8th Grade Science - Blog 2013-2014

Dying To Look Good (Everyday Toxins)

5/6/2014

Step 1: Pick up a Science World Magazine and turn to the article called Dying To Look Good.

Step 2: Watch the video as a class.
Step 3: Read the article from page 14 to page 17.
Step 4: Complete the three page packet and turn into the tray.
Step 5: Make a list of all the personal care products you use everyday.
Step 6: HW! Take a picture of the checklist on page 17. When you get home, locate your shampoo, body wash, lotion, deodorant, face cleanser, toothpaste, etc. and take a picture or list their ingredients for at least 3 of your personal care products.

Ava Anderson Cosmetics Video

Tree Projects

4/25/2014

1. What kind of tree did you plant last fall? (The information should be in the last page of your notebook) You will create a page on your weebly that educates other people about your tree. You will also start taking pictures of the growth of your tree as spring and summer are passing by. Look back at your data collection for your tree. Look at the height from last fall and the number of buds/limbs. Now go out and start collecting new data and take weekly pictures as well from the very same angle and height! You are going to create a photo documentary of the growth of your tree as well as a weebly page with the following information.
2. Use the Arbor Day Foundation's website to research your tree. Answer the following:

Tell me what it is zoned for, what zone are we in,
what type of tree is it
tree height at maturity
mature spread
growth rate
amount of sun
soil type
shape
more info! attributes, description, wildlife value, history, moisture, leaves, flower color, bloom time, fruit description

2. Use the tree benefit calculator to calculate the benefits of your tree.
list stormwater, property value, energy, air quality, CO2.

Arbor Day Tree Benefit Calculator

Earth Day Leadership Projects

4/15/2014

Earth Day is next Tuesday. You will be responsible for coming up with a leadership project that you will create. This can take many forms; art projects, education projects, public policy, school policy, etc.

Think of all the things you have learned in Environmental Science so far. Soil Science, Water Quality Issues, Chemical Pollution, Consumption, Earth's Natural Resources, Energy Sources, Human Population, etc.....
Pick an environmental issue that you would like to make people aware of. Research it, and then come up with a way to educate and possibly make a difference in the way we do things.
At the same time, you will need to research the history of Earth Day. When was the first Earth day? Who came up with this idea and why?
Follow the rubric for the leadership project.

Leadership Project Rubric

How bout this for a cool upcycling project? Create a bench for our landscaping outside. Build a rainbarrel system for our downspouts, etc.

more cool upcycling ideas

Redesigning the Materials Economy

4/7/2014

On a blank sheet of paper, list one negative result of the materials economy. Determine which of the steps in the materials economy is most directly related and place your paper under that sign.

Redesigning the Materials Economy

Questions for Article

Read the article and answer the questions.

Consumption

3/27/2014

Step 1
1. Define happiness.
2. List 5 things that make you happy.

the cost of cool

Story of Stuff: Consumption

Grab a Pick 5 handout and circle five of the options on the handout that you think are most essential to have a good quality of life.

Read the article from Population Matters: Consumption and click on the link at the bottom for a pdf of solutions. Answer the questions in your notebook.

Population Matters: Consumption Solutions

Consumption Solution Questions

Landfill Research

3/12/2014

Use these links below to answer the landfill research questions. Due at the end of class.

Landfill Research Questions

ZeroWasteAmerica.org link

EPA.gov solid waste link

Its A Dirty Job

3/11/2014

GQ: Page 20
1. Who picks up your trash and where do they take it?
2. How many trash bags per week do you create?

Trail of Toxic Waste: CBS News

NyTimes: Birth Defects & Haz Landfill Waste

Good Guides

2/27/2014

Use and explore the link above. Find 5 products that you use or buy and find their ratings.
For each of your 5 products:
        *list their rating for health, environment and society.
        * list their certifications and listings
Figure out if you want to keep your product for How Its Made or if you want to research a new one. Find your product on this guide and research it.

Working for a Living

2/24/2014

GQ.......
Step 1:
1. Take a look at all the tags on the clothes that you are wearing. Find out where they are made. Make a list for your pants and your shirt, if your wearing a jacket etc.
2. Discuss with your group mates.
Step 2:
3. What is minimum wage in the United States? What is their salary for a year if someone working minimum wage works 40 hours a week?
4. Now look up the minimum wage in your countries listed for your articles of clothing. Calculate their salary for a year.
5. For HW your job is to find out what your parents make a year combined and then you will compare it to the salary of a person making minimum wage in the US and a person's minimum wage in your countries that you research.

minimum wages by country

Step 3
1. Click on the link for China Blue. Click on the Film and read the article. Then watch the three videos.
2. List and explain 4 things that you found shocking.
Step 4
1. Find our where your Jeans come from. Click on the Blue Jean Clothing Business and select a Brand name of Jeans.
2. List and explain 3 things that you did not already know about these jeans.
3. Is this company sustainable? Why or Why not?
4. Does it change your mind on whether or not you purchase from this brand?

Step 6
1. Read and annotate Working for a Living and as a group complete the You're the boss sheet. Turn into the tray along with steps 1-5 activities.

The Price Of Gold

2/19/2014

GQ.... Answer the question over the article The Price of Gold that linked below.

The Price Of Gold questions

no dirty gold.org

Congo's Bloody Coltan

the last mountain: coal; strip mining

Nevada: World's Largest Open Pit Gold Mine.

Papau, New Guinea