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StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation2 i
Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Curriculum for Boston Public Schools
Grade5|DoesItReallyWork?InvestigatingClaimsaboutGreenInfrastructureThreeschoolyardinvestigationsinwhichstudentslookforevidenceintheirschoolyardtosupportorrefuteclaimsabouttheimpactofGreenInfrastructure.ForschoolswithGreenInfrastructureon‐site.Preparedby:KristinMetzandAnneKitchellPreparedfor:BostonWater&SewerCommissionApril2018
Preface
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum ii
ThesetwounitsweredevelopedaspartofapartnershipbetweentheBostonWater&SewerCommissionandtheBostonPublicSchoolsinwhichGreenInfrastructure(GI)wasinstalledatfive(5)BostonPublicSchool(BPS)sites.Thepartnershipcreatesnewopportunitiesforstudentstoexplorescience,technology,andengineering—andissuesofcriticalimportancetotheCityofBostontoday—inanauthenticcontextthatisimmediatelyrelevanttotheirlives.BothunitsalignscienceandengineeringconceptsrelatedtostormwaterandGreenInfrastructurewiththeMAScience,Technology/Engineering(STE)StandardsandScienceandEngineeringPractices.Thelessonsdrawontheideas,materials,andsuggestionsofengineersandscientistsworkingoninstallingGIattheBPSsites,aswellasfromBPSadministratorsandteachers.Thisisalivingdocument.Itisintendedtoengageteachersaspartnersinthinkingabouthowtheseconceptscanbetaughtinwaysthatwillbemostmeaningfulfortheirstudents.Theselessonsprovideaframeworkandasetofactivitiesforyoutotestinyourclassroomsandmodifyinthecontextofyoursciencecurriculum.
coverphotocredits:KristinMetzandwaterimage(modified):FlickrLamarGore/USFWS
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum iii
Acknowledgements
Specialthankstothemanypeoplewhoofferedinvaluablesupport,materialsandfeedbackonthisprojectincluding:KateEngland,BostonWater&SewerCommission;AnneKitchellandtheHorsleyWittenGroup;ElizabethCianciola,JulieWood,andtheCharlesRiverWatershedAssociation;KateKennan,Offshoots,Inc.;FionaBennie,JakeFoster,PamPelletier,andHollyRosa,BostonPublicSchools;andCaitlinDwyer‐Huppert.BostonPublicSchoolteachersMichaelClinchot,ChrisGrymonpre,andKathleenWrightgavecrucialfeedback;andteachersfromtheHernandez,Irving,andHorace‐Mannschoolshelpedshapetheinitialconceptattheearlieststagesoftheproject.
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum iv
Contents
Preface............................................................................................................................................................................................i
Acknowledgements...............................................................................................................................................................iii
Grade 5 | Does It Really Work? Three Investigations into Green Infrastructure ....................... 5
BeforeYouBegin—ANotetoTeachers..........................................................................................................................5
Grade5|Investigation1|CanGIGetMoreRainintotheGround?.....................................................................8
Grade5|Investigation2|IsGICool?..........................................................................................................................13
Grade5|Investigation3|CanGICleanStormwater?...........................................................................................18
Appendices .............................................................................................. (attached separately)
AppendixA:BackgroundResourcesforTeachers
AppendixB:GIPilotSchoolResources
AppendixC:PrintMaterialsforLesson7.1—7.4
AppendixD:CaptionedSlideshow(MicrosoftPowerPointPresentation)
AppendixE:YourSchoolyardDataTables(MicrosoftExcelSpreadsheet)
AppendixF:AdditionalResources
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5 5
Grade 5 | Does It Really Work? Three Investigations into Green Infrastructure
Before You Begin—A Note to Teachers Stormwaterrunoffistheleadingcauseofwaterpollutiontoday.YourschoolishelpingtoreducepollutionintheCharlesRiverbyusinganewnature‐basedtechnologycalledGreenInfrastructure(GI).GIreplacestraditional“grey”infrastructure,includingcatchbasinsandstormdrains(pipes),withnaturalelements,suchasplants,soil,andgravel,tomanagetheenormousvolumeofstormwatergeneratedincities,andaddressrelatedissues.TheseGIfeaturesgivestudentsopportunitiestoinvestigateimportantinnovationsintechnologyrightintheirschoolyard.EachofthefollowinginvestigationsintroducestudentstoaproblemfacingtheCityofBostoninacontextthatrelatestotheireverydaylives.TheylearnthatGIisonesolutiontotheseproblems.Ineachcase,theyinvestigatespecificclaimsthatGIissolutiontotheproblembyapplyingthescienceconceptsandpracticestheyknowtomeasureormodelGI’simpactontheirschoolyard,andbyextensiontheCity.Considerbringingstudentsfromdifferentschools(orclasses)togethertosharetheirfindingsfromtheseinvestigationsinajointsymposium.HowdoestheirevidenceabouttheimpactofGIintheirrespectiveschoolyardscompare?Didtheygetthesame,ordifferentresults?Didtheyarriveatthesame,ordifferentconclusions?InthefollowinginvestigationsstudentsexplorethreeclaimsaboutGI:
GIhelpsgetmoreprecipitationintotheground.
