Climate Change in Grade 10 Science

Secondary

Description

This resource comes with a Multimedia presentation: The Impacts of Climate Change and it is possible to order by filling up the form available inside the document.

Included in this resource are Big Ideas about climate change, Focus Questions, a choice of two culminating tasks (task 1: A Case Study of the Environmental Impacts of Transportation Choices and task 2: Forestry Management and Climate Change) and an annotated bibliography.

Teachers and background resources are also included. Together, these materials provide a wealth of ideas that teachers can draw on in all areas of their program. These resources foster an approach that links knowledge to choices that lead to a more sustainable way of life.

In task 1, students explore the chemical reactions that contribute to climate change, they identify the factors that disrupt ecological balances within local and global ecosystems. Students will prepare two reports that outline their findings about the environmental impacts, and write a letter to their local MPP. In this letter, they will suggest a plan of action that helps to meet the goal of the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For the completion of this task, the following resources are available in the tool:

For students:

  • Checklist of Preparation - Urban Sprawl and the Environmental Impact of Transportation Choices to help the student keep track of the information and skills they need to prepare for the assignment.
  • Summary of the Kyoto Protocol provides an overview of the Protocol and its goals.

  • Student Task and Expectations: outlines the task and identifies the expectations covered.
  • Environmental Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis Form organize the students’ work to help ensure that they have all the information necessary to complete the task.

 For teachers:

  • Environmental Impact—sample answers has been included to provide a sample of completed worksheets.

  • Cost-Benefit Analysis Report—sample answers
  • Sample Letter to MPP
  • Evaluation Rubric for Envi ronmental Assessment
  • Evaluation Rubric for Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Evaluation Rubric for Letter to MPP

In task 2, students use science to assess the environmental impact of either urban sprawl or contemporary logging practices. The purpose of each culminating task is to have students suggest alternatives that will mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Students will choose (or be assigned) one of the following roles: environmental activist, forester, forest manager, municipal official. Using this assumed perspective, they will complete a report that outlines how the practices they have described affect the value of the forest and the environment in terms of a specific ecosystem and the global climate. For the completion of this task, the following resources are available in the tool:

For students:

  • Checklist of Preparation-Forestry Management and Climate Change helps the student keep track of the information and skills they need to prepare for the assignment;
  • Summary of the Kyoto Protocol (see page 18) to provide an overview of the Protocol and its goals;
  • Student Task and Expectations-Forestry Management and Climate Change outlines the task and identifies the expectations covered.

 For teachers:

  • Strand-by-strand Focus Questions to organize ideas and lessons to support the task;

  • Evaluation Rubric for Report.

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General Assessment

Themes Addressed

Relevant Curriculum Units