1. Western High School Rebecca Reichenbach Irene Stone Shelly Holt

2. Why is Las Vegas so HOT?

3. Our Starting Premise
Rock radiation and heat retention have more effect than students realize

4. POS 666 Content Covered NV Content Standard CCSD Syllabus Objectives
N.12.A
Nature of Science Unifying Concept A
Using Data
Record Keeping
Accuracy
Safe Experimentation
Models
CCSD Syllabus Objectives
1.1 Scientific Method/Process Skills
1.3 Laboratory Technique
1.4 Laboratory Safety
1.5 Organize, Analyze, Present Data

5. POS Content Q1 NV Content Standard E.12.A
Earth and Space Science Unifying Concept A
Sun’s Energy
Weather
CCSD Syllabus Objective
2.6 Weather Patterns/Human Effect
2.11 Lithospheric Plates/Topography
2.12 Mapping
2.13 Rock/Mineral Characteristics

6. CCSD Syllabus Objective
POS 666 Content Q2
NV Content Standard
P.12.C
Physical Science Unifying Concept C
Forms and Uses of Energy
CCSD Syllabus Objective
3.2 Forms and Transfer of Energy

7. CCSD Syllabus Objective
POS 666 Q3
NV Content Standard
P.12.C
Physical Science Unifying Concept C
Forms and Uses of Energy
CCSD Syllabus Objective
4.7 Conservation of Matter and Energy

8. Life Science Unifying Concept C CCSD Syllabus Objective
POS 666 Q4
NV Content Standard
L.12.C
Life Science Unifying Concept C
Cycles
Ecosystems
CCSD Syllabus Objective
5.8 Environmental Influence
5.9 Biomes

9. Part I: Gathering Preliminary Information
Teacher’s Note of Recommended Starting Points:
National Park Service
nps.gov
KLAS Channel 8 Las Vegas
aws.com/klas/sitelist.asp
National Atlas
www-atlas.usgs.gov/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin.

10. Student Preliminary Investigation
Set up the class to track weather comparing local daily temperature to Red Rock as reported by local weather services.
Graph the data together as a class.
Why is the Red Rock area hotter?
How much does the radiation of heat from rock affect ambient temperature?

11. Part II: Terrariums
One terrarium to be “desert landscaped” with rocks, sand, cactus.
One terrarium to be landscaped as “classic” terrarium with soil and many plants.
Thermometers to be placed inside each, preferably suspended to measure air temperature

12. Part II: Terrariums Place both terrariums in the sun.
Track the change in temperature.
Bring back to controlled temperature in the classroom.
Chart the change in temperature versus time.
Which changes faster?
Which retains heat longer?

13. Part III: Prediction
Predict the temperature at bottom of Grand Canyon as compared to that at the rim.
Why the difference, if any?
Track through NOAA observations over the course of one week.

14. Part IV: Application to Las Vegas
Does our valley’s landform and rock composition raise temperature?

15. Part V: Materials Small Terrariums can be obtained from
Science kit at
$25.95 for a 2.5 gallon “woodland” habitat with plastic tank
$25.95 for a 2.5 gallon “desert” habitat with plastic tank
Sargent-Welch at
$23.10 for an empty 1 gallon glass tank
$30.59 for a “desert” habitat, no tank
$28.59 for a “woodland” habitat, no tank