Ecology Journal Project

1. Ecology Journal Project Fifth Grade Science Troy Intermediate

2. Carbon Cycle Acid Rain Ozone Biomes Pollution Greenhouse Effect Recycle Fossil Fuels Landfills Global Warming AQI Carbon Garbage Nitrogen Water Cycle PH scale Smog

3. Step 2: • Make a cover for your Journal • Include the following: • Your first and last name • Your Teachers name • The Title: “Ecology Journal” • A picture of something that comes to mind when you think of the word “Ecology” (it can be anything or several things – be creative)

4. Directions • In this activity you will be visiting many websites that contain information about various Ecology topics. To get to the website just double click on the link. • Once you are at the site you will record what you have learned in your Ecology journal.

5. Tips for Success • In order to learn you will have to READ the information at each website. Do not be afraid to click on objects and explore links related to each site. You may even play the games but first complete any assigned questions related to the site. • The only way you can learn is to READ – All answers can be found on these websites – do not give up – keep searching!!!!!

6. Greenhouse Effect • Turn to the Greenhouse Effect Page in your journal. • Go to the next slide and read the 4 questions then return to this slide and click on the link. • http://www.eo.ucar.edu/kids/green/warming4.htm

7. Greenhouse Effect • How is our planet earth like a greenhouse? • The energy from the ______ is trapped on earth. • What gases are trapped in the atmosphere? • Too many greenhouse gases cause the temperatures of the earth to ________.

8. Greenhouse Effect (part 2) • Before clicking on the link turn to the Greenhouse Effect Page in your journal. • Go to the next slide and read questions 5 – 10. • http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/global_warming_version2.html • To answer the questions you will be watching a movie but there is no sound you must read the word boxes on the screen. Follow the directions at the website to view the entire movie.

9. Greenhouse Effect (part 2) • Why are some greenhouse gases good? • What effect do people have on greenhouse gases? • List some ways that the gas carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. • List 3 fossil fuels. Explain how they contribute to the release of carbon dioxide. • How does the heat get trapped on Earth’s surface? • If the Earth’s temperature rises 1 degree, what problems might develop?

10. Greenhouse Effect (Extra) • The following website may be helpful if you need more information on the greenhouse effect. It even includes a diagram. • http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html

11. Acid Rain • Before clicking on the link turn to the Acid Rain Page in your journal. • Go to the next slide and read the questions. The Tale of Lucy Lake: http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_kids/index.htm • Click on the words “The Tale of Lucy Lake” on the left side of your screen. Then follow the directions on the screen.

12. Acid Rain (Lucy Lake) • What causes acid rain? • What are fossil fuels? • What are some solutions to the problem of acid rain?

13. Acid Rain – PH scale • Before clicking on the link turn to the Acid Rain Page in your journal. • Go to the next slide and read the questions. • pH scale: http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/acid_rain.htm

14. Acid Rain – PH scale • What does pH mean? • What is the pH of normal rain? • Where is Acid Rain a problem? • What effect does acid rain have on living organisms? • What effect does acid rain have on non-living things?

15. SMOG • Read the following questions from your journal on the SMOG page. • What creates SMOG? • What are the bad gases? • Click on the following link to find the answers - http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/kids/airquality.html

16. SMOG City • Smog City is an interactive air pollution simulator that shows how your choices, environmental factors, and land use contribute to air pollution. • Before clicking on the link read the questions from the next slide. • http://www.smogcity.com/welcome.htm - now click on “run SMOG City” (click on the HELP button for explanations of controls)

17. SMOG City • List at least four things that affect the ozone levels throughout the day. • What was the health effect at peak ozone level during your simulation? • Try the simulations again. What changes did you make that effected the ozone levels? Was it a positive change or a negative change?

18. Air Pollution • Before clicking on the link turn to the Air Pollution Page in your journal. • Go to the next slide and read the questions. • Click on the following link to find the answers to these questions: http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqikids.index

19. Air Pollution • What does AQI stand for? • What does the AQI tell us? • Define a pollutant and explain why it is harmful. • What does EPA stand for? • What is the EPA’s job? • The Ozone protects us from _________. • Bad Ozone is sometimes called ______. • ____ and ____ are sources of Ozone. • Identify two ways that you can help reduce air pollution. See the video/cartoon

20. Air Pollution Extra Credit • What effect can air pollution have on a person’s health? • What is the AQI for today in Lorain, Ohio? • Hint: click on http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqikids.aqi3 • Click on “Where I Live” • Locate your state and then the city closest to your residence city.

21. Eco-Storybook • In these four eco-stories you will help the characters choose a path. Will your character survive? http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/fun_n_games/storybook/index.cfm • Which story did you choose? • What was the main idea in the story. • Describe one of the choices you had to make and explain how it affected the outcome of the story. • Reveal at least one thing you learned from this story.

22. Careers in Ecology • Copy the questions below into your journal on the “Career Page” then click here to find the answers: http://nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/ecology/faq.html#ecologist • What does an Ecologist do? • How much $$ does an Ecologist make? • What do you need to do to become an Ecologist?

23. Evaluation • Turn to the last page in your journal. • Write a paragraph describing the 3 most important things you learned about Ecology. • What changes do you plan to make in your daily life in order to improve our environment?

24. Additional Links • This link provides 8 information links related to Ecology: http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/kids/information.html • Try your hand at this on-line Acid Rain crossword puzzle: http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/acidrain-cw.htm • Eco-Kids Homepage - http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm

25. Additional Links (2) • Visit this site with your family members and take the Quiz “Clean Air Challenge” – see how your actions affect air quality: http://www.cleanairprogress.org/classroom/index.asp • For more Biome facts click this link - http://idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/season4/ecology/biomes.html or http://mbgnet.net/

26. Fun & Games with Ecology • Visit Eco-kids online: http://www.ecokidsonline.com/pub/index.cfm • On the Trail of the Missing Ozone – comic strip about the ozone: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/missoz/index.html • Visit the Environmental Kids Club for some fun educational activities that involve Ecology: http://www.epa.gov/region5/students/fun.htm • Recycle City • Waste No words

27. The Web of Life The web of life connects grass to fish, trees to turtles, sky to caterpillars. The web of life connects me to everything that came before, even to the moment when earth herself was born. To break the web of life is to fill the universe with pain. Nancy Wood, 1993