I have taught 7th through 12th grade science in the Seaside School District since 2003, with seven years of Beginning Spanish and Spanish for Spanish Speakers while at the middle school. My primary passion is leading students outdoors and letting the environment structure the flow of concepts back in the classroom as we watch seasonal changes such as bird migration, plant phenology, and King Tide events.
In this lesson, students investigate the effect of carbonic acid on razor clam shell mass to connect climate change and ocean acidification on the Oregon Coast.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students reflect on their own activity at the beach and learn about how beach recreation, ecosystem services, clamming, and tourism may be disrupted by climate change and ocean acidification.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students measure razor clam shells' mass before and after placing them in water acidified with carbonic acid.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students create a student action project to share their learning with someone outside the classroom.
In this lesson, students learn about carbon sequestration and measure trees on their campus to assess the amount of carbon they contain.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students use their knowledge of photosynthesis to consider how human activities, specifically land use, have disrupted the carbon cycle.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students take a walk to select a tree on campus or in the neighborhood, measure the DBH of their tree, and enter their data onto a spreadsheet to obtain the biomass and mass of carbon sequestered.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students discuss the cultural value of forests and their ability to act as carbon sinks and take action by choosing to protect trees through non-profit advocacy groups or by educating others.
