Sustainability Project

Purpose:

The purpose of the Earth and Space Science Trimester 3 final project is to improve sustainability at Kennedy High School. As you complete this project you will…

• Identify an area in which to improve sustainability

• Collect data to support the need for improvement

• Research potential solutions to improve sustainability

• Develop a proposal specific to Jefferson High School

• Present the proposal

Overview:

• Through the lens of Minnesota American Indian Tribes or communities or other another culture, develop and discuss how a warming climate impacts one or more of the spheres (the hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, or atmosphere)  

• Identify an Area of Focus: Choose one of the project ideas (or a related area with your teacher's approval) and how it is part of the or affects the sphere you focused on in step 1.

• Data Collection: Collect data relevant to your chosen idea at our high school. Consider if there is any local data or anecdotal evidence related to how a changing climate is affecting your chosen idea.

• Research Potential Solutions: Research sustainable solutions which have already been implemented in other contexts for your chosen idea.  Evaluate those solutions Costs and Benefits relative to your chosen idea.

• Develop a Proposal: Create a detailed proposal for how to improve sustainability in your chosen idea. In your proposal, explain how your proposed improvements could also contribute to mitigating (decreasing) the effects of climate change or adapting to its local impacts. Discuss how your proposal considers the specific environmental context of Bloomington/Minnesota or your proposed community.

• Presentation: Prepare a presentation to share your findings and proposal. Your presentation should include a brief section discussing how practices that are not sustainable and a warming climate impacts the hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, or atmosphere from the lens of Minnesota American Indian Tribes and communities and other cultures.

Project Ideas:

Consider projects that fit into one of these categories:

• Waste Reduction and Recycling Initiatives

• Energy Conservation

• Water Conservation

• Green Transportation

• School Gardens and Green Spaces

• Food Sustainability

• Environmental Education and Awareness

• Renewable Energy Projects

• Plastic Pollution Reduction

• Green Building and Infrastructure

Project Steps:

Step 1: Identify a Climate Issue: Through the lens of Minnesota American Indian Tribes or communities or other another culture, develop and discuss how a warming climate impacts one or more of the spheres (the hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, or atmosphere) 

Step 2: Identify an Area of Focus: Choose one of the project ideas (or a related area with your teacher's approval) from the list above and how it is part of the or affects the sphere you focused on in step 1. 

Step 3. Data Collection: Collect data relevant to your chosen idea. Consider if there is any local data or anecdotal (unscientific) evidence related to how a changing climate is affecting your chosen idea.

Step 4: Research Potential Solutions: Research sustainable solutions which have already been implemented in other contexts for your chosen idea.  Evaluate those solutions Costs and Benefits relative to your chosen idea.

Step 5: Develop a Proposal: Create a detailed proposal for how to improve sustainability in your chosen idea. 

Step 6: Presentation: Prepare a presentation (Slideshow, Webpage, Canva, Video, Research Report) to share your findings and proposal.