NYC Tap Water - Project Reflection due Monday 12/16 @ midnight

This week almost everyone presented their tap water campaign projects (or position papers). 

Now that they have been completed reflect on the learning, planning, and creation process.

I am interested in knowing your thoughts about this project and if/how it helped you learn.

You may choose to reflect (in paragraph form) on some or all of the following prompts...

Use the questions/promtps below as a guide, not a script.  I suggest you read through all of them first before you start writing.

• How did this project help you understand the safety of our drinking water in NYC?
• Has this project influenced your personal actions?  
• Will you make any changes? Why/why not?
• Do you think you have a better understanding of where NYC's drinking water comes from 
• Why or why not?
• What are some things that you found surprising about the bottled water industry when completing this project?
• How does this project compare to others that you have completed in school?  
• What did you like about it? What could make it better? Would you be interested in doing something similar in the future?
• Which types of projects did you think were the most engaging when presented (prezi, glog, video, rap, etc)?
• Explain your response
• Connect the project to your family, community, and the world.

Ashokan Center Reflection

• Describing your visit
• What was it like?  What were the highlights? What did you learn?  What did you find interesting? What will you remember the most from this trip?

• Compare and contrast the conditions of the Bronx river to those you observed on the Esopus creek.  Use your observations and data as evidence
• Use this link to look at the Bronx river data
• Use the water Quality Assessment worksheet you completed on the trip
• Did your guides and chaperones at the Ashokan Center do a good job of leading your classes?  What things did they do well?  What could have been better?

If you did not go on the trip reflect on what you have learned about the NYC water supply system. 

Water usage my life, my city, the world due MONDAY 10/14 @ midnight

This week we calculated our personal water usage, analyzed class data, and synthesized ways in which we could reduce our water footprints while in the shower.

We also participated in a Socratic Seminar where we discussed the water struggles faced by Binayo and other women in her village.

In your post respond (in paragraph form) to the following prompts

• How does your water usage compare to your classmates, to all NYers, to Binayo, to people from your home country? ---- use data in your response (follow the link below)
• Is your water usage sustainable?
• Should safe access to drinking water be a right?
• How could we ensure that all people on earth have enough water?
• What are your lasting impressions from this weeks class?  
• Will you use what you've learned to change the actions of yourself, family, or country?

The best posts will comment on the actual data and graphs created from our water calculator activity found here and cite textual evidence from the 'Burden of Thirst' article we read in class.
If you have time try out another way to calculate the amount of water you use in your life found here.  

The Lorax & Sustainability due 9/29 @ midnight

Writing Options

1. Write an opinion piece sharing your thoughts about Dr. Seuss’s purpose in writing The Lorax. Do you think his intentions were strictly for entertainment or to persuade its readers to act? Cite multiple and specific reasons/examples from The Lorax to support your position.  Connect your writing to our discussion of sustainability.

2. Write a short sequel to The Lorax which explains what happens to the Truffala seeds once they were given to the boy in the story.  Will your story have a happy ending?  Try to connect your story to the real world and the community that we live in. Include specific causes and effects that led to the final outcome of your story.  Illustrations and rhyming are welcome. Connect your sequel to our discussion of sustainability.
   
   
   

The Lorax in the Heights by Bradon Limbar

After the boy was given the seed

He could do as he pleased

He thought of the benefits, he thought of the rights

This was a young boy from Washington Heights

He thought long and hard, then some trees he planted

Some tall, some short, some straight, and some slanted

In a few weeks there were trees everywhere

Some so high, they disappeared high in the air

People wer wasteful and through out some goods

So the boy talked to people, he went to all the hoods

“Please don’t waste the resources, use them again for free

You ruining the sidewalk, where I want to plant a tree.”

Some said “Trees here?”  That would be rare!

Wait!  What’s that I’m smelling, is that fresh air?”

The boy replied, “Yes my good sir, the air is clean

There’s no more pollution and the electronics are all green”

People saw the difference and then the boy said

“I can try to solve the problem but it can’t be all on my head

So instead of driving a Hummer or a big fancy Range

Try something more green, and watch the world change”

Bronx River Canoe 2013 due 9/22 @ midnight

This week we went canoeing on the Bronx River.  Your task is to write a focused, well detailed, and deeply thoughtful/reflective post.  Use the prompts and questions below to guide your writing.

• In the days leading up to the Bronx River trip what did you find interesting about what you learned?  
• How did what you learned influence your expectations of the trip?
• Was the trip similar to or different from what you expected?  Explain.
• Be sure to write about the river itself... how was it different from what you expected.
• What were the most interesting things your learned and most memorable things you did on the trip?
• Now that you have seen the condition of the Bronx river what do you think should be done to continue to improve it?  How would/could we make this happen?

Didn't go on the trip?

• Write about what you learned over the past week of class.
• What was interesting and why?
• Did you make any new connections between what we learned and your life?  Explain.
• What was the most important thing you learned about the Bronx River.  Explain, reflect, connect
• Read and leave a COMMENT on three of your classmates posts
• comment on what you found interesting about what they wrote and why.

Final Blog Post

Think back about your entire year in Environmental Science.

