Learning Objectives: Air Investigations

Science Concepts

Students learn that

- air is a mixture of gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2)

- air moves and carries; air carries particles, including various forms of life

- air and light interact

- air quality varies

- UV can be absorbed, blocked, and reflected

- UV interacts with matter— including living cells, tissues, and organisms—causing physical and chemical changes

- CO2 in the atmosphere is part of in the carbon cycle

- plants, animals, and human activities affect the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere

- particles and CO2 both affect climate

- particles reflect and scatter light

- CO2, particles, and UV may have an impact on our global environment

Investigative Skills

Students will

- ask questions and choose their own research questions

- plan their own investigations by doing background research and selecting methods and tools

- conduct their own investigations by identifying and controlling variables, exploring relationships, using tools, collecting data, and working collaboratively

- analyze their data and draw conclusions

- prepare and present oral and written reports on their investigations to their class and over the World Wide Web

- extend what they have done and learned by reflecting on their work, presenting next steps, considering the relationships among various topics, and linking the topics with global issues