GIhelpsreduceairtemperatures/andtheurbanheatislandeffectincities.
GIhelpspreventsediment(andotherpollutants)frombeingcarriedintostormdrainsandfromthereintorivers,streamsandBostonHarbor.
Eachinvestigationtakes3‐5classperiods.Theycanbedoneinanycombinationorasstand‐aloneunits.OPTIONAL:Helpstudentslocatethenearestreceivingwaterorwaterbodyonamap(theCharles,NeponsetorMysticriversorBostonHarbor).Takeawalktovisitthemifyoucan.
Science & Engineering Standards
7.MS‐LS2‐4.Analyzedatatoprovideevidencethatdisruptions(naturalorhuman‐made)toanyphysicalorbiologicalcomponentofanecosystemcanleadtoshiftsinallitspopulations.7.MS‐LS2‐6(MA).Explainhowchangestothebiodiversityofanecosystem—thevarietyofspeciesfoundintheecosystem—maylimittheavailabilityofresourceshumansuse.Resourcescanincludefood,energy,medicine,andcleanwater.
Science & Engineering Practices
Askingquestionsanddefiningproblems.Analyzingandinterpretingdata.Planningandcarryingoutinvestigations.Developandusemodelsthatexplainhowchangesinlandcovercanleadtochangesinpopulations.
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5 6
Investigation 1—Can GI Get More Rainwater into the Ground?
The Water CycleStudentsapplywhattheyknowaboutthewatercycleandmakingmodelstoinvestigatetheclaimthatbioretentionfeatureshelpreducestormwaterrunoff.Theyworktogethertodevelop,andthenimprove,amodelofthebioretentionfeaturesontheirschoolyardthatdescribesitscomponentpartsandfunctionsandexplainshowbioretentionhelpsprecipitationmovebackintothebiosphereandgeosphere.
Investigation 2—Can GI Make the City Cooler?
Earth and Human Activity Studentsapplywhattheyknowaboutmeasuringtemperature,planning,andcarryingoutinvestigationstoexploretheimpactofGI.TheyworktogethertoplanandconductaninvestigationthatinvolvescollectingdatatodeterminewhetherGIthatusesplants(e.g.,bioretentionfeatures,likeraingardensandtreepits)affectsthetemperatureintheirschoolyard,andbyextension,theentirecity.
Investigation 3—Can GI Clean Stormwater?
Earth and Human Activity Studentsapplywhattheyknowabouthowwatertransportssediment,roadsalt,nutrients(i.e.,phosphorusandnitrogen),anddebrisandworktogethertoplanandconductaninvestigationthatincludescollectingdatatodeterminewhethertheGIintheirschoolyardhelpsremovesedimentandothermaterialsfromstormwater.
Teacher Preparation
Beforeyoubegin: ReadBackgroundonStormwaterandGI(AppendixA)
PrintoutamapofyourschoolyardwithGIdiagrams(AppendixB)Walkthesitetolocatethesefeaturesonyourschoolyard.
ReviewtheGIFactSheets(AppendixC)tolearnmoreaboutspecificGIpractices.
Notes:
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5 7
Making a Difference in the Community
InadditiontoinvestigatingtheclaimsabouttheimpactofGI,theseactivitiesinvitestudentstodiscoverwaystheycanhaveapositiveeffectontheircommunities.Freshwaterisapreciousandlimitedresource.Stormwateratpresentistreatedasapotentiallydestructivebyproductofrainthatshouldbequicklyandefficientlygottenridof.Studentswillparticipateintheefforttotreatstormwaterasavaluableresource,returningrainwatertothenaturalcycle,whichreplenishestheearth’ssupplyoffreshwater.
