect the people and the environment?

8.  Invite guest speakers to the class to talk about pollution prevention and/or environmental safety.  Use the interview sheets in lesson one as a guide to prepare specific questions for the students to ask.

9.  After completing the research, students can prepare an oral presentation showing the problem and a possible solution to air pollution.

Modifications:

• The activities should be modified according to each individual's IEP.
• Pair students with a partner or a peer helper.
• For students who have physical disabilities, they can dictate science journal entries and other writings to the teacher, a peer, or an adult classroom helper.
• Cooperative groups can be arranged so that students with learning disabilities are grouped with students who are on-level or advanced.

• Divide the class into groups representing different countries.  Research global warming on the Internet and publish a report on the results.
• Groups of students can research and write a journal entry about acid rain.
• Take a field trip to local companies or industries that deal with pollution prevention.

• Write a story, using a word processor, describing what the world might be like if the average temperature of the Earth increases by a few degrees.
• List five or more ways to prevent Global Warming an the Greenhouse Effect.
• Make a concept map showing how the environment and living/nonliving are connected.

West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:

Language Arts:
Listening/Speaking:  4.16, 5.5, 6.2
Reading Comprehension:  4.42, 5.16, 5.23, 5.33, 6.16, 6.34
Writing:  4.49, 4.50, 5.56, 6.53, 6.54

Math:
Probability and Statistics:  4.28, 5.23, 5.26, 6.24
Measurement:  4.49, 5.43, 6.46
Computer and Technology:  4.56, 5.54, 6.49, 6.55, 6.56

Science:

Nature of Science:  4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 5.3, 5.7, 5.8, 6.5, 6.7, 6.8
Scientific Attitudes/Habits of Mind:  4.16, 5.10, 6.10, 6.13
Scientific Processes/Thinking Skills:  4.20, 4.23, 4.25, 5.16, 5.17, 5.18, 5.19, 6.16, 6.17
Laboratory Investigations/Hands-on Learning:  4.28, 5.22, 6.22
Science Themes and Subject Matter:  4.30, 4.32, 4.36, 4.67, 5.34, 6.26, 6.32, 6.33, 6.65, 6.66, 6.68, 6.71
Science History:  4.70, 5.56, 6.73
Science, Technology, and Society: 4.72, 4.74, 4.76, 5.60, 5.64, 6.78, 6.79, 6.81
Computer/Technology:  4.80, 4.83, 4.85, 5.68, 5.70, 5.73, 5.79, 6.83, 6.98

References:

a)  resources cited:
NASA Resources for Educators, Poster:  Earth's Changing Atmosphere

b  student resources:
Pollution and the Environment :  Questions and Answers
Environmental Problems
Weather Glossary   http://www.glacier.rice.edu/misc/glossary.html
Weather Sites http://www.i-probe.com/i-probe/ip_weather_1.html
Air Quality   http://www.epa.gov/airnow
Acid Rain   http://www.beakman.com/acid/acid.html
Agricultural Weather Facility http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/jawf

c)  Internet links:
Global Warming
Global Warming
Information Please Weather
Effect of Temperature Increase on Agriculture

Authors:

Carol Mathis	cmathis@access.k12.wv.us	Lakewood Elementary
Donna Hebb	dhebb@access.k12.wv.us	2089 Lakewood Elementary
Yvonne Martin	ymartin@access.k12.wv.us	St. Albans, WV  25177

 
 

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