ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems

In this video Paul Andersen explains how humans are impacting the Earth through farming, mining, pollution and climate change.  According to the NGSS wise management can reduce impacts on the planet.  This will become more important as developing countries start consuming more resources.  A K-12 teaching progression is also included.

CCC4: Systems and System Models

In this video Paul Andersen explains how systems can be used to understand phenomenon in science and create better designs in engineering.  He starts by defining the characteristics of a system and describes how system models can be used to better understand the world.  For example a system model of the water cycle can show the cycling of matter on the surface of the Earth.  He ends with a progression of instruction for a K-12 science classroom.

SEP8: Obtaining, Evaluating and Communicating Information

Scientists and Engineers spend over half of their working day reading, evaluating and producing text.  Therefore it is important that we produce students that have a high level of scientific literacy.  Students normally struggle with scientific reading due to the high level of jargon and multiple modes of presentation (i.e. graphs, images, data).  We can help our students become more scientifically literate by having them consume and produce scientific text from K to 12.  Several strategies for teaching this progression (e.g. adapted primary literature and mini-posters) are included.