TheylearnthattheirschoolishelpingtosolveaseriouswaterqualityissueinBostonandthattheycanactivelyparticipate.
Theydiscoverthatwherewateriscomingfrom/goingtoisveryimportant—somethingrealscientistsandengineersdoeverydayaspartoftheirjobs.It’salsofunandexciting.
Theylearnthatpeoplecanhelpmitigateproblemslikewaterpollutionandclimatechangebyusingnewideas,technologies,andpractices.
Tosolvetheseproblems,peopleinawiderangeofjobshavetoworktogether.Theycouldbeoneofthem!
Curriculum Connections
CCSS.ELA‐Literacy.W.5.2.Writeinformative/explanatorytextstoexamineatopicandconveyideasclearly.CCSS.ELA‐Literacy.SL.5.4.Reportonatopicortextorpresentanopinion,sequencingideaslogicallyandusingappropriatefactsandrelevant,descriptivedetailstosupportmainideasorthemes;speakclearlyatanunderstandablepace.
Notes:
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation1 8
Grade 5 | Investigation 1| Can GI Get More Rain into the Ground?
Studentsapplywhattheyknowaboutthewatercycleandmakingmodelstoinvestigatetheclaimthatbioretentionfeatureshelppreventstormwaterrunoff.Theyworktogethertodevelop,andthenimprove,amodelofthebioretentionfeatureontheirschoolyardthatdescribesthecomponentpartsandfunctionsofbioretentionfeaturesandexplainshowbioretentionfeatureshelpprecipitationmoveintothebiosphereandgeosphere.TheProblem:ThelandBostonsitsonusedtobecoveredbyplants,forestandwetlands,butisnowmostlycoveredbyconcreteandpavement.Thesechangeshave“broken”thewatercyclebecausemostoftherainthatfalls,insteadofbeingabsorbedintothesoil,orbeingtakenupbyplants,justrunsofftheroads,sidewalksandrooftopsintostormdrains(called“stormwaterrunoff”).TheClaim:Anewnature‐basedtechnology,calledGreenInfrastructure(GI),isbeingusedaroundtheCity,includinginsomeschoolyards—andoursisoneofthem.TheclaimisthattheuseofGIcanhelprainwaterintheschoolyardgetbackintothebiosphereandgeosphere.TheTask:WearegoingtobeinvestigatingonetypeofGI(bioretentionfeatures)sometimescalled“raingardens”totestthatclaim.Canwefindevidencethatthebioretentionfeatureinourschoolyardcanslowdownstormwaterrunoffandhelp“repair”thewatercycleintheCity?
Teacher Preparation
Beforeyoubegin:
PrintoutamapofyourschoolyardwithGIdiagrams(AppendixB)Walkthesitetolocatethesefeaturesonyourschoolyard.
ReviewtheGIFactSheets:BioretentionFeatures(AppendixC)tolearnaboutGIfeaturesthatrelyonthepropertiesofplants.
IdentifytheGIfeatureonyoursitethatyouwilluseforthisactivity—abioretentionfeature/raingarden,bioswale,vegetatedswale,treepit,orstormwaterplanter.
PrintadiagramofthefeatureyouhavechosentousefromtheGIFactSheets:BioretentionFeatures(AppendixC),makecopies(andlaminate)foreachstudentgroup.
ReviewtheGuidetoOutdoorTeachingandLearning(AppendixA)fortipsonteachingoutdoors.
Alertstudentsthattheclasswillbegoingoutsideforthisinvestigation.Likeallfieldscientists,theywillneedtowearappropriateclothing.(Discusswhatthismeansgiventheseason.)
Science & Engineering Standards: The Water Cycle
ESS2‐1.UseamodeltodescribethecyclingofwateronEarthbetweenthegeosphere,biosphere,hydrosphere,andatmospherethroughevaporation,precipitation,absorption,surfacerunoff,andcondensation.
Science & Engineering Practices
Studentsworkwithotherstomakeorimproveamodelofabioretentionfeature.
TEACHER NOTE
Trythesamelessonwithinfiltrationfeatures(porousplaygroundsurfaces,orpavers)ifyouhavethemonyoursite,usingappropriatematerialsformodels.
