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Interactions in Nature:
An investigation of Acid Rain
A WebQuest for 11-12 Grade |
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Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits
Pollutant gases are released into the atmosphere every day. This is the result of human activities as well as natural events. One of the consequences of having the pollutants in the atmosphere is the creation of a wet deposition known as acid rain. Throughout the world this toxic precipitation impacts the environment, the health of organisms, and the economic state of the area.
Task
The
Your team must perform a series of experiments concerning acid rain and must research several aspects about acid rain, including questions about your particular state. Everyone will be involved in the experiment portion of this project, but will be assigned separate roles to accomplish the research portion. Once both of these parts have been accomplished, the team will come back together to coordinate the final products needed for the presentation to the Grant Selection Committee.
Final Products
1. A lab report for each lab experiment. Copy tables/questions into your report.
2. A PowerPoint presentation which includes:
-one slide background used throughout
-stick to fairly basic animations throughout
-include answers to the questions from each person’s role description. *The answers to these questions are MUCH more important and will have a greater impact on your final grade than the design and decoration of the slideshow!
Experiments
Research Roles
Look at each role and decide which role each person will be taking on. Once your group has decided, each person will find a list of the type of questions their role must research and the links that must be used to find out information. Use only the sites given. This is not meant to be an internet search project, but rather an exercise in understanding and coordination with others to convey information.
Chemist
- What is acid rain?
- What chemicals make rain acidic, and how does it happen?
- Where do these chemical come from?
- How do we measure the acidity of rain?
- What is ph?
- Describe the ph range and list various things that correspond to the various ph levels.
- What is the ph of normal rain, and at what level does the ph become dangerous?
Ecologist
- What effect does acid rain have on trees and soil?
- How does the effect of acid rain on trees and soil affect us?
- What happens when lakes and aquatic systems become acidic?
- How do acidic water systems affect organisms and the environment?
- Which areas in your state are being affected by acid rain?
- What are the signs that acid rain is affecting your state’s environment?
Doctor
- How does acid rain affect humans?
- What are some of the direct effects of acid rain on humans? Are there any health problems associated with acid rain?
- What are some of the indirect effects of acid rain on humans? Does acid rain affect our sources of food, water, and air.
- What are the consequences of the effects of acid rain on people?
Economist
- Does acid rain affect building materials used in construction?
- Does acid rain have an effect on architecture?
- What does acid rain do to our roads, highways, and bridges?
- What is the effect of acid rain on things made from metal such as automobiles, trains, buses, and other means of transportation?
- What does the effect of acid rain cost us in terms of money?
- What are the economic consequences of acid rain on fisheries, forestry, and agriculture?
Historian
- When was acid rain first identified?
- Who coined the term “acid rain”?
- What/Who are the major contributors that have caused the acid rain problem?
- Are there any lessons that have been learned over time about the acid rain problem and/or ways of dealing with it?
Evaluation
Each lab will be assessed separately based on the lab report that is submitted by the team for each one.
Lab Report Rubric – 20 points each/60 points total
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(4 pts) |
(3 pts) |
(2 pts) |
(1 pt) |
(0) |
Points |
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Introduction |
1. Includes the question to be answered by the lab |
One of the "excellent" conditions is not met |
Two of the "excellent" conditions is not met |
Three of the "excellent" conditions is not met |
Missing |
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Methods |
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A description or step-by-step list of how the experiment was performed |
Description unclear, couldn't be repeated |
Missing |
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Results (data) |
Results and data are clearly recorded, organized so it is easy for the reader to see trends. All appropriate labels are included |
Results are clear and labeled, trends are not obvious, |
Resulsts are unclear, missing labels, trends are not obvious at all |
Results are present, though too disorganized or poorly recorded to make sense of |
Missing |
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Analysis |
The data and observations are analyzed accurately, trends are noted, enough data was taken to establish conclusion |
Analysis somewhat lacking in insight, enough data, though additional data would be more powerful |
Analysis lacking in insight, not enough data was gathered to establish trends, OR analysis does not follow data |
Analysis poor, not enough data, inaccurate analysis |
Missing |
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Conclusions |
1. Summarizes the essential data used to draw conclusions |
One of the "excellent" conditions is not met |
Two of the "excellent" conditions is not met |
Three of the "excellent" conditions is not met |
Missing |
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Format |
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Neat, organized with headings, few spelling/grammar errors |
Somewhat lacking in organization, multiple spelling/grammar errors, not neat |
Missing |
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Total = |
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Presentation rubric on following page (40 points total).
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Conclusion
To complete this project you must have submitted your lab reports for all labs and presented your Power Point presentation to the Grant Selection Committee (your class) for evaluation. If you have accomplished these steps, Congratulations!! Now that you are through, don’t forget that acid rain is a real problem for people every day. Steps have to be taken to learn more about it and come up with solutions for existing problems and prevention methods to lessen the problem in the future.
Credits & References
Special thanks to the following sources for all their help:
The entire group at the WaterCampus Department on the
Bernie Dodge – http://webquest.sdsu.edu/designpatterns/GENERIC/webquest.htm
Personal Copyright Statement
We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL.