9TH GRADE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CLASS
Below are sample 9th Grade Environmental Science Lessons:
1. WATER QUALITY: 9th grade Environmental Science Students tested and compared the water quality of samples from three different waterways (water from Hanover stream, Gwynn's Falls Stream, and Falls Road Downtown) in the classroom. Students used a water-quality test kits from Carolina Biologica and Vernier's Labquest probes. At the end of the investigation students compared and ranked their results which they used in developing an argument about which sample is the cleanest or the most polluted. Students used text from the readings, results from investigation, and pictures of the source of the water as their warrants to their claim. The results indicated that the water samples from Gywnns Falls and Hanover were much cleaner than the sample from downtown. Students were also involved in a rigorous conversation about what makes the water polluted and what can be done to improve the waterways. Students were able to articulate that the water samples from Hanover and Gwynn's Falls were much cleaner not just because of the lesser houses found in the areas but also because there were trees that help filter the water.
1. WATER QUALITY: 9th grade Environmental Science Students tested and compared the water quality of samples from three different waterways (water from Hanover stream, Gwynn's Falls Stream, and Falls Road Downtown) in the classroom. Students used a water-quality test kits from Carolina Biologica and Vernier's Labquest probes. At the end of the investigation students compared and ranked their results which they used in developing an argument about which sample is the cleanest or the most polluted. Students used text from the readings, results from investigation, and pictures of the source of the water as their warrants to their claim. The results indicated that the water samples from Gywnns Falls and Hanover were much cleaner than the sample from downtown. Students were also involved in a rigorous conversation about what makes the water polluted and what can be done to improve the waterways. Students were able to articulate that the water samples from Hanover and Gwynn's Falls were much cleaner not just because of the lesser houses found in the areas but also because there were trees that help filter the water.
Location: Gwynn's Falls at Leakin Park
Location: Falls Road, Baltimore Downtown
Location: Hanover
lp_december_16.doc | |
File Size: | 180 kb |
File Type: | doc |
bottled_water_article.doc | |
File Size: | 123 kb |
File Type: | doc |
2. WATER QUALITY, BOTTLED WATER, AND POLLUTION: Students also tested and compared the quality of different brands of bottled water and compared their results to the quality of tap water. Prior to the investigation, students were involved in reading an article about bottled water. After the investigation, students were asked to develop an argument answering the question "Which is safer to drink, tap water or bottled water?". A rigorous conversion about student's personal views and experiences followed. Students then watched the video "The Story of the Bottled Water" where students learned facts about tap water vs. bottled water. In the video, students also learned that plastic bottles are causing a serious environmental problem not just in the United States but worldwide. At the conclusion of this three-day lesson, students were asked to write a proposed bill to regulate the production of the bottled water. The kit used in this investigation was provided by a grant from Donorschoose.
lp_january_02_2014.doc | |
File Size: | 220 kb |
File Type: | doc |
lp_january_06_2014.doc | |
File Size: | 147 kb |
File Type: | doc |
3. CLIMATE CHANGE: Students were involved in a two-week lesson about Climate Change. In this unit, students learned about the complexity of climate change as a global environmental issue where the cause and effects of climate change were given strong emphasis. At the end of this unit, students were able to explain the relationships that exist among the following events: burning fossil fuels, greenhouse effect, global warming, melting of polar ice caps, rising sea-level, and climate change. The unit also involved how climate change affected the living creatures in different regions of the earth. In this unit, students studied how climate change affected the local community and the world. Students read articles, studied pictures of the last house standing at the Hollands Islands, and watched a series of videos from Discovery Education about the vanishing lands of the Chesapeake Bay. Students also calculated their Carbon Footprint using surveys and different online tools. At the conclusion of the unit, students learned the different ways responsible citizens can do to help mitigate the issue. Students showed their understanding of this environmental issue in a form of art (comic strips and posters) and in writing (poem and essay).
ashley_early_powerpoint.pdf | |
File Size: | 565 kb |
File Type: |
restore_the_chesapeake_bay_ashley_e.pdf | |
File Size: | 798 kb |
File Type: |
powerpoint_on_global_warming_oct_29.pdf | |
File Size: | 2959 kb |
File Type: |
lp_global_warming_oct_29.doc | |
File Size: | 784 kb |
File Type: | doc |
lp_global_warming_oct_30.doc | |
File Size: | 209 kb |
File Type: | doc |
lp_global_warming_and_the_chesapeake_bay.doc | |
File Size: | 115 kb |
File Type: | doc |
lp_climate_change_october_31.doc | |
File Size: | 262 kb |
File Type: | doc |
lp_climate_change_november_01.doc | |
File Size: | 173 kb |
File Type: | doc |
lp_climate_change_november_04.doc | |
File Size: | 217 kb |
File Type: | doc |
lp_climate_change_november_05.doc | |
File Size: | 184 kb |
File Type: | doc |
lp_climate_change_november_06.doc | |
File Size: | 185 kb |
File Type: | doc |
lp_climate_change_november_07.doc | |
File Size: | 143 kb |
File Type: | doc |
calculating_my_carbon_footprint.pdf | |
File Size: | 344 kb |
File Type: |
calculating_your_carbon_footprint.pdf | |
File Size: | 496 kb |
File Type: |
carbonfootprint.pdf | |
File Size: | 470 kb |
File Type: |
4. Wildlife Forensic/Endangered Species Lesson: This is a lesson about the Great White Shark, an endangered species. In this lesson, students researched about the characteristics, the range, the habitat, and other details about the great white sharks. A module and a loaner kit from Towson University's MDLL program made this lesson possible. Students conducted an investigation about wildlife forensic. In this lesson students learned how the principle of wildlife forensic can be used in solving environmental issue through DNA analysis. After teaching the topic, students were asked to research for an endangered species in Maryland as a homework assignment. Students were asked to prepare a brochure, PowerPoint, or Essay which they were asked to turn in electronically.
