Title of Project: Climate Patterns and Solutions to Global Warming

Grade Level: 6-8

Number of Students Participating: 28

Contributed by:

Teacher: Laura Dennemann

School: St. Thomas

District or County: Diocese of Covington

Overview/Description of Project: Students wanted to use the new information they had learned about climate patterns/changes and global warming by promoting positive responses and solutions to the environmental trend of global warming. After listing possible actions, the students decided to partner with the local home improvement store to promote energy efficient environmentally safer light bulbs and to create a legacy garden.

Goals:

1. Raise Awareness & Offer Solutions

2. Fact sheets with light bulb discount coupon & video commercials

3. Legacy Garden to process carbon dioxide and increase oxygen in atmosphere.

4. Incorporate into yearly flower bulb planting field trip with Carmel Manor residents.

Core Content Areas:

Science a. Climate-patterns and changes; meteorology

b. How humans can affect quality of life

c. Describe the effects of science and technology on society

d. realize the cumulative ecological effects of pollution and recognize factors whereby humans effect the quality

of life.

PREPARATION

1. Students and teachers study climate patterns and changes. Students research effects of climate changes on earth.

2. Students completed an opinion paper about Global Warming

3. Students view “An Inconvenient Truth” .

4. Brainstorming – “We have to wake up/react/do something.”

5. Narrow the focus and choose action(s).

ACTION

1. Students create a fact sheet about global warming and positive solutions along with a discount coupon win conjunction with the local home improvement store.

2. Students design, create proposal to principal and pastor, collect/purchase plantings, and install a legacy garden to respond to the need for green spaces to process carbon dioxide in atmosphere.

REFLECTION

Students complete an opinion paper and share with class and families.

Students establish possible solutions to reduce global warming both human and natural connections.

Students list, discuss, and reach consensus on their actions.

Students assess the success of the energy efficient light bulb campaign by…..?

CELEBRATION

Students plant flower bulbs with senior citizens at Carmel Manor nursing home.

Students have a dedication ceremony for the Legacy Garden.