Environmental Science Spring Final Choice Project

Environmental Science Spring Final Choice Project

You may choose either to take the final as 15% of your grade, or create a project for 7.5% of grade and final worth 7.5% of grade

Ö Due Thursday 5/8 (presentations begin)

Ö Worth 7.5% of overall grade (if you choose this option)

Option 1 Create a Public Service Announcement video to Present a Problem and Propose Solutions

Choose from the following topics (no duplicates allowed)

· Solid Waste in Georgia (landfills, incinerators, etc.)

· No more plastic water bottles

· Recycle aluminum

· The Cigarette Butt pollution problem

· Don’t flush your leftover prescription meds.

· Cruise ship waste

· Noise pollution in oceans

· Decline of bees in US and worldwide

· Fresh water use in Georgia

· Stop Idling of vehicles!

· Get rid of your Lawn!

· Your own proposal (CHECK WITH ME)

______/35 The problem must be well supported with causes, details, statistics and scientific facts, told in broad enough terms that the public would be persuaded to act, and supported with a broad base of research-based facts, covering the wide range of the topic.

______/ 35 Propose research-based solutions FOR INDIVIDUALS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE STATE and/or NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. Go beyond the first solution to find solutions to every aspect of the problem.

_____/70 content total

OPTION 2 Car of the Future

Research the many different types (at least 5) of current and future non-gasoline ways to power cars. Include information on cost, convenience, energy distribution network (how and where to refuel), power, feasibility, resource use, efficiency and other pros and cons of each type of power source. Create a chart for easy compare and contrast of each type of vehicle. Choose one to highlight and argue why it is the best bet for the future of cars. Bring in a model to show and tell how your chosen car works.

______/ 20 Comparison chart contains excellent information on topics listed above.

______/ 20 Pictures of examples with explanations

______/20 Arguments for the chosen car are solid and well thought-through.

______/10 Model of at least one car type (not gas-powered) shown

_____/70 content total

Option 3 Design an Environmentally friendly house, school, hotel or restaurant.

Research LEED certification and other “green” features in buildings. Present your project in the form of a 3D model, or hand-made drawings (quality, using straight edges, multiple views, etc). Be prepared to justify every decision and explain the environmental benefits over conventional methods. Not every item must be shown on model/drawings, but you should be able to talk about each item and have a picture of an example, on a poster board, trifold, or booklet that the whole class can see.

______/10 Overall layout, location and placement of building is planned for energy saving and environmentally friendly living. (ie. Keep access to public transportation in mind, facing which way and why?, etc.)

______/10 5 items of environmentally friendly landscaping (xeriscape, indigenous, etc.)

______/10 At least 1 renewable energy source & explanation for why you chose this over other renewables

______/20 10 items for energy saving/efficiency

______/10 3 items for indoor water saving

______/10 5 items made of environmentally friendly materials (ie. Construction materials, furniture, etc.)

_____/70 content total

Option 4: Geo-Engineering

Investigate and present at least five solutions to global warming, NOT including reducing fossil fuel use or other pollution control. Format will be a diagram or large picture(s) or prototype of each device/system, along with an oral explanation. Each solution must include:

______/ 10 Establish the need (this can be taken for entire project, or individual aspects)

______/ 5 x 5 Describe the solution in as much detail as possible. What is the science behind how this would work?

______/ 5 x 5 Describe the costs and benefits, other advantages and disadvantages and practicality/feasibility

______/ 2 x 5 Should we do this? Why or why not?

_____/70 content total

______/ 20 Presentation quality and delivery. Practiced. Knowledge was solid. Time shared evenly, if partners.

______/5 Timing (3-6 minutes)

______/5 separate sheet with AT LEAST FIVE REPUTABLE WEBSITES

______/ 100 TOTAL

Choose from the following topics (no duplicates allowed)

1. ______Solid Waste in Georgia (landfills, incinerators, etc.)

2. ______No more plastic water bottles

3. ______Recycling aluminum

4. ______The Cigarette Butt pollution problem

5. ______Don’t flush your leftover prescription meds.

6. ______Cruise ship waste

7. ______Noise pollution in oceans

8. ______Decline of bees in US

9. ______Fresh water use in Georgia

10. ______Stop Idling of cars

11. ______Get rid of your Lawn!

12. ______Your own proposal (CHECK WITH ME)

______

13. ______Your own proposal (CHECK WITH ME)

______

14. ______Your own proposal (CHECK WITH ME)

______

15. ______Your own proposal (CHECK WITH ME)

______

16. ______Your own proposal (CHECK WITH ME)

______

OPTION 2 Car of the future

17. ______

18. ______

19. ______

20. ______

OPTION 3 Environmentally Friendly Structure

21. ______

22. ______

23. ______

24. ______

OPTION 4 GeoEngineering

25. ______

26. ______

27. ______

OPTION 5 Be Part of the Solution Project

28. ______

29. ______

30. ______

31. ______

32. ______

33. ______

Option 5: Be Part of the Solution Project. No presentation required.

Research and create something about your world/home that is environmentally positive. Restore a habitat, rid an area of invasives (naturally), create a backyard habitat, build a compost bin, start an organic vegetable garden, etc. Your project must include

· BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER pictures including those of you involved in its making. These must be turned in the form of a powerpoint on flash drive.

· A minimum two page (1.5 line-spaced, 11 candara font) type written research paper with properly cited, reputable references explaining the importance of your work on the environment. Complete with statistics, etc. At least 5 references. No Wikipedia-type references allowed.

· A rough draft must be included with paper.

· Paper must be submitted via TurnItIn.com

______/ 50 Quality and perceived impact of project

______/ 50 Research Paper

· content

· 5 reputable references

· size requirements met

· mechanics: spelling, grammar, sentence structure, proper paragraph structure, etc.

Option 5: Be Part of the Solution Project. No presentation required.

· BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER pictures including those of you involved in its making. These must be turned in the form of a powerpoint on flash drive.

· A rough draft must be included with paper.

· Paper must be submitted via TurnItIn.com

______/ 50 Quality and perceived impact of project

______/ 50 Research Paper

· content

· 5 reputable references

· size requirements met

· mechanics: spelling, grammar, sentence structure, proper paragraph structure, etc.