INTRODUCTION TO

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

Christine Chadwick

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS How are humans impacting the essential

cycles that occur in nature? Are green products really better for the

environment? What can be done to educate the

community about contaminating water? How is over population impacting the

chemicals being put into the environment?

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS The chemicals that humans use in everyday life

are increasing certain chemical compounds that negatively impact different natural cycles.

Some Green products are better for the environment, but others just claim to be Green.

People need to understand that simple everyday actions lead to ground water contamination, such as medication

The higher density of population in developing countries causes there to be more toxic chemicals used and exposed to the environment, such as in cleaning products.

STUDENT GOALS SWBAT present a persuasive argument

for or against the use everyday chemicals.

SWBAT discuss how over population is impacting the amounts of certain chemical in the environment.

SWBAT identify important natural chemical reactions and cycles.

SWBAT create a method to educate the community about contaminating water.

CLEANING PRODUCT LABELS Pop quiz made by Ms. Laura Swann Four different ingredient lists from

different green and non-green products. I had to label each as green or non-

green. Grade: 75%

WATER CYCLE HAIKU’S 10 Haiku’s about the different parts of

the water cycle Benefits: Students can make their own

Haiku’s for other natural cycles Example? Sure!

GREEN VS. NON-GREEN DETERGENT Inquiry Lab Experiment! Results: Green was better, but it was not

obvious at first. This is an exemplar for students to do

their own inquiry lab.

OVER POPULATION PAMPHLET

The pamphlet covers general information on overpopulation

These are exemplars for students to see how you can present information to the public.

Student project: Educate the community about water contamination.

FAVORITE RESOURCES How Everyday Products Make People Sick

Blanc, P. D. (2007). How Everyday Products Make People Sick: Toxins at Home and in the Workplace. Berkeley: University of California Press

Elements of Environmental Chemistry Hites, R.A. (2007). Elements of Environmental

Chemistry. Hoboken: Wiley-Interscience  How green are eco-friendly cleaning

products? Kotler, S. (2008, January 3). How green are eco-

friendly cleaning products? Fox News. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318832,00.html

NEXT STEPS! Becoming more green at home and in

the classroom. Student designed green chemistry

inquiry lab experiments. Bringing the main ideas into the

classroom throughout the year.