Advanced Environmental & Earth Sciences
The following is a complete list of lab activities from PASCO's Advanced Environmental and Earth Sciences Teacher Guide. You may preview and download editable student handouts, as well as SPARKvue data files. The experiments in this guide can be performed using PASPORT Sensors, Wireless Sensors, and/or Lab Stations. A list of required materials is provided within each student handout, as well as the Teacher Resource Introduction file.
Grade Level: Advanced Placement
Subject: Environmental Science
Student Collection Files
| PS 2979 Material and Equipment | 338.63 KB |
Teacher Collection Files
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Activities
01) Determining Soil Quality
In this lab, students will collect and analyze three soil samples to determine their quality based on macro and microscopic observations, CO2 production, soil pH, and soil salinity.
02) Insolation and the Seasons
In this lab, students will develop and test a model solar panel that measures temperature changes at different angles. Students will record maximum and minimum temperatures at each variable angle before graphing and analyzing their results.
03) Investigating Specific Heat
In this lab, students explore specific heat by measuring the temperatures of water and sand under an incandescent bulb. Then, they use a calorimeter to precisely measure the specific heat of each.
04) Monitoring Microclimates
In this lab, students use a weather or anemometer sensor to identify factors that affect measurements used in reporting weather and climate information.
05) Sunlight Intensity and Reflectivity
In this lab, students will use a light sensor, a fast-response temperature probe, and a stainless steel temperature probe to explore the concept that air temperatures near the earth's surface result largely from the interplay of the sun's incoming energy and the absorption, reflection, and radiation of that energy by materials on the earth's surface.
06) Tracking Weather
In this lab, students use a weather/anemometer sensor to determine how variations in temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, dew point, wind speed, and sky conditions relate to each other and produce specific weather conditions.
07) Earth's Magnetic Field
In this lab, students use a magnetic field sensor to visualize the magnetic field lines surrounding Earth.
08) Radiation Energy Transfer
In this lab, students use a temperature sensor to determine the effect the color of a container has on the temperature of water in the container as it is heated using radiant energy.
09) Seafloor Spreading and Plate Tectonics
In this lab, students use a magnetic field sensor to explore the movement of Earth's crustal plates and the evidence that is used to support the theory of plate tectonics.
10) Modeling an Ecosystem
In this lab, students use a variety of sensors to explore the use of terrariums as a closed system for environmental studies and design methods for exploring the interrelationships of biotic and abiotic variables within ecosystems.
11) Photosynthesis and Primary Productivity
In this lab, students use a dissolved oxygen sensor to determine the primary productivity of an aquatic plant.
12) Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration in a Terrarium
In this lab, students will use an oxygen sensor, carbon dioxide sensor, and a temperature sensor to monitor a closed system (terrarium). After conducting their first study, students will be tasked with designing additional investigations for photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
13) Cellular Respiration and Carbon Cycle
In this lab, students use a carbon dioxide sensor to compare the respiration of dormant bean seeds with germinating bean seeds. Students will observe the contribution of cellular respiration to the global carbon cycle.
14) Energy Content of Food
In this lab, students will use a fast response temperature sensor to investigate and compare the energy content of four different food items: marshmallow, popcorn, peanut, and cashew.
15) Weather in a Terrarium
In this lab, students will design and conduct an investigation of weather using a closed system, weather sensor, and light sensor to help identify independent variables, dependent variable, and controlled variables.
17) Properties of Water
In this lab, students will use a stainless steel temperature sensor to explore how the properties of water can be explained by the molecular structure of water.
18) Air Pollution and Acid Rain
In this lab, students will use a pH sensor to investigate chemical reactions important in the formation of acid rain to understand the relationship between man-made emissions, acid rain, and problems arising from acid rain.
19) Monitoring Water Quality
In this lab, students use a water quality sensor, turbidity sensor, and weather/anemometer sensor to monitor the pH, dissolved oxygen content, conductivity, and turbidity of a natural body of water. Students will use their data to determine how water quality changes in response to changes in environmental factors.
20) Toxicology Using Yeast
In this lab, students will use a carbon dioxide gas sensor and pH sensor to evaluate pH's role in toxicity and the role of cell culture in toxicology studies.
21) Water Treatment
In this lab, students use pH, conductivity, and turbidity sensors to demonstrate how water treatment processes such as filtration, flocculation, and sedimentation improve water quality.
