Climate+Change+Webquest

Department: Science & Technology toc =Climate Change Webquest = 

__Introduction__
We hear about it on the news, we read about it in newspapers and magazines. As we have discussed in class, climate change is a huge issue. Is the earth really getting warmer? Is it due to human intervention, or is it part of a natural cycle? What's happening with the glaciers? Is there really a problem? There is a lot of discussion about what climate change is, the causes and what, if anything, can be done about it. Politically there is now a great deal of pressure for the President and the legislature to implement effective environmental policy. In this assignment, you will be investigating climate change and what, if anything, can or should be done about it.



 The president and the legislature are working to draft environmental policy. Your group has been asked to give a presentation advising them on creating effective policy. Each person in your group will assume a role; economist, climatologist and environmentalist. With each of you focusing on your specific role, you will use the databases and websites below to research and find relevant information. Together you will create a multimedia presentation (Powerpoint, video, digital story, etc.) to accompany your oral presentation, to familiarize the group you are presenting to with the following: Also, you must include a works cited page written in MLA style, you must correctly cite sources for all your information, photos, video clips, etc. You should use at least four reliable resources in finding your information.  Discuss the type of presentation you wish to do with the teacher for approval. Remember that your part of the oral presentation with be from the role you are playing; environmentalist, climatologist, or economist. Feel free to dress the part to make it that much more realistic.
 * the history of the situation
 * present evidence of the current situation
 * why it is happening
 * what is the current impact
 * what is p redicted for the future
 * Finally, you will present a plan for what can be done about it.



__Process __
Though you will work together to create the presentation, each of you will have a different contribution according to your role. Use the resources listed to find information relevant to your role. At the end there is a list of resources that will be helpful for everyone.

<span style="color: #083b07; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> __**Climatologist**__ - you will focus on the science behind climate change; why it is happening, what is predicted to happen, changes in weather patterns, glacier, sea levels, etc, and what can be done about it. <span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Databases: <span class="wiki_link_ext">[|Science Resource Center] - Contains current articles from science journals, books and magazines. [|InfoTrac] - Find articles about mythology and from science magazines. (Search Tip: Search all InfoTrac databases at once by selecting "All Cross-Searchable Products" right under the search box.)

[|BEYOND THE IVORY TOWER: The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change] - article from Science magazine [|NASA] [|NOAA] - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [|Stanford Solar Center] - factors, trends and effects of global warming [|Union of Concerned Scientists] - information on global warming, renewable energy.

<span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="color: #083b07; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> __**Environmentalist**__ - your focus will be on the environmental impact of climate change. How will this effect wildlife, sea life, forests? What effect will melting glaciers have globally? Etc. Databases: <span class="wiki_link_ext">[|Science Resource Center] - Contains current articles from science journals, books and magazines. [|InfoTrac] - Find articles about mythology and from science magazines. (Search Tip: Search all InfoTrac databases at once by selecting "All Cross-Searchable Products" right under the search box.)

[|The Nature Conservancy] - discusses different impacts of climate change [|Environmental Protection Agency] - website on climate change

<span style="color: #083b07; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> __**Economist**__ - you will look at the effect, not only of climate change, but of environmental policy, on the economy, mostly nationally, but globally also. <span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Databases: [|Infotrac] - search the General Business File for artcles on climate change and it's economic impact. <span style="color: #083b07; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Articles: [|"Global Warming Could Significantly Impact World Economy"] [|"Corporate America Warms to Fight Against Global Warming"]

<span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> __**Other websites that may be useful for all roles**__:

<span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[|National Geographic] [|An Inconvenient Truth] - Official website of the movie [|Greenhouse effect] - video from University of California, San Diego [|The Ozone Hole] links on many different topics related to climate change and global warming. [] links on many different topics related to climate change and global warming.

<span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[|United States Global Research Program]



<span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The attached rubric will be used to evaluate your presentation.





<span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> After the presentations, write a maximum one page reflection on this assignment. What was your opinion about climate change and what should/should not be done about it before this assignment? How has your opinion changed based on the information you found? On the presentations you heard? <span style="color: #083b07; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Will that change any of your habits with regards to energy and the environment (recycling, using less energy, walking more instead of driving, etc.)?

media type="custom" key="3482366"

<span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Citation Style: MLA
<span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Examples are available from [|University of North Carolina] or [|aresearchguide.com].

__<span style="color: #155714; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Standards __
<span style="color: #083b07; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Information Literacy Standards

Standard 2: Develop Information Seeking Strategies 2.21 Use information sources of all types to explore a topic.

Standard 3: Locate and Access Information 3.14 Select the best sources for the information need.

Standard 4: Use Information 4b Extraction of Most Relevant Information 4.17 Gather information to support a point of view in persuasive writing.

Standard 5: Synthesize Information 5.10 Consider the purpose and audience for the product and/or presentation.

Standard 6 Participate in Collaborative Activities 6.16 Actively listen to and respectfully respond to the point of view of others. 6.20 Help to organize and integrate the contributions of all the members of the group into information products.