Essential Questions

  • Is my water safe?
  • Where does my water come from and where does it go when I’m finished with it?
  • How do my actions impact the water of my community, family, and city?

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

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?

Friday, May 3, 2013

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?

Friday, April 26, 2013

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?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

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?

Friday, April 5, 2013

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.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

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?



Friday, March 8, 2013

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.