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation1 9
Materials Needed
For the class
LaminatedpicturesofBostonin1630andToday(AppendixC) Materialsfordemonstration:asponge,sheetofhardplasticor
otherimpervioussurface Watertopouronsurfaces
For each student group
Materialsforbuildingbioretention/raingardenmodels A2‐literbottle Somethingtorepresentplants Soil Gravelofdifferentsizes Newspaper Strawsorothermaterialtorepresentroots Laminateddiagramofthebioretentionfeatureinyour
schoolyardthatyouareusingforthisactivity
For each student
Clipboardsornotebookandwritingutensils
Investigation
Setting Up the Challenge Letstudentsknowthattheywillbeconductinganinvestigationintheirschoolyard,andwillbeworkingoutdoorsasfieldscientists.Introduceorremindthemoftheoutdoorclassroompracticesyouhaveestablished.
INTRODUCETHEPROBLEM.
ShowstudentsthelaminatedphotosofBostonof1630andToday(AppendixA).Discuss:Whatdoyounotice?What’sthesame?What’sdifferent?(Thegroundthatusedtobecoveredwithvegetation/plantsisnowalmostcompletelycoveredwithconcrete.)Howdoyouthinkthatchangeisaffectingthewatercycle?Whenthegroundwasmostlycoveredwithplants,whathappenedtorainthatfellontheEarth’ssurface?WhathappenstorainthatfallsontheEarth’ssurfacetoday?(Somegoesintothegroundwhereit’sabsorbedbysoilandwhererootsdrinkthewater.Somerunsoffthesurface,flowingoverrockorcompactedsoiluntilitfindsitswayintothegroundandfromthereintoastreamorlake.Butwhenrainhitspavementitisalmostalldivertedintostormdrains(pipes)thatdeliveritalltotheCharlesRiver).
SeeWaterFiltrationActivityRoleofPlantsinWaterFiltrationhttps://www3.epa.gov/safewater/kids/pdfs/activity_grades_4‐8_plantsinwaterfiltration.pdf
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation1 10
Ifprecipitationisn’tabsorbedintotheground,whatdoesthatmeanfortheplants?(theplantswilldie).Riversalsodryupwhennotenoughrainwaterhasinfiltratedintothegroundtorefillthem.(In2016theIpswichRiverbecame“bonedry”).Howwouldariverdryingupaffectanecosystem?
INTRODUCETHECLAIMTHATGI IS HELPINGTOSOLVETHISPROBLEM.
Scientistsandengineershavedevelopedanewnature‐basedtechnology(GI)thatBostonandothercitiesareusingtohelpsolvethisproblem.OnegoalofGIistohelpmorerainabsorbintothegroundwhereitfalls—insteadofbeingchanneledawayinstormdrains.
INTRODUCETHETASK.
Thisisanewnature‐basedtechnologythatmostpeopleinBostondon’tknowaboutanddon’tunderstand.BostonneedshelpexplainingtoeveryonewholivesintheCityhowGIworksandwhyitisimportant.OurjobisgoingtobetoinvestigatehowoneGIfeatureworks—thebioretentionfeature(“RainGarden”)inourschoolyard,andtomakeamodelthatexplainshowitworkstohelppeopleunderstandit.Youwillbeworkinginteamstodevelopamodelofabioretentionfeatureandthenworkingtogethertoseehowyoumightwanttoimprovethatmodel.
Student Investigation
1. STUDENTSDRAWAMODELTOPREDICTHOWABIORETENTIONFEATUREWORKS. (OUTDOORS)
Asademonstration,pourwateron2materials:asponge,andahardsheetofplastic.Elicitobservationthatwaterbehavesdifferentlyondifferentsurfaces.Somesurfacesshedwater(impervious),someabsorbwater(porous).Discusswhatmightcausethisdifference.
Pourwaterononepermeable/poroussurface(thesoilinalandscapedarea)andoneimpervioussurface(asphalt,concrete)intheschoolyard.Whatdoyounotice?Discussthedifferenceinwhathappenstothewater.
Allowstudentstopourwateronbothsurfacesontheirowntohaveanotheropportunitytomakeobservationsbeforetheydrawtheirmodels.
Sitwithyourgroupanddrawamodelasapredictionforwhatyouthinkishappeningtothewaterunderneaththesurfaceinbothcases:undertheconcreteandunderthesoilinthebioretentionfeature.
