Brandy’s project was based on the Science 9 Big Idea: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter flows and energy cycles through them.
The driving question for this project was:
How do your actions affect the sustainability of Earth’s four spheres?
Brandy turner
After discussing Earth’s four spheres, interconnectedness, and sustainability, students began thinking about how the actions they take are connected to the world. Brandy and her class started with a brainstorm in groups to narrow down the group’s focus, then they used the ‘5 whys’ to change their topics into possible inquiry questions. Students are guided through the inquiry process (see the attached framework in ‘resources’ for details), and individual interviews were conducted with the students to check-in and further scaffold the process when needed. Students showed what they learned through any medium (video, podcast, poster, slideshow, etc.). Since students were using technology to share their learning, it is easy to see how this project could bridge face-to-face and online learning.
Examples of Student Work:
- One group made a ‘Bill Nye’ style video on how your poop affects Earth’s four spheres and why human waste continues to be a health and sustainability issue.
- One group looked into fossil fuel use by developed nations versus developing nations and how their decisions (being members of a developed nation) are either supporting or challenging the decisions made by governments.
- Many groups, through scaffolded brainstorming, came up with various inquiry questions that address issues our world is facing today:
- “How does your clothing choices affect Earth’s 4 spheres?”
- “The future of vehicles: Will fossil-fuel or electric vehicles be the vehicles of the future? Are electric vehicles REALLY sustainable?”
Challenges:
- Many students struggle with conducting ‘good’ research – a research hints and tips lesson from the librarian was helpful, but continued support was needed – something Brandy found challenging to provide to all groups.
- Many students, when given the choice of how to present their learning, default to the slideshow – in the future Brandy may say that is the only medium not allowed.
- Brandy would love to add an action piece at the end of this project, now students know how they are affecting Earth’s spheres, what can they DO about it?