Lab 1: Your Ecological FootprintBackgroundWe use energy in everyday activities, from turning on the lights to driving to school. Most of that energy is derived from burning fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), into the atmosphere.A carbon footprint is the total amount of GHG emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product. A household’s carbon footprint varies depending on factors such as home size, types of vehicles used, and household members’ eating and purchasing patterns.We care about our carbon footprint because GHGs absorb energy and trap heat in our atmosphere. We need some amount of GHGs in our atmosphere to survive, but too great an amount and too rapid an increase can have devastating effects on our environment, our health, and the economy.Current consumption of fossil fuel releases more than 25 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. If current trends continue, atmospheric CO2 will triple by the end of the century—levels not seen for more than 40 million years.By measuring our carbon footprint, we can learn how we are contributing to this rise in atmospheric CO2 and how we might use energy more efficiently.In this lab, you will calculate your household’s yearly carbon footprint. After calculating your data, you will draw observations about your household’s carbon footprint, including identifying ways you can work to reduce it.Begin Work on Your LabTo begin work on your lab, access:Your Ecological Footprint Instructions.Your Ecological Footprint Template.

Benchmark – Science/Health Unit Plan       For this assignment, you will create a unit plan containing three   individual lesson plans designed for the students outlined in the   “Class Profile.” Choose a grade level for the students,   then select an NGSS from the physical, life, or earth/space sciences,   as well as a health/nutrition standard from your state, for the   3-lesson unit. You may adapt any previous assignments in the creation   of this mini-unit plan, as long as the three lessons form a planned,   cohesive unit.  Use the 5E lesson plan template for each of the   three lesson plans. In your unit, design the three lesson plans so that they: Use a variety of teaching strategies and technologies that     encourage the students’ development of critical thinking and     problem solving. Use strategies that create opportunities     for students’ active engagement in their learning and promote     a supportive learning environment. Incorporate the use of     digital resources to promote effective verbal, nonverbal, and media     communication techniques while creating opportunities for active     inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the elementary   classroom.  Integrate formative and summative assessment     techniques that measure all four DOK levels, and provide students     feedback on their learning so that they can make adjustments;   and Use differentiated strategies to meet the needs of all     students in the “Class Profile.”