WebQuest
The Effect of Greenhouse Gases on the Environment
Process
You'll be working in a group of four students and you will conduct research via a WebQuest. Your assignment is to determine the relationship between Global Warming and automobile fuel emissions. You will use this information to persuade the EPA that buying or not buying hybrid or electrical cars will produce a positive effect on the environment. To complete your task, you must follow the procedures below:
1. Read the description of each role needed for the project and decide which member will perform the duties (if less than four participants, the responsibilties of the missing member must be shared by all the members of the group).
2. Use the websites below to answer the Key Background Questions included in the Introduction page:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/extreme-ice-survey-article.html
http://www.agu.org/eos_elec/99148e.html
http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/greenhouse/Chapter1.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car1.htm
http://www.clean-air-kids.org.uk/globalwarming.html
http://www.deq.idaho.gov/air/prog_issues/climate_change/ghg_state_government.cfm
http://epa.gov/climatechangekids/difference.html
http://epa.gov/climatechangekids/change.html
3. As a group, examine the facts discovered by answering the Key Background Questions. Also, conduct further research in order to fully investigate the Key Background Questions in the Introduction page. Make a decision to convince the EPA that hybrid cars should or should not be used in improving the environment.
4. As a group, prepare an audio/visual presentation in the form of a video, powerpoint or poster which includes but not limited to pictures, graphics, chemical equations, etc. Also, be prepared to defend your point of view with relevant facts and supporting evidence.
5. Each member will prepare a written report in the format of a Newspaper Article.
Group Roles:
Scientist - Assign research activities to all members of the group (duties are to be assigned to the scientist as well). It is the responsibility of the scientist to ensure that all aspects of the topic are being addressed. The Key Background Questions should be divided among individual members of the group (about three questions per student) with the responsibility of finding and reporting the answers to the group.
Environmentalist - The aspect of the project that deals with the requirements of the EPA should be researched by this member of the group. This member will be responisble for examining the environmental factors related to fuel emission pollution. This member will conduct research that will help determine whether or not Global Warming is related to the gases formed by combustion.
Mechanical Engineer - The aspect of the project that is concerned with the design of hydrid or electrical cars will be done by this member of the group. This member will help the group in deciding if the components of hybrid cars are suitable in reducing pollution in the environment. The engineer should list specifically how the design supports or does not support an increase in air quality.
Chemical Engineer - The aspect of the project that requires information about chemical reactions and how gasoline is produced will be covered by this member of the group. This member will help the group understand how the Greenhouse gases are produced by automobiles and the group will use this information in deciding whether hybrid cars will make a difference or not in improving the environment.
Summary:
The group will brainstorm and analyze the answers to the Key Background Questions and the results of additional research in order to completely address the Essential Question. Each member of the group will make suggestions of how the information will be used in making the final decision or viewpoint about the use of hybrid cars. The group will compile each member's answers and research results to prepare an audio/visual presentation. The group is required to present their viewpoint to the class through a video, powerpoint or poster. All members of the group must participate in the presentation. Also, each member will write an individual Newspaper Article expressing their point of view and the results of the research.
Rubrics:
Click on the links below for the grading procedures: the Key Background Questions Rubric; the Audio/Visual Presentation Rubric; and the Newspaper Article Rubric.
The Public URL for this WebQuest:
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=13053
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