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Post date: Sep 17, 2012 6:30:58 PM
Session 1
· Design of experiments: We will discuss how to design a controlled experiment. We’ll focus on identifying the independent and dependent variables, control, repeated trials, and constants. We’ll also practice writing testable hypotheses and appropriate titles for experiments. We’ll look at amny examples and practice identifying the components.
· Introduction to One World (MYP assessment criteria)
· Begin PCB case study: In the PCB case study we’ll look at data showing how PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) have spread to remote Alaskan mountain lakes.
o PCBs were widely used as dielectric and coolant fluids, for example in transformers, capacitors, and electric motors. Due to PCBs’ toxicity and classification as a persistent organic pollutant, PCB production was banned by the United States Congress in 1979 and by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2001.[1] According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PCBs have been shown to cause cancer in animals, and there is also evidence that they can cause cancer in humans.[3] A number of peer-reviewed health studies have also shown a causal link between exposure to PCBs and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, a frequently fatal form of cancer. Wikipedia
Due to the stability of the chemical structure in PCBs, the molecules are extremely prolific. We’ll use the scientific method to develop hypotheses about how the spreading of PCBs to remote mountain lakes has occurred and examine and analyze data to see if it supports or refutes our hypotheses. Ultimately, students will write a One World essay about PCBs.
· HOMEWORK: Identifying the parts of an experiment worksheet.
Session 2
· Scientific Notation: We’ll begin by watching the short video (~5 minute), “Powers of 10”, which explores the wide range of scales in our universe from the subatomic particle (<10^-15 m) to clusters of galaxies (around 10^24 m). We’ll discuss how scientific notations make it much more convenient to deal with this broad range of scales. We’ll have some practice adding and subtracting (can be tricky) and multiplying and dividing with scientific notation.
· Continue PCB Case study. See the EPAs page on PCBs for more useful information about this chemical:http://www.epa.gov/region8/toxics/pcb/
· HOMEWORK: PCB article
Session 3
· Operations with significant figures: We’ll learn how to add/subtract and multiply/divide with significant figures according to 2 rules. We’ll practice a bit with some examples. We’ll also try some examples where we are applying the rules to scientific notation as well. This can get trick, especially when we look at adding/subtracting with scientific notation and considering significant figures.
· Finish PCB case study.
· Discuss One World Essay assignment
· HOMEWORK: PCB One World Essay
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