Transcript Ocean Acidification: Is There a Problem? Robert M Flores Anaheim HS Background  Approximately 3,300 Students  70% Free/Reduced Lunch  99% Latin Population  Earth Science 

Ocean Acidification: Is
There a Problem?
Robert M Flores
Anaheim HS
Background
 Approximately 3,300 Students
 70% Free/Reduced Lunch
 99% Latin Population
 Earth Science
 Approximately 135 students
 Includes ELL, SpEd and At Risk Students
Rationale
 Fits nicely with Oceanography Unit
 Wanted to extend the Carbon Cycle
 Relevant current event that student can connect with
 Ocean Acidification: recently has become “news
worthy!”
Strengths
 Webquest includes a large number of resources
 Those resources presented information via different
modalities (example, text and video)
 pH lab was super visual and kinesthetic
Lesson
 Lesson is essentially 4 parts
1)
2)
3)
4)
Webquest
Prediction (Hypothesis)
Plot pH of Worlds Oceans
Lab: CO2 changes pH of water
Lesson
 Lesson is essentially 4 parts
1)
2)
3)
4)
Webquest
Prediction (Hypothesis)
Plot pH of Worlds Oceans
Lab: CO2 changes pH of water
Day 4Lesson: Modifications
 1) Involved having student blowing through a straw into
a beaker (Zip-lock bag of water) and measuring pH
change.
 2) Involved dropping a shell into vinegar. I didn’t have
access to seashells. Used eggs (explained that
seashells are made out of the same materials as
chicken eggs). Also used chalk as a substitute for sea
shells
Extension
 I felt like students were missing some of the
connections to the lesson so…..
 1) Students had to write an evidence-based claim on
the cause and oceanic effect of CO2 emissions.
Guided with selected articles which varied depending
on the reader.
 2) Needed to calculate their carbon foot print and come
up with an action plan to reduce their carbon foot print.
http://www.epa.gov/climatestudents/calc/index.html#cal
c=instructions
Extension: Public Awareness
 Student were tasked to get the word out about Ocean
Acidification.
 I wanted them to take ownership and spread the word.
We had a mini symposium in the classroom.
 Output:





Commercial
“Oprah” style interview
Song
Brochures
Webpage design
Ideas for next time
 Investigate Earth’s historic climate
 Is climate change a pattern?
 Lab: Using Foraminifera Data as a clue into Earth’s
Historic climate