Case Study Plan Title: Whats the Matter with Snow in Colorado?

Grade level Discipline(s)

6
th

Guiding Questions

Do our actions affect snowfall in Colorado? And if, how? Do changing levels of snow have anything to do with global temperatures?

Science

How do we see and experience global climate change in the Vail Valley? What role/influence does snow have on the lives of those in the Vail Valley? What forms of snow do we see and interact with? Why should we be concerned about snow in CO? What does climate change have to do with snow and water in CO?

Dates

10/10/11 11/16/11 5 weeks (buffer days 5)

Big Ideas

Author(s)

Katie McClanahan

Human Cause & Environmental Effect: Global climate change is influenced by human action and behavior. This can be seen in changing weather patterns and experienced through reduced snowpack. Both of which have huge implications for the state of Colorado, and residents of Vail Valley. There are many cultural and economic consequences, as well as environmental, through the reduction of the amount of water available in the state for irrigation and drinking. Matter exists in 3 states or phases, and changes based on energy and temperature. These changes can be explained through the motion, interaction and spacing of the atoms and molecules contained within it. The KPM or kinetic molecular theory shows the differences between the spacing, motion and interaction of atoms and molecules. Increased temperature speeds up molecule movement, and decreasing temperature slows down molecule movement.

Long Term Learning Target I can use the particle model of matter to analyze and predict how the arrangement and motion of particles in a substance changes in various temperatures. SC.6.1.1.b: Use the particle model of matter to illustrate characteristics of different substances SC.6.1.3.a: Explain how the arrangement and motion of particles in a substance such as water, determine its state.

1.

Supporting Learning Target I can identify and define the states of matter

Assessment Snowman posters (sum) Homework week 1 (sum)

2. I can describe the arrangement and motion of particles in any substance ----------------------------------------------------------------3. I can determine how the state of matter is determined by particle motion
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Role Plays (form) --------------------------------------------------------------------Homework week 2 (sum) --------------------------------------------------------------Scenario short answers (sum) --------------------------------------------------------------KPM chart (form)

4. I can explain the effects temperature has on particles in a substance --------------------------------------------------------------5. I can illustrate and explain the kinetic particle model

Summary
Using the kinetic particle model of matter, students will be able to describe how changing global temperatures affect states of water in Colorado.

Description
For those who live in the Vail Valley, life revolves around snow. As soon as fall arrives, people dive into their garages and attics. They bust out their skis
and boards, pick up the latest powder magazine, and prepare to hit the slopes at the first sign of snow. But this year, something unusual is going on. Around town, its been a common sight to see many people looking up into the skies and wondering if this year will be the same as last. Changing weather patterns brought record low levels of snow last year, and for many residents, this not only interfered with their recreational activities, but also affected their livelihoods, financial status and altered their culture. This year, as the valleys residents prepare for winter, all of them are asking.whats

going on with snow in Colorado!? For the next five weeks, students will investigate this puzzling matter. Theyll ask and answer questions such as; why has the weather been so irregular, unusual and weird? Do our actions affect snowfall in Colorado? Do changing levels of snow have anything to do with global temperatures? Do those of us living in the Vail Valley see and experience global climate change? With these questions, students will study the lifecycle of snow, in relation to states of matter, and the kinetic particle model. They will understand that there are three states of matter, which are determined by the arrangement and motion of particles. They will be able to explain how the arrangement and motion of particles in a substance determines its state. They will experiment with properties of matter, and develop an understanding of the direct relationship between temperature and energy. Students will engage with moral and ethical dilemmas and ask if their actions and behaviors affect snowfall in CO in any way. Students will look at current case studies in Colorado, read scientific texts to examine changing global temperatures and identify human influenced causes on reduced snowpack. They will understand that their behaviors and actions impact the local (Eagle County) and global environment. Based on their investigations, and findings, students will draw conclusions about the relationship between the causes of changing snowpack in Colorado and the effect(s) and influences of human caused global warming on it. At the end of the five weeks, students will write and prepare an action plan or proposal that they will present to the Vail town council or school town meeting.

