Handbook of Engaged Learning Projects

AIR POLLUTION: A LOCAL AND GLOBAL PROBLEM

Project Summary

Subject/Content Area:

Science/Chemistry, Environment - Air Pollution

High school chemistry students

Students will investigate the problem of air pollution in a given location and research possible solutions using a variety of tools (laboratory technology, Internet resources, multimedia technology, etc.). They will select the best solutions and present them to the class with the results of their research.

• Describe types, sources and effects of air pollutants.
• Describe methods of controlling air pollution.
• Develop an awareness of the potential benefits and limitations of science and technology.

As students work they will demonstrate an ability to:

• Formulate questions, gather information, and organize ideas.
• Represent and organize data.
• Interpret and apply gathered information to solve problems.
• Make informed decisions about issues involving science and technology.
• Communicate results and conclusions to an audience.
• Work cooperatively in small groups.
• Record their progress and reflect on their activities in journals.

• Teaching Standards:
  • A: Plan an inquiry-based science program
  • B: Guide and facilitate learning
  • C: Engage in ongoing assessment of teaching and student learning
  • D: Design and manage learning environment
  • E: Develop communities of science learners
  • F: Participate in ongoing planning and development of science program
• Assessment Standards:
  • A: Consistent with the decisions they are designed to inform
  • B: Achievement and opportunity to learn science
  • C: Quality of data matched to decisions and actions taken
  • D: Assessments fair
• Content Standards:
  • A: Science as inquiry
  • B: Physical science
  • D: Earth and space science
  • E: Science and technology
  • F: Science in personal and social perspectives
  • G: History and nature of science
• Program Standards:
  • A: Consistent with other standards
  • B: Developmentally appropriate, interesting, and relevant
  • C: Coordinated with mathematics program
  • D: Access to appropriate and sufficient resources
  • E: Equitable student access

State Goals:

This project helps teachers address a number of Illinois State Goals for Learning in science and mathematics. Teachers will introduce restructured project-oriented lessons that model the science research process and require students to use methods of data collection and analysis and predict and judge reasonableness of results.

• Science Goals:
  • 11: Understand the process of scientific inquiry and technological design to investigate questions, conduct experiments and solve problems
  • 12. Understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of the life, physical and earth/space sciences
  • 13. Understand the relationships among science, technology and society in historical and contemporary contexts
• Mathematics Goals:
  • 7. Estimate, make and use measurements of objects, quantities and relationships and determine acceptable levels of accuracy
  • 10. Collect, organize and analyze data using statistical methods, predict results and interpret uncertainty using concepts of probability

Assessment will be ongoing. Students will keep daily logs of their work and complete weekly group self-evaluations. They will be assessed using a variety of scoring rubrics that will assess their chemistry knowledge, their ongoing work during the project and their final project.