Notes:
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation1 11
2. GROUPSCHOOSEONEMODELFROMTHEIRGROUPTOSHAREWITHTHECLASS.
Lookatthemodelstogether.Astheclasslooksatthemodelsthatareshared,whatdotheynoticeabouteachother’sthinking?Aretheymostlyinagreementaboutwhatishappeningtothewater?Whatdotheyagreeordisagreeintheirpredictions?Youmaywanttoaddstickynoteswithquestionsthatarisefromlookingateachother’smodels.
3 . STUDENTSBUILDANDTESTTHEIRMODEL. (INDOORSOROUTDOORS)
Lookatadiagramoftheraingarden/bioretentionfeature/treetrench.Whatarethecomponentparts(plants,roots,soil,gravel)?Whatdoyouthinkeachpartdoes?Howdotheychangethepathofthewater?
Ingroups,havestudentsbuildasimplemodelusingtheinformationtheygainedfromlookingatthediagram.Theyshouldhavealayerrepresentingplants,soil,gravel—usingtheirknowledgefromearlierterrariumsthey’vebuilt—usinggravel,maybealayerofnewspaperasafilter.(Doingthisoutdoorshelpswiththemess.)
Groupstesttheirmodelbypouringwateroverit.Recordobservationsaboutwhathappenstothewaterasitmovesthrougheachlayer.(Doeswatermoveslowerthroughsomelayersthanothers?)
Discuss:whathappenedwiththemodelswebuilt?Whatdidyounotice?Wheredidthewatergo?Howdiditmove?Howisthisdifferentfromwhathappenswithwateronasphalt?
Didwhatyouobservematchwhatyoupredicted?(Studentsmayhaveonlypredictedonelayerofsoil;orthatallthewaterisabsorbedbytheroots.)
4 . STUDENTGROUPSREVISETHEIRORIGINALMODELSTOBETTEREXPLAINHOWABIORETENTIONFEATUREWORKS.
Nowthatwe’velearnedmoreaboutwhathappensinabioretentionfeaturelet’sgobacktoouroriginalmodelsandrevisethemsotheydoabetterjobofexplainingwhathappens.(Studentsmightaddmorelayersthanjustsoil,maybegravel,deeperlayers;ormoreroots.)
TeacherNotes:Youmaywanttoletstudentsknowthatplantsalsohelpwatergetintotheatmospherebyreleasingwaterthroughporesintheirleavesintotheair—aprocesscalledevapotranspiration.Therootsystemsofplantsalsocreatepathsthatwatercantravelthroughthesoil.
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation1 12
Drawing Conclusions
WRITEINYOURNOTEBOOKS:
Didyoumakechangestoyourmodel?Whatchangesdidyoumake?Whatmadeyourthinkingchange?
Didwefindoutifbioretentionfeatureshelprainwatergetintotheground?
STUDENTGROUPSPRESENTTHEIRMODELS. ( INDOORSOROUTDOORS) Doyouthinkbioretentionfeatureshelprainwatergetbackintotheground?intothebiosphere?andgeosphere?
Useyourmodeltoexplainhowbioretentionfeatureshelprainwatergetbackintotheground/thegeosphere,and/orthebiosphere?
Explainhowbiofiltersaffecttheenvironment.
Literacy and Community Engagement Opportunity
StudentscouldcreatePSAs,videos,and/orleafletseithertoexplainhowbioretentionfeatureslikeraingardensortreepitshelprainwaterabsorbintothegroundandwhythatisimportant;and/ortoadvocateformorebioretentionfeaturesinthecity.
Notes:
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation2 13
Grade 5 | Investigation 2 |Is GI Cool? Studentsapplywhattheyknowaboutmeasuringtemperature,planningandcarryingoutinvestigationstoexploretheimpactofGreenInfrastructure(GI).TheywillworktogethertoplanandconductaninvestigationthatinvolvescollectingdatatodeterminewhetherGIfeaturesthatuseplants(bioretentionfeatureslikeraingardens,bioswales,andtreepits)affectthetemperatureintheirschoolyardand,byextension,theentirecity.TheProblem:CitieslikeBostonaregettinghotter.Thetemperatureincitiesisoftenwarmerthaninthesurroundingtownsandruralareasandthatiscausingproblems.Onereasoncitiesarehotterisbecauseofthegreatquantityofheat‐absorbingmaterials,suchasasphaltandothertypesofpavement,coveringtheground.Anotheristhattherearefewertreesandlessvegetationcreatingshade.(And,thoughnotthefocushere,lesswatervaporgetsintotheairthroughevapotranspiration).TheClaim:GI,anewnature‐basedtechnology,isbeingusedaroundtheCity,includinginsomeschoolyards—likeours!ThemainfunctionofGIistohelpmanageandcleanstormwater,butsomeGIfeatures,likebioretentionfeatures,canalsohelptoreducetemperaturesintheschoolyard,andbyextensioninthecity.TheTask:Studentsdesignaninvestigationtoseeiftheycanfindevidencethatbioretentionfeaturesdoreducethetemperatureintheschoolyard.
Teacher Preparation
ReviewBackgroundonStormwaterandGI(AppendixA)andtheGIFactSheets:BioretentionPractices(AppendixC)
Reviewyourschoolyardmap(AppendixB)andwalkthesitetolocatethesefeaturesontheground.Choosethebioretentionfeatureyouwilluseforthisinvestigation.
Printandmakecopiesofschoolyardsitemapsforstudents.
ReviewGuidetoOutdoorTeachingandLearning(AppendixA)
Alertstudentsthattheclasswillbegoingoutsideandlikeallfieldscientists,theyneedtowearappropriateclothing.
Science & Engineering Standards: Earth and Human Activity
5‐ESS3‐1.ObtainandcombineinformationaboutwayscommunitiesreducetheimpactontheEarth’sresourcesandenvironmentbychanginganagricultural,industrial,orcommunitypracticeorprocess.Examplesofchangedpracticesincludetreatingsewage,reducingtheamountsofmaterialsused,capturingpollutingemissionsfromfactoriesorpowerplants,andpreventingrunofffromagriculturalactivities.
BackgroundNotes:
"Urbanheatislands"occurwhencitiesreplacenaturallandcoverwithdenseconcentrationsofpavement,buildings,andothersurfacesthatabsorbandretainheat.Thiseffectincreasesenergycosts(e.g.,forairconditioning),airpollutionlevels,andheat‐relatedillnessandmortality.–EPAhttps://www.epa.gov/green‐infrastructure/reduce‐urban‐heat‐island‐effect
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation2 14
Materials Needed
For the class
LandCoverinBoston1630andToday(AppendixC) Classdatatabledevelopedinthisinvestigation UrbanHeatIslandeffectgraphic(attheendofthis
Investigation)
For each student group
Planningworksheet Thermometers Datarecordingworksheet—developedintheinvestigation Printedmapsoftheschoolyard
For each student
“ClimateChangeintheU.S.Northeast”https://newsela.com/read/govt‐EPA‐climate‐northeast/id/28810/
Clipboardsornotebookandwritingutensil
Investigation
Setting up the Challenge Letstudentsknowthattheywillbeconductinganinvestigationintheirschoolyard,andwillbeworkingoutdoorsasfieldscientists.Introduceorremindthemoftheoutdoorclassroompracticesyouhaveestablished.
INTRODUCETHEPROBLEM.
LookatthelaminatedimagesofLandCoverinBoston1630andTodayanddiscussthechangesinlandcover(frommarshandwetlandandwoodstomostlyasphalt).Explainthatthehugeincreaseinasphaltandconcretethatcomeswiththegrowthofcitiescausesmanychangestotheenvironment.Oneisthatcitiesareusuallyhotterthananyoftheareasaroundthem.
EngagestudentsindiscussingtheUrbanHeatIslandEffectgraphic.Whatdotheythinkthegraphicmeans?Whatcouldexplainthis?Whywouldcitiesbewarmer?
Optional:Havestudentsread“ClimateChangeintheU.S.Northeast”
Whydoyouthinkhottertemperaturesincitiescouldbeaproblem?(Peoplehavetospendmoremoneyforairconditioningandfans,usingmoreenergytostaycool.Plants,andanimalsmaynotbeabletosurviveinhighertemperatures.Warmercitiescontributetoawarmerplanet,etc.).
“Havingalotofpeopleinoneplacemakescitiesmuchwarmer.Buildingsandconcretealsotrapheat.Thisiscalledtheurbanheatislandeffect.”
ClimateChangeintheU.S.Northeast,newsela
https://newsela.com/read/govt‐EPA‐climate‐northeast/id/28810/“Greeninfrastructurecanhelpmitigatetheurbanheatislandeffectbycreatingshade,reducingheat‐absorbingmaterials,andemittingwatervaporthatcoolstheair.Italsocanhelpcreateanattractiveenvironment,cleantheairbyfilteringairbornepollutants,andreducebuildingenergycoststhroughshadingandrecyclablewater.”
ClimateReadyBostonwww.boston.gov/sites/default/files/20161207_climate_ready_boston
_digital2.pdf
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation2 15
INTRODUCETHECLAIMTHATGI IS HELPINGTOSOLVETHISPROBLEM.
GIisascience‐basedsolutionthatmimicsthenaturalenvironmenttoreducetheimpactofhumansontheenvironment.OneclaimisthatGIfeaturesthatuseplants(e.g.,raingardens,bioswales,andtreetrenches)helplowertemperatures.
INTRODUCETHETASK.
OurtaskistoseeifwecanfindevidencethatGIdoesreallylowertemperatures,usingourownschoolyardasatestcase.Howdoyouthinkwecouldwedothat?Howcanwefindoutifthisbioretentionfeature(raingarden,bioswale,treetrench,etc.)hasanyeffectonthetemperatureinourschoolyard?Havestudentsturnandtalktodiscusstheirideas.(Thegoalhereistofacilitateaconversationwherestudentsshareideas,ideallyarrivingataplantorecordtemperaturesindifferentpartsoftheschoolyard).
Planning and Carrying Out an Investigation
1. DECIDEWHATDATATOCOLLECT.
Let’sthinkaboutwhatwealreadyknowabouttemperatureintheschoolyard.Whereisithottest?Whereisitcoolest?Ifwe’regoingtotestthisclaimweneedtodecidewhatdatatocollecttotestourhypothesesandwhatproceduretouse.
Studentsworktogetheringroupstofillouttheplanningworksheet.Ifthisisoutdoorstheycanwalkaroundtoidentifyareastotest.
Givestudentsaplanningsheettitled:Howcanwefindoutifthisbioretentionfeaturehasanyeffectonthetemperatureinourschoolyard?Decidewhatdataweshouldcollect(temperatureinFahrenheit)?Whatmaterialswillyouneedtotestthis(thermometers)?Whatareasintheschoolyardshouldwetest(undertrees,intheGIareas,onasphalt,nearthebuilding,nearthestreet)?
Goovertheanswerstothequestionsontheworksheetandcometoagreementasaclassforeachquestion.
2 . DECIDEONAPROCEDUREFORCOLLECTINGDATA. Note:Theprocedurecanbeassimpleas:gooutdoorswithyourthermometers,locateyoursite,leaveyourthermometerinplacefor3minutes,putthethermometerinsameplaceeachtime(tietotreebranch,setontheground,etc.),repeatforasmanytrialsasneeded.
Notes:
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation2 16
Nowthatwehaveagreedonthedatawewanttocollect,weneedtoagreeonaprocedureforcollectingitandrecordingitsoweknowwe’realldoingthesamething.Elicitstudentideasonhowtocollectthedataandagreeonaprocedure.
Howmuchdatadoyouneedtomakeaconvincingcase?Howmanytrialswillweneed?Howmanyareasshouldwetest?Shouldwerecordqualitativeobservations?
Decidewhichareaswillbetestedandwhichgroupisresponsibleforwhicharea(e.g.,3areasinorneartheGIand3non‐GIareas).
Eachgroupwillrecorddataontheirowndatasheet,whichtheywilllatertransfertotheclassdatatable.
Createadatarecordingsheet(ortableinnotebooks)forgroupstousetorecordtheirdata.Forexample:columnslist:date|time|temperature|weather.Rowslist:eachlocation.
3 . COLLECTDATA(OUTDOORS) .
Havestudentsfirstrecordtheirpredictionsintheirnotebooks. Conveneoutdoorsinthegatheringareatoreviewinstructions.
Groupscollectdataasplanned.
4 . CREATEANDANALYZEACLASSDATATABLE.
Haveeachgroupreportortransfertheirdatafromtheirrecordingsheettotheclassdatatable.
Discuss,asaclass,whatthedatashows.Invitestudentstosharetheirinterpretationsandtrytoarriveataconclusionasaclass.Doesthissupporttheclaimthatbioretentionfeaturescanmaketheaircooler?
5 . DECIDEHOWTOREPRESENTTHEDATA.
Reviewoptionswithstudents.Elicittheirideasonhowtorepresentthisinformation.Youcanintroducetheideaoftemperaturemapsasonetoolscientistsuse(colorcodingthetemperaturesofdifferentareasoftheschoolyard).Ideasmayinclude:graphs,tables,schoolyardtemperaturemaps,writtentext.Talkabouthow,forsomepeople,visualrepresentationsareeasiertoread,forothersnumericaltablesortext.
6 . STUDENTSPRESENTTHEIRDATA.
Studentgroupssharetheirrepresentationsofthedata.Dotheyagree?Whichrepresentationsareeasiesttounderstand?
BackgroundNotes:Somematerialsabsorbmoreheatthanothers.GIhelpslowertemperaturesbyreducingtheamountofpavement,providingshade,or(inthecaseofgreenroofs)reducingroofwarming.Thisisanenergysavingconsiderationforgreenroofs.Studentscouldalsoexplorethetemperatureofdifferentmaterials:grass,concrete,asphalt,andsyntheticturf.Doesthecolormatter?Whichmaterialsarewarmer?
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation2 17
Drawing Conclusions
STUDENTSREFLECTONWHATTHEYLEARNED.
Writereflectionsinyournotebooks:Youdesignedandconductedanexperiment.
Whatdidyoufind?Didwhatyoufoundmatchyourpredictions?
WhatdidyoulearnaboutGI?WhatcouldotherpeoplelearnaboutGIfromourinvestigation?
Literacy and Community Engagement Opportunity
CreateaPSAforBostonresidents;aleaflet,videoorotherwayofreportingtheresultsofourinvestigationtothepublic.
Notes:
StormwaterGreenInfrastructureCurriculum|Grade5|Investigation2 18
Grade 5 | Investigation 3 | Can GI Clean Stormwater? THIS LESSON COULD BE DEVELOPED WHEN THE NEW GRADE 5 CURRICULUM IS IMPLEMENTED. THE STRUCTURE OF THE INVESTIGATION WILL DEPEND ON THE UNIT AND CONTENT KNOWLEDGE IT IS DESIGNED TO ADVANCE. Studentsapplywhattheyknowabout[howwatertransportssediment,roadsalt,nutrients(i.e.,phosphorusandnitrogen)anddebris,]toworktogethertoplanandconductaninvestigation,includingcollectingdatatodeterminewhethertheGIintheirschoolyardhelpsremovesedimentandothermaterialsfromstormwater.TheProblem:Whenstormwaterrunsacrossimpervioussurfacesitpicksupanythingonthosesurfaces(includingsediment,grease,oil,litter,leaves,andmore)andcarriesitallthroughstormdrainstoriversandstreams,pollutingthewaterandharmingtheorganismsthatlivethere.TheClaim:GI,anewnature‐basedtechnology,isbeingusedaroundtheCitytotrappollutantsandfilterthemoutofstormwaterbeforeitgoesintothestormdrains.TheclaimisthatGI—includingraingardens,bioswales,treetrenches,otherbioretentionsystems,andinfiltrationchambers—aremakingthestormwaterflowingintoourriversandstreamscleaner.TheTask:WearegoingtodesignaninvestigationtohelptestwhethertheGIinourschoolyardishelpingtoremovesedimentandpollutantsfromthestormwaterrunoffthatwashesacrossimpervioussurfaces.Letstudentsknowthattheywillbeconductinganinvestigationintheirschoolyard,andwillbeworkingoutdoorsasfieldscientists.Introduceorremindthemoftheoutdoorclassroompracticesyouhaveestablished.Drawing Conclusions StudentswriteanargumentthatGIcanhelpremovesedimentandpollutantsfromstormwater,makingtherunoffthatflowsintoriversandstreamscleaner.
Science & Engineering Standards: Earth and Human Activity
5‐ESS3‐1.ObtainandcombineinformationaboutwayscitiesreducetheimpactontheEarth’sresourcesandenvironmentbychanginganagricultural,industrial,orcommunitypracticeorprocess.Examplesofchangedpracticesincludetreatingsewage,reducingtheamountsofmaterialsused,capturingpollutingemissionsfromfactoriesorpowerplants,andpreventingrunofffromagriculturalactivities.
Science & Engineering Practices