EL components Introduction to case study

Ideas

Mystery Piece Disappearing snow BBK-KPM, States of Matter, Climate change. History of Vail Valley & its relationship with snow. FINAL: Action Plan or Proposal Identify causes of changing snowpack in CO Explain whats happening using KPM What this means for the environment and residents Snow experts/snow scientists?? Lab experiences Share information and knowledge to community

Product 1. 2. 3. Expert Field Work Service

Resources

Content Connections

Gallery walk of Vail Valley Videos Role plays Eagle County/Vail Valley History Writing: correspondence writing and effective writing, Summarizing Reading: informational/scientific texts Analyzing and interpreting data and graphs

October 2012
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

7 Week 1:Intro Hook/Big Pic

LT: I can identify human influence on changing states of matter Moral dilemma on climate change & snow in the Vail Valley.

10

LT: I can identify why snow and water are important in CO.

11

LT: I can identify the changing states of snow

12

13

History of Vail Valley & relationship with snow. -Gallery walk

Lifecycle of Snow -Posters for the classroom Town Meeting Intro.

-Take a Stand

14 Week 2: BBK: States of Matter

15
LT: I can show everything I know about changing state of matter on my pre-test. Pre-CFA Homework assigned NO SCIENCE

16

17
LT: I can explain how the arrangement and motion of particles in a substance determines its state.

18 LAB
SLC Prep

19

20

LT: I can explain the

behavior and properties of molecules in NonNewtonian matter. Oobleck: The Dr. Seuss Experiment Homework due

21 Week 3: BBK: KPM

NO SCHOOL

22
Introduction to Project, Part 1 *Gallery Walk

23

LAB
Intro to project, part 2 *Task Analysis
Project Planning

24

25
LT: I can explain the arrangement & motion of particles. KPM BBK

LAB

26

LT: I can analyze the arrangement & motion of particles in different scenarios. KPM Scenarios Homework due

27 ***Check Science Journals this weekend!

*do thought sheet in class

28 Week 4:

LT: I can identify what causes states of matter to change. Temperature change lab

LAB

29

30
LT: I can explain what happens to the particles in matter as temperature changes. *power pt & work sheet

LAB
LT: Ghost challenge

31

November 2012
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Ice Cream Challenge, Part 1

Friday 1 LAB
Ice Cream Challenge, part 2 LT: I can analyze and
predict whats going to happen to the particles as the temp. changes.

Saturday 2 3

LAB

LT: I can observe

and describe the effects of phase changes on states of matter.

Week 5: Apply Work Week

Scenarios Part 2

LT: I can analyze phase scenarios, identifying temperature, arrangement, energy (movement) and a summary of how the state of matter

6 Jeopardy/review Matter Quiz game

8
Product Planning & putting together. Expert text. On snow and community

Product Putting together.

10

Give them the LTs x5 Write down what they mean to you/explain them Quiz

*future protocol **SEE LDC MODDULE!!!

Work on Make and Hand out 3 key info. sheets

*FOCUS ON PROJECT

has changed and WHY

1. 2. 3.

states of snow temp. changes snow and community

*students work on filling out the info. using their notebooks 1st draft due by end of class

11 Week 6: Product: Presentation Week Tech time

12
PRODUCT CREATION

13
PRODUCT CREATION

14
PRODUCT CREATION

15
PRODUCT CREATION POST CFA Putting Projects Together

16 POST CFA

17

Tech Time

POST CFA Putting projects together.

18 Thanksgiving break 25 BUFFER WEEK

19

20

21

22

23

24

Last Day Project Presentations

26

27

28

29

30

Town Meetings
Town meetings have been used by communities for hundreds of years as a way to communicate current issues and events, and as a means for direct democratic involvement from ordinary citizens as well as experts. Later on, we will transform our classroom into a town meeting. You are invited (required) to share your knowledge and findings with our community (classmates) and offer your expert opinion as to how your work thus far has related to the big picture. We will hold town meetings every Friday, as a means to checking in, homework review, summary of the week, what did we learn this week, and how does it connect to the big picture, and seeing where were all at.