What did you learn this year?  What are you taking with you?  What will you remember about this class 5, 10, or even more years from now.

What suggestions do you have for students that will take this class next year in order for them to be successful?

How could this course been improved?  What could/should be done differently in the future?

Which topic/project did you find to be the most interesting?

Thanks for a great year.

Stay in touch...

Mr. fox

Social Justice Expo @NYU

Think back to all of the work you have completed on your photovoice project from start to finish to answer the questions below.

Your responses should be in paragraph form.

• What was the most interesting thing you learned about the environment/our community when completing this project?  Explain
• What parts of your project are you the most proud of, which parts do you think could have been improved?
• How did your project compare to others that you saw at the Social Justice expo? 
• After completing this project do you feel that you and your classmates are able to make changes in your community?  Why or why not? 
• How did the use of Chromebooks impact the way this project was completed?

Pioneer Sail Reflection: Due Monday 5/6 @ midnight

This week we traveled aboard the Pioneer sail boat in the NY Harbor. Reflect on your experience in paragraph form using the questions below as a guide.

If you did not attend the trip write a reflection on the progress of your Photovoice Community Action Project.

• Describe your visit
• What was it like?  What were the highlights? What did you learn?  What did you find interesting? What will you remember the most from this trip?

• Explain how this experience compares to the way you learn in the classroom... How is it similar, how is it different?
• Do you think this trip could have been improved?  If so... how?

• Did our guides aboard the Pioneer do a good job of teaching you?  What things did they do well?  What could have been better?

Ashokan Center - Blog Post Due 4/28 @ midnight

This week we traveled to the Ashokan Center in the Catskill State Park. Reflect on your experience in paragraph form using the questions below as a guide.

If you did not attend the trip write a reflection on the progress of your Photovoice Community Action Project.

Macroinvertebrate study Esopus Creek, Ashokan Center

Ashokan Center reflection questions

• Describe your visit
• What was it like?  What were the highlights? What did you learn?  What did you find interesting? What will you remember the most from this trip?

• Explain how this experience compares to the way you learn in the classroom... How is it similar, how is it different?
• Do you think this trip could have been improved?  If so... how?

• Did our guides at the Ashokan Center do a good job of leading your classes?  What things did they do well?  What could have been better?

Photovoice Reflection - Due Sunday, 4/14 @ midnight

We have now completed the first phase of the Photovoice project.  Reflect on your experience below using the questions listed as a guide, not a script... write in paragraph form not numbers or bullets.

• Explain which issue (construction, trees, trash) you worked on and why you chose it.
• Describe your Photovoice experience
• What were your expectations coming in to the project...were these expectations met... did they change over time?
• Did you like working on this project?  Why or why not?
• Describe your experience working with the Columbia University graduate students (Justin, Michelle, Kat, Mary)
• Do you think they did a good job leading each session? Why or why not?
• What actions/next steps do you think we should take as a class in order to continue the work we have started?  - Explain your reasoning.
• Do you think our class working can change the community around our school?  Explain.
• Should Mr. Fox do the Photovoice project with his classes next year?  Why or why not?
• How could this project be improved?
• Do you plan on attending the Columbia University presentations on May 6th from 3 - 5pm?

Blog Post Due Sunday 4/7 @ midnight

Over the past few weeks we have learned about the Keystone XL pipeline and completed an activity where we extracted bitumen (a type of crude oil) from sand.

Reflect on this learning experience...

What did you learn and what did you find interesting?

Take a position on whether or not the Keystone XL pipeline should be built between Canada's tar sands and the Gulf of Mexico in the U.S.

Provide at least three reasons for your position and evidence to support your reasons.

Blog Post due Tuesday 4/2 @ midnight

Reflect on everything that you have learned about hydrofracking over the past few weeks.  Answer the following questions in paragraph form.

How has what you learned about hydrofracking changed over time.  Think about what you knew about hydrofracking before we began studying about this topic in comparison to what you know now.

What is your current position on hydrofracking...

• Do you think it should be allowed in NY state?
• What reasons do you have for your position?

How did the film Gasland influence your position on hydrofracking?

• Do you think differently about hydrofracking after viewing the film?  Why or why not?

Optional Blog Post due 3/11 @ midnight

Find a current science issue that's happening in the news right now.

Report on what the issue is, why it's important, things you find interesting, how it impacts your life/community.

Here's a link to get you started.

Hydrofracking Initial Position - Due 2/10 @ midnight

This week we have learned about how natural gas was made and what we use it for in our daily lives.  We have also learned about a relatively new technique called horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing that is capable of accessing previously difficult to reach natural gas deposits in shale rock thousands of feet below the surface.  Finally, we began to take a look at the risks and benefits of drilling for natural gas by hydrofracking in NY state.

Based on your understanding of the hydrofracking write down in your blog post whether or not you are for against drilling for natural gas in NY state.

Be sure to support your position with evidence and analysis (argue why your viewpoint/opinion is correct)

Also, explain why you disagree with the opposing viewpoint (argue why the other viewpoint/opinion is incorrect - this argument should also be supported by evidence and analysis).