Final Project

My final project is to produce a lesson on global warming. Please keep in mind that would be intended to be a short lesson on global warming as it relates to a Biology class. The lesson would be intended to be used as a review or a short introduction to global warming before students take the 10th grade SBA test on science. The format for the lesson would be to develop an interactive lesson using Notebook software that would be presented on an interactive smartboard. The lesson will not be quite as "cool" here on blogger, but if you have seen a smartboard and use your imagination you will get the idea.

The 3 learning objectives will be:

1. Students will understand the difference between the Atmosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere.

2. Students will be able to explain the Green House effect.

3. Students will be able to list 3 effects of the global Warming.

Global Warming

The earth consists of several different layers, each very unique. Each layer and its role should be understood before we begin discussing global warming

1.The Atmosphere: A layer of gases that surround the earth

Click Here for an interactive guide to the atmosphere provided by Scripps Institution Oceanography

Teacher Domain
Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere

2. The Biosphere: The "Life Zone" of Earth

3. The Cryosphere: The portion of earth that is covered in ice.

Teacher Domain

Earths Cryosphere: Antarctica

4. The Hydrosphere: The portion of earth covered by water

5. The Lithosphere: The rigid, rocky outer crust of earth.

Teacher Domain

Tectonic Plates , Earthquakes and Volcanoes

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

Click Here :for an interactive lesson on the green house effect

Click Here For a great collection of graphs showing the dramatic increase of greenhouse gases in the last 50 years

What are the effects of Global Warming?

Global warming is currently affecting earth in many ways, not limited to but, including the following:

1. Arctic ice melting

TD Interactive Earths Albedo and Global Warming

2. Terrestrial ice melting

TD Video Losing Permafrost in Alaska

3. Cultural changes

TD Video Arctic Climate Perspectives

TD Video Melting Permafrost

Post test activity

1. Define and give 1 example of each

Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Cryosphere

Lithosphere

Biosphere

2. Explain how all 5 are interconnected

3. Draw a diagram to explain the greenhouse effect. be sure to include at least 3 common greenhouse gasses.

4. List at least 3 effects of global warming

Module 8

The Cryosphere Arctic Sea Ice:

I am late with this blog since I went on spring break to Hawaii. My initial plan was to use some pictures from my trip , but I am having a hard time using pictures from Hawaii in an Arctic Sea Ice blog. I will try to fit them into my final project. My blog will follow a different format this week. For the last 5 or 6 weeks the format I was using seemed to be working just fine as my weekly evaluation scores reflected. However, my last blog for module 9 received a deduction in points even though I submitted my blog in the same format. I don't quite understand the deduction and the comment left on my blog gave me no insight. Soooooooo here goes something new. Rather than reflect on the material presented in the lesson, which by the way was sufficient for 6 weeks but not last week, I am am going to reflect on material related to the topic but not presented in the lesson.

In the picture above, provided by The National Snow and Ice Data Center, the pink line represents the median Arctic sea ice extent from 1979 - 2000. However, the white, which extends past the orange line shows the Arctic ice extent on March29 2010. But hold on!!!!! Before you begin announcing that Global warming is "over" or a "hoax" as some would proclaim, recent studies have shown that that was caused by an unusual cold snap and does not reflect recent climate data trends. You see, weather and climate are two different things yet they are commonly referred to as the same. To often in Alaska, in the winter time, we hear " it sure is cold today ...so much for global warming." The evidence of melting Arctic sea ice is over whelming.

The diagram above paints a more accurate picture of the effect of climate on Arctic sea ice. The trend shows a dramatic decrease in the amount of sea ice over a 31 year period as opposed to a 1 year anomaly.

In an report by msnbc, Satellite images have shown that summers are lasting longer in the Arctic and that sea ice melting is the result. Average Arctic temperatures have increased 5.4 degrees (and some scientists predicting a 13 degree increase during the next 100 years)over the last 50 year average. This has resulted in a sea ice measurement last September that was 20 percent less than than the average end of summer measurements since 1978.

As a person who has not seen global warming affect my daily life, I feel fortunate. However, climate change in the Arctic has dramatic effects on native cultures. As sea ice decreases many native cultures are experiencing changes in polar bear, whale, walrus , and seal feeding patterns and migrations. The positive feedback loops that result in the disappearance of sea ice has also led to the increased melting of permafrost which is also having a negative impact on many Arctic communities and is threatening many native cultures.

Blog Review

I have enjoyed reading many blogs through out this course. Many great educators who are passionate about teaching. There were many great personal stories about life in many different corners of Alaska. The following are a few responses I made to some of my class mates:
http://http://bill-wendlandt.blogspot.com/
Bill, I enjoy listening to you talk about your experience in the Arctic. It is obvious that you are enjoying your time there. You have a strong science background and are able to apply that knowledge to the new environment you find yourself in now. You are lucky in some regards to be a scientist who resides in the Arctic right now as it is undergoing so many changes.
http://catwalkerexplore.blogspot.com/2010/03/module-viii.html#comments
Cat, I had difficulty posting a comment directly to your blog but I thought you did a great job of finding external content and resources that applied to the last 2 modules. It is obvious that you are a great student and that is an attribute that I am sure makes you a great educator. Your students are lucky to have a teacher who values education like you do.
http://misty-wovenideas.blogspot.com/2010/03/module-ix.html#comments
Misty, I am impressed that you are in this science class as I see you are an art teacher. Any art teacher who incorporates science into her art lessons is ok in my book. Perhaps if would have had an art teacher like you, my art portfolio would consist of more than an elaborate collection of stick figures.
http://lisazalaska.blogspot.com/2010/03/module-ixthe-final-blog.html#comments
Lisa, I enjoyed hearing about activities you do with your students . You have obviously done your homework on this class and I am sure, like me, you learned a lot about our climate. By the way great pictures.

I did have difficulty posting some of these responses to some of the actuall blogs and others I did not have any problems at all. Oh well , yet another tricky quirk to the "blogger" program