Lesson Plans
Week 1: Oct. 10-12 Wed 10/10/12 The Moral Dilemma: Students will engage with moral and ethical dilemmas and ask if their actions and behaviors affect snowfall in CO in any way LT: I can identify human influence on changing states of matter Supporting LT: I can identify actions and behaviors that affect snow in CO. C.S. This means I can. - I can work with my peers and clearly communicate my thoughts and ideas -I can respect the opinions of others Thursday 10/11/12 Cold, Clouds and Snowflakes: Why does snow/water matter in the Vail Valley, and how does it connect to me? LT: I can identify why snow and water are important in CO. C.S. This means I can. -Analyze graphs & charts, to pull out meaningful information -I can look at trends though history, and draw conclusions about the current state of snow and water.

Friday 10/12/12 Snow Process LT: I can identify the changing states of snow ___________________________________________ Week 2: Oct. 15-19 Monday 10/15/12 Science Unit 2: Pre CFA LT: I can show everything I know about changing states of matter on my pre-test. Tuesday 10/16/12-No Science (WORMS & COMPOSTING lecture) Wed: 10/17/12 States of Matter LT: I can explain how the arrangement and motion of particles in a substance determines its state. C.S. This means I can identify the characteristics of solids, liquids and gases. Thurs: 10/18/12 SLC Prep. Friday 10/19/12-Oobleck: The Dr. Seuss Experiment LAB LT: I can explain the arrangement and motion of particles in a substance. Supporting LT: I can explain the behavior and properties of molecules in Non-Newtonian matter. C.S: This means I can. -I can define Newtonian matter -I can define Non-Newtonian matter -I can identify examples of non-Newtonian matter. ______________________________________________ Week 3: Oct. 22-26 Monday 10/22/12-No School Tues. 10/23/12- Intro to Final Project, Part 1 LT: I can identify key features of project examples C.S. I can compare and contrast final projects..

Wed. 10/24/12 Intro. to final project, part 2 L.T. I can understand and explain the project task and rubric. Thurs. 10/25/12 KPM BBK L.T. I can explain the arrangement & motion of particles. Fri. 10/26/12 KPM BBK- Scenarios LT: I can use the particle model of matter to analyze and predict how the arrangement and motion of particles in a substance changes ________________________________ Week 4: 10/29-11/2 Monday: 10/29 Temperature Changes LAB LT: I can identify how temperature affects changing states of matter C.S. I can explain what causes states of matter to change. Tuesday 10/30 Particles & Temperature L.T. I can explain what happens to the particles in matter as temperature changes. C.S. This means I can -Temperature increase -Temperature decrease Wed. 10/31-Ghost Challenge LAB L.T. I can describe what my ghost is made out of. Thurs: 11/1/12-Ice Cream Challenge Part 1 LAB LT: I can observe and describe the effects of phase changes on states of matter. C.S. This means I can -I can describe melting and freezing. -I can describe condensation and evaporation.

Friday 11/2/12 Ice Cream Challenge Part 2 LT: I can analyze particle arrangement and motion as states of matter and temperature change. C.S: This means I can -I can explain particles based on temperature -I can explain particles based on state of matter ____________________________________________ Week 5: 11/5-11/9 Monday 11/5 Scenarios Part 2 LT: I can analyze phase scenarios, identifying temperature, arrangement, energy (movement) and a summary of how the state of matter has changed and WHY C.S. This means I can -I can connect temperature changes to energy and phase changes Tuesday 11/6 Jeopardy/Review Game L.T. I can use my background knowledge to show everything I know about the Kinetic Particle Model Wednesday 11/7 Matter Quiz L.T. I can show everything I know about the Kinetic Particle Model on my quiz. Thurs. 11/8 Information Scavenger Hunt
LT: I can collect information for my project task from a variety of sources. C.S. This means I can -I can read informational texts, and identify supporting details to the project task. -I can identify key information from my science notebook

Friday 11/9 Product Planning

LT: I can create a first draft using my information sheets and science notebook. C.S. -I can outline and organize my information. -I can clearly report and present my information.

____________________ Week 6: 11/12-11/12 Monday 11/12 Product Creation Tuesday 11/13 Product Creation Wed. 11/14 Post CFA Thurs. 11/14 Post CFA Friday 11/15 Post CFA

Thanksgiving Week: 11/19-11/23 Buffer Week: 11/26-12/1 Monday 11/26- LT: I can show my understanding and explain my thinking about LTLT2.
C.S. -I can use my note catcher to take notes (about the science projects) -I can (explain my thinking by) creating an answer to the task question.