9/30/14

Today in class...

Part 1 - Use this link to access the survey for your preferred location for the APES Saturday study sessions. The locations and dates of the study sessions can be accessed here.

Part 2 - Use this link to access the Plate Tectonics simulation and answer the questions on-screen. Try different combinations of crusts and different types of boundaries. Explain the origins of mountains, volcanoes, new crust, and islands.

Tonight for homework...

Complete Earth's Composition and Plate Tectonics Practice Questions (Assignment 8) and read "Plate Tectonics as Global Thermostat" and "Plate Tectonics and the Magnetic Field" (p. 208-213) in your Rare Earth packet and add to the back of your notes about the contributions of plate tectonics to life on Earth.

9/29/14

Tonight's homework is to read p. 202-204 from Rare Earth ("Why Is Plate Tectonics Important To Life?") and answer the question on the back of your notes - How does plate tectonics contribute to life on Earth/the Earth being habitable? You only need to write a paragraph in response. Don't feel compelled to fill up the whole page - you will eventually.

9/24/14

This weekend's homework is to finish Part 4 of the Atmosphere and Climate Reflection and read/take notes on 6.3 and 6.4 from Botkin and Keller. Also here is the Powerpoint from yesterday and today's lectures

9/23/14

Tonight's homework is to complete Part 3 of the Atmosphere and Climate Reflection and read 20.2, 20.4, and 20.6 in Botkin and Keller. There will also be a brief check-in tomorrow about the characteristics of water and the atmosphere tomorrow. There seemed to be a little confusion at different points in class today, so taking a long here may be useful.

Part 1 Data - Maximum Sun altitudes for selected latitudes during the two solstices and equinoxes

Latitude	Spring Equinox	Summer Solstice	Fall Equinox	Winter Solstice
Date	March 21/22	June 21/22	September 21/22	December 21/22
90 °N	0 °	23.5 °	0 °	- 23.5 °
70 °N	20 °	43.5 °	20 °	- 3.5 °
66.5 °N	23.5 °	47 °	23.5 °	0 °
50 °N	40°	63.5 °	40 °	17.5 °
23.5 °N	66.5 °	90 °	66.5 °	43 °
0 °	90 °	66.5 °	90 °	66.5 °
23.5 °S	66.5 °	43 °	66.5 °	90 °
60 °S	30 °	6.5 °	30 °	53.5 °
40 °N	50 °	73.5 °	50 °	27.5 °

Part 2 - Effect of Lamp Angle on Water Temperature (degrees Fahrenheit)

Time (minutes)	Temp of water under lamp at 90 degrees	Temp. of water under lamp at 45 degrees
0	72	73
2	73	74
4	74	74
6	74	74
8	75	74
10	75	75
12	76	75
14	77	75

NOTE: You DO NOT need to graph this data. Ignore that part of the instructions for Part 2.

Part 3 - Why do different regions of the Earth have different climates? 

9/22/14

Tonight's homework is to complete Assignment 7 and read 20.4 (p. 434 through 437) in Botkin and Keller and add to your notes if need be. Also, here's the link to the video of the Northern Lights/Aurora borealis.

Assignment 7 - “Earth’s Atmosphere” Comprehension and Review Questions

Answer all of the following questions to the best of your ability in complete sentences in the space below or on a piece of looseleaf.

1. Explain how Earth’s atmosphere is conducive to complex life (as we know it).

2. Explain, in your own words, why and how air moves on Earth.

3. Compare and contrast Earth’s current atmosphere to that of Mars and Venus.

4. MATH FUN – The mass of Earth’s atmosphere is 5.15 x 1018 kg. The atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon. Use that information to estimate the total atmospheric mass of each of those components. Show your work and DO NOT USE A CALCULATOR.

Here’s how to start… round the mass of Earth’s atmosphere to 5 x 1018 kg. Then think about nitrogen as 80% of Earth’s atmosphere, oxygen as 20%, and argon as 1% (shhh…. don't think about it too much).

People's Climate March Extra Credit Reflection

If you can verify that you attended the climate march (ex. by taking a... selfie, sigh) and answer the following questions then I will throw some extra credit your way.

1. What is climate change and why should we be concerned about it?
2. Why is the People's Climate March taking place this weekend? More specifically, what is happening this coming week that organizers are hoping to influence?
3. What can/should be done about climate change and the factors that are responsible for it?
4. Based on your answer to #3, what are you willing to do to mitigate climate change?

9/19/14

This weekend's homework is to complete Assignment 6 based on the reading (the page given in class and 18.1 - which is Chapter 18 Section 1 from Botkin and Keller - your textbook) and your observations/inferences from class. Also, the People's Climate March will be starting from Columbus Circle at 11am on Sunday. If you attend and complete the reflection questions that I post, then I will grant you some extra credit.

Assignment 6 - Investigating the Characteristics of Water

Summarizing

Look over your observations and inferences. On a separate page of looseleaf (that will become your notes about water), write a short summary of what you know/learned about water from your investigations.

Reviewing and Improving Your Understanding

Title the page with your summary, “Why Life on Earth Relies on Water.” You will answer the following questions on this piece of looseleaf.

1. Review and read p. 161 and 162 of Glencoe Biology and the very first section of 18.1 “Water” in Botkin and Keller. Add vocabulary and any information that you deem important to your previous summary.

2. Based on what you now know, why is water a universal component to all life on Earth? Support your answer with vocabulary and observations/inferences.

3. What does the Earth have going for it that allows it to have an abundance of liquid water?

Today's Observations

Procedure	Observations	Inferences
Dissolving We mixed salt and water. We mixed oil and water.	Salt and water mixed well. Oil and water did not mix well. Clumps of oil were visible.	Salt dissolves in water. Oil does not dissolve in water.
Surface tension and cohesion We added drops of water or acetone to surface of a penny and counted how would fit.	Over 30 drops of water fit on a penny. Only about 10 – 20ish drops of acetone fit on the surface of the penny.	Water is cohesive and sticks well to itself (and other surfaces). Acetone is not as cohesive.
Density of solid state. We measured the mass of ice and its volume by displacement.	Approximate density of ice was found to be .5 g/mL, but it is actually 0.9 g/mL.	Ice floats. Ice is less dense than   liquid water. Most substances become more dense as they solidify (b/c their volume decreases).

Reminder(s) About the Sustainability PBAT

Your task is as follows:

·      Develop a nuanced claim in response to the following question, “How sustainable is humankind?”

o   Sophisticated writing also entertains and refutes a counterclaim to further support a claim.

o   Think about your definition of sustainability as well as the principles that comprise it.

·      Support your claim with evidence from reading, research, notes, rationale from class

o   Use direct citing or paraphrasing if/when you feel you are using an author’s opinions/data to support your opinions.

§  Use MLA/APA formatting for in-text citations/paraphrasing

·      Your completed task should not surpass more than 3 pages typed (or about 1,000 words). NOTE: This is intended to relieve (some) stress, rather than add it.

The completed task is due in class on Friday, September 19^th. See the rubric below as a further guide for your writing/thinking.

	Mastery – 4	Proficient – 3	Satisfactory – 2	Needs Revision – 1
Claim	States clear, well-reasoned, nuanced claim and counterclaim	States clear, well-reasoned claim and counterclaim	States a logical, but vague claim	States an illogical or indefensible position
Support of claim	Thoroughly supports claim(s) with several detailed, convincing, specific reasons/pieces of evidence as well as refuted counterclaims	Supports claim(s) with multiple detailed, specific reasons/pieces of evidence as well as attempts at forming counterclaims/ refutations of them	Supports claim(s) with multiple detailed, convincing specific reasons/pieces of evidence but neglects to make use of counterclaim OR reasons/pieces of evidence are lacking in detail or specificity	Supports claim(s) with reasons/ evidence that are not convincing due to lack of detail, specificity, or clarity OR not having enough pieces of evidence to support each claim
Demonstrates knowledge	Consistently demonstrates deep knowledge of material in readings by constantly: using vocabulary, explaining examples clearly, incorporating statistics, etc.	Consistently demonstrates knowledge of material in readings by: using vocabulary, explaining examples clearly, incorporating statistics, etc and minor errors or occasions for further explanation may be present	Demonstrates knowledge of material in readings by using vocabulary, etc. but with multiple or glaring errors or lack of a detail	Does not demonstrate sufficient knowledge of material from readings through errors or lack of usage/ explanation.
Credit to sources	While writing in his/her own words, correctly and properly directly cites/ paraphrases and refers to case studies within text	While writing in his/her own words, cites/ paraphrases and refers to case studies within text with minor errors	While writing in his/her own words, cites/ paraphrases and refers to case studies within text but with clear errors	Citations/ paraphrasing are missing or it is obvious that student is not giving due credit to sources through his/her style of writing
Writing conventions	Writes elegantly and in a sophisticated manner while very consistently adhering to spelling and grammar conventions	Very consistently adheres to spelling and grammar conventions	Consistently adheres to spelling and grammar conventions	Mostly adheres to spelling and grammar conventions

9/18/14

Tonight's homework is to complete the Sustainability PBAT and bring your final draft to class tomorrow. See the previous posts for assistance.

Our Questions for the Earth Systems and Resources Unit

Earth's Atmosphere

• What is the composition of Earth's atmosphere?
• How was the atmosphere created?
• What are the different layers of the atmosphere and what do they do? 
• What mechanisms are in place to keep the Earth's climates relatively stable?
• How do humans affect the atmosphere?
• How can we combat the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
• How has the Earth's atmosphere changed over the course of Earth's history?
• How does UV penetrate cells and alter DNA?
• Can the hole in the ozone layer be repaired or restored?

The Earth Itself

• Is it possible to build a planet that can house more people?
• What happens when the Earth's magnetic field reverses itself?
• Why is the Earth's core still hot?
• How does the tilt of the Earth determine the weather?

Earth's Oceans

• How do ocean currents control air temperatures?
• How did water arrive or begin on Earth?
• Can the Earth run out of water?

Other

• What happened to Mars to make currently inhospitable to life?
• How do we think that life originated?
• How rare are Earth-like planets?
• What are the chances of another extinction event on Earth?

9/17/14

Tonight's homework is to prepare for the sustainability quiz tomorrow (see the previous post for assistance) and continue working on your sustainability PBAT due on Friday.

Sustainability Quiz Review

Topics to Know

·       Tragedy of the Commons

·       Environmental science – definition, problems that ES is concerned with, causes of those problems

·       Environmentalism vs. ecology

·       Sustainability – definition, ways of measuring sustainability (using the IPAT equation), 4 principles of sustainable environments/sustainability

·       Ecological footprint

Practice Questions

Answer all of the following questions to the best of your ability in complete sentences wherever possible.

1. Define sustainability.

2a. Suppose new technologies allow cars to become more efficient and produce half the amount of polluting emissions. Using the IPAT equation, which of the following is the most likely outcome?

A. The impact on sustainability will be doubled.

B. The impact on sustainability will increase.

C. The impact on sustainability will not change.

D. The impact on sustainability will decrease.

E. The impact on sustainability will be halved.

2b. Explain your answer to question 2a.

3. Define ecological footprint. Be specific.

4. Suppose the world’s population stopped growing today. Answer each of the following and support your answer.

a. What (if any) environmental problems might this help?

b. What (if any) environmental problems would remain?

c. What (if any) environmental problems might population stabilization make worse?

5. In regards to the principles of sustainability, to what does nutrient cycling refer?

6. Thinking about the principles of sustainability, identify three ways that individuals can live more sustainably. Support each method you develop (by explaining how the method will make you or groups of people or all of humanity).

7. Define and describe environmental science.

8. Contrast environmentalism and ecology.