NATURAL SCIENCE 1A/B
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The first year Rainshadow science course provides an introduction to scientific methodology and the role of science in interdisciplinary inquiry. It combines the basic principles of several scientific disciplines: Earth Science, Environmental Science, Biology,Chemistry, and Physics. Students will study thematic issues in science to discover how science influences our daily lives, participate in hands-on experiments, independent work and group discussion to build their own science knowledge and begin to create educated opinions about their world. |
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Grading Policy 90-100% A PARTICIPATION 15% 80-89% B JOURNALS 15% 70-79% C ACTIVITIES & ASSIGNMENTS 35% 60-69% D TESTS & QUIZZES 30% 0-59% F FINAL 5%  |
Course Goals
Upon completion of this course, students will . . . -Study and learn the nature of scientific processes of inquiry including: systems, models, risk, prediction, values and attitudes. -Examine the disciplinary divisions of science. -Relate science questions to interdisciplinary investigations. -Experience scientific exploration and inquiry through reading, writing, research and hands on experimentation. -Study scientific, historical, and technological perspectives on a range of human problems. -Apply mathematics and literacy skills to science and science investigations. |
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CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS
FINAL PROJECT: Too Much Trash
Garbage Review: Jeopardy
Virtual Stream Lab: LINK
GARBAGE UNIT
NATURAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION:
USGS RESOURCE EXTRACTION COAL EXTRACTION TIMBER EXTRACTION GOLD MINING GOLD EXTRACTION MATERIAL FLOW IMAGES ARTICLE: "Transforming the Material Goods Economy" DARWINS EVOLUTION GAME:
PLAY THE GAME USING THE LINK: DARWIN GAME
1. CLICK "LEARN ABOUT NATURAL SELECTION" AND TAKE NOTES IN THE NOTES SECTION OF YOUR NOTEBOOK ON THE INFORMATION. 2. PLAY THE NATURAL SELECTION SURVIVAL GAME, RECORD YOUR SCORE IN YOUR NOTEBOOK. 3. TAKE THE NATURAL SELECTION QUIZ AND RECORD YOUR SCORE IN YOUR NOTEBOOK. HIGH ALTITUDE BALLOON PROJECT
Over the last few weeks we have been studying the climate and atmosphere in order to prepare ourselves to launch a full size high altitude balloon. On October 21st, we successfully assisted in launching 4 HA balloons from the University of Nevada, Reno. Our balloons collected data on temperature, altitude and atmospheric pressure as well as video and photographic data.
SCIENCE NEWS AND EVENTS:
SCIENCEDAILY SCIENCE NEWS NEW YORK TIMES MACROEVOLUTION: EARTH SCIENCE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN DISCOVERY THE EXPLORATORIUM SEMESTER PROJECT
This semester we will be researching a natural disaster that has occurred in the last decade. Pick a disaster or weather based event and research the following:
1. What occurred? 2. What were the long terms social, financial and environmental effects? 3. What could have caused this event? 4. How could we better prevent or prepare in the future? Create a presentation of your choice to share your research with the class. |
JOURNALS
JOURNAL #1 1/24
Q: What are the Rainshadow TERMS and what is the point of them? JOURNAL #2 1/25 Q: We know how to tell when something is living. How can we tell if something is living well? JOURNAL #3 1/26 Q: Do all living things deserve an equal quality of life or do some things deserve a higher quality of life? JOURNAL #4 1/30 Q: Complete the following statement: The overall quality of life on planet earth is __________ because of the following three reasons ___________. JOURNAL #5 1/31 Q: Yesterday, we watched a film about scientists studying climate change, how were they able to make claims about what they were studying? What methods did they use? JOURNAL #6 2/7 Q: What is the force that keeps your plane on the ground? How does it work? JOURNAL #7 2/8 Q: What is the most important quality of life indicator? JOURNAL #8 2/13 Q: What is the difference between qualitative data and quantitative data? JOURNAL #9 2/15 Q: What can we use the data from our quality of life survey for? JOURNAL #10 2/16 Q: What are three different tips to remember when giving a speech? JOURNAL #11 2/21 Q: What was it like standing up and speaking in front of the other classes? JOURNAL #12 2/28 Q: Which individual has a better quality of life? Explain your answer . . .
JOURNAL #13 3/6
Q: Compare and contrast WASTE and LITTER. How are they the same and how are they different? JOURNAL #14 3/7 Q: Define two different types of waste and then explain how they are different from each other. JOURNAL #15 3/12 Q: Where exactly does your garbage go? JOURNAL #16 3/14 Q: What are two things you have learned about plastic production? JOURNAL #17 3/19 Q: What was the most important lesson you learned during class on Thursday? JOURNAL #18 3/28 Q: What role does the material goods economy play in how we use and extract resources? JOURNAL #19 3/29 Q: What do you think are the three most common resources we extract from the environment? JOURNAL #20 4/2 Q: Of all the resources we extract from the environment, which do you think are the least sustainable? JOURNAL #21 4/16 Q: Which age group do you think is creating the most trash in our society: babies, toddlers, teens or adults? Give two reasons to support your argument. JOURNAL #22 4/23 Q: What are three things we can learn from a source map? JOURNAL #23 4/30 Q: What are three things you learned from your landfill lab? JOURNAL #24 5/2 Q: What are three sources of toxic waste? JOURNAL #25 5/7 Q: What is one interesting fact about your waste research topic? JOURNAL #26 5/8 Q: What is important in this system? Identify at least 10 different factors. JOURNAL #27 5/9 Q: What are the five levels of organization in ecology? JOURNAL #28 5/14 Q: How would you rate the health of Steamboat Creek? What data or evidence would you use to support your statement? JOURNAL #29 5/15 Q: Why is it important to take a measurement of the stream with no pollution first? JOURNAL #30 5/16 Q: What are some of the direct effects of introducing point source pollution into a stream ecosystem? |
