Tools of Environment Science (Using your Head)

Objective – September 29, 2010 Review of the Scientific Method Learn the steps and differentiating hypothesis from prediction.

The amazing Kreskin (aka Mrs Beachy) Name that Park Explain what happened Make a prediction

What’s Important Meet with your group of five or six students Read through Chapter 2, Section 1 Write on the newsprint around the room “Important Points” and “Important Vocabulary”

1. Observation Piece of information we gather using our senses: Hear, see, touch, smell, taste

Build Your Skills Choose a partner Each chooses a different object in the room. Each rights five observations about your object Switch objects Compare your observations

Extension of senses : Tools

2. Hypothesis Testable explanation for an observation More than a guess Logical and follows from what is known

3. Prediction - a logical statement about what would happen if the hypothesis was correct

4. Experiment – procedure designed to test a hypothesis under controlled conditions

Variable – the factor of interest To test for one variable, scientists usually study at least two groups Experimental Group Control Group

The variable being studies is the only difference between groups Experimental – group that receives the experimental treatment Control – group that does not receive the experimental treatment Used for comparison

Data- information that a scientist gathers during an experiment Tables, graphs and charts help to organize data collected

5. Conclusion - found after analyzing and comparing results of data Not always obvious!

Repeating, repeating, repeating… The more times an experiment can be repeated giving the same results, the more reliable the conclusion can be.

Scientifics Habits of Mind 1. Curiosity 2. Habit of Skepticism 3. Openess to New Ideas 4. Intellectual Honesty 5. Imagination & Curiosity

October 1, 2010 Objective To apply the scientific method To define our personal learning style

Asking questions Give examples of questions people may ask Which can scientists answer?

The Net News Wiki address: Hallahan mail.jwhallahan.com Username: (student #) Password: (student #) Gradeconnect: Username: JH(student #) Password: (student #)

Identifying scientific methods With a partner, read the article, highlight and label parts of the article that demonstrate the Scientific Method. Geothermal drilling

Objectives – October 4 Learning Style Preferences Learn how scientist use statistics How important is sample size Types of scientific models

That’s My Birthday Let’s look at our sample In a class of 23 at least statistically two will share a birthday

Graphs: Bar, Line Pie Bar Graph - visual display used to compare the amounts or frequency of occurrence of different characteristics of data.

Height distribution Let’s talk about a bar graph

Sampling 30% purple 20% red, yellow 10% orange, green, blue

Five by Two Look at our colors

October 6, 2010 Objective: Models, Statistics, Probability Building a scale model

Lightning Strikes Twice “The Great Outdoors” What are the odds of being hit by lightning?

Line Graph A line graph is most useful in displaying data or information that changes continuously over time

Pie Graph a circle graph divided into pieces, each displaying the size of some related piece of information. Pie charts are used to display the sizes of parts that make up some whole.

Correlation - method used when experiments cannot be performed Reliable associations between two or more events

STATISTICS Statistics – collection and classification of data that are in the form of numbers

Statistics are often used to sell and advertise products “95% of students drink Cola “X”

How Scientists Use Statistics Data can be easily Summarized Characterized Analyzed Compared

Populations A statistical population is a group of similar things a scientist is interested in learning about

Mean – Sounds like an Average Mean- Add up data about a certain characteristic which is being studied and then divide by number of individuals Length of kitten tail Kitten #1 15 cm Kitten #2 18 cm Kitten #3 20 cm 15+18=20 = 53 cm 53/ 3 kittens Mean = 17.6 cm

The Distribution– arrangement of the members of a statistical population

October 7, 2010 Objective: Understand a statistical population, Bell and J curves, scale Activities: Enter important terms on quizlet Join the wiki Draw a scale model of the classroom

In normal distribution the data are grouped symmetrically around the mean. Bell Curve

Probability The chance that something MAY happen is probability. If you toss a penny, what si the chance that it will be heads??

Answer: Half and half Or 50% Suppose you toss a coin 10 times. 7out of the 10 times it comes up tails. Is the statistic wrong?

NO !! Your sample size was too small Sample size – number of objects or events used in study Sample – group of individuals or events chosen to represent the population

Risk Risk is the probability of an unwanted outcome

Models

In Science Models are representations of objects or systems

Physical Models Physical models are 3-dimensional objects that you can touch

Graphical Models Maps and charts

Conceptual verbal or graphical How a system works or is organized

Mathematical model

Bell Ringer In your copybook write down a personal problem that presented a difficult decision. Consider how you usually approach decisions How do you weigh what is important to you?

October 12, 2010 Objectives: Complete all online work Learn components of sound (environmental) decision making Wrap-up of Chapter 2

Definitions Decision making model-conceptual model that provides systematic process for making decisions Value- principles or standards we consider important

DECISION MAKING MODEL Gather Information Consider Values Explore Consequences Make a Decision Long-term vs Short-term

Environmental Values Aesthetic – beautiful or pleasing Economic – gain or loss of money or jobs Environmental – protection of natural resources Ethical/Moral – what is right or wrong Health – maintenance of human health Recreational – human leisure activities Scientific – understanding of the natural world Social/cultural – maintenance of human communities and their values and traditions

Problem #1 You live in a town with a coal-fired power plant nearby. Many people are employed by the power plant and at a nearby coal mine. A neighboring county, which is generally more affluent, is building a wind farm to generate electricity. The wind farm will be operational in a few years. The press has raised the question of whether the existing plant should be closed. Using the Environmental Values Table (pg 45) write a sentence explaining how each value relates to this situation.

Problem #2 A highly-evolved alien race invaded Earth and is quickly descending upon your hometown. You are forced to evacuate immediately, perhaps leaving your home behind forever. You do not know where you will go or what you will do next. There is only time to take 10 items with you. Food is supplied on the evacuation ship. Make a list of your 10 items Together we arrive at a common list What influenced our decision?