lp_a_wildlife_forensic_nov_18.docx | |
File Size: | 196 kb |
File Type: | docx |
november_20_endangered_species.doc | |
File Size: | 103 kb |
File Type: | doc |
the_great_white_shark.pub | |
File Size: | 254 kb |
File Type: | pub |
5. Leaves, Buds, and Climate Change Research: In this lesson students learned how to do a field research by conducting a field study answering the question “When will the growing season for trees in our school yard end this autumn?” Students flag trees in Fall and monitor the end of the growing season. The data collected by the students will be reported will be used by 10th grade students and members of the "Green Club" for further study. The study aims to investigate the effect of climate change on the trees at the park. This study will continue next school year.
september_23_leaves_and_buds.docx | |
File Size: | 1819 kb |
File Type: | docx |
september_25_leaves_and_buds.docx | |
File Size: | 1817 kb |
File Type: | docx |
6. Oil Spill Investigation: 9th grade Environmental Science students learned about the cause and environmental impact of oil spill. In this lesson, students read articles and watched videos about oil spill that happened at the gulf of Mexico. Students also simulated the process of saving the birds affected by the disaster. Students used bird feathers, vegetable oil, and different brands of soap to simulate oiled feathered and the rescue process.
7. "Changes in the Land" by William Cronon: Students read a chapter of this book on nook reader and studied the relation of Ecology and Society. The module and nook readers were provided by Cornell University. The module provides a selection of readings from books that explored the ecological change on Colonial America. Lessons from excerpts from ecological history show the removal of the beaver from the habitat of New England and Canada through the "Fur Trade" destroyed the beaver dams and resulted to ecological imbalance. These animals are crucial in maintaining ecological balance as other organisms depend on them. Students also connected this lesson to Menhaden as keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay.
intro_to_ecology_and_history.pdf | |
File Size: | 828 kb |
File Type: |
lp_keystone_species_nov_25.docx | |
File Size: | 172 kb |
File Type: | docx |
8. Invasive Species: In this lesson students learned about the history and the impacts of invasive species to the native species and their natural habitat. Students learned the origin and how these species get to the US. Students researched about the invasive species present in Maryland, as a project students were assigned an invasive species to research on. They were asked to include the origin, the scientific name, how it spread in the area, the impact, and ways to help curb the spread of the species.
envasive_species.pdf | |
File Size: | 103 kb |
File Type: |
9th GRADE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT OF MS. ANOSAN
LESSON ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNMENT: Describing the importance of being informed on civic issues, volunteering and public service is one of the indicators in American Government curriculum. The lesson below integrates pollution as an environmental issue in which a citizen needs to be aware of. In this lesson the issue of air, land, and water pollution and how it impacts the environment and the people was described. By being aware of the cause of different forms of pollution, students become educated on how their life activities are connected to environmental issue. Knowing the environmental impact of pollution of air, water, and land made students realize the need not only for behavior changes but also for volunteering and public service involvement.
LESSON ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNMENT: Describing the importance of being informed on civic issues, volunteering and public service is one of the indicators in American Government curriculum. The lesson below integrates pollution as an environmental issue in which a citizen needs to be aware of. In this lesson the issue of air, land, and water pollution and how it impacts the environment and the people was described. By being aware of the cause of different forms of pollution, students become educated on how their life activities are connected to environmental issue. Knowing the environmental impact of pollution of air, water, and land made students realize the need not only for behavior changes but also for volunteering and public service involvement.
lpamg_11-18-13.docx | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
File Type: | docx |
9th Grade Freshman Seminar of Ms. Ganges
POST-SECONDARY GREEN CAREER OPTIONS: The purpose of this unit is to get students
thinking about life after graduation while they are still in the 9th
grade. Throughout this unit, the teacher introduced different colleges and career choices. During the lesson, students were exposed to the different green jobs and encouraged to think about
the rapidly growing industry and some college majors that can lead to jobs in
the green sector.
fs_lp_3-21-14_green_post-secondary_options.docx | |
File Size: | 27 kb |
File Type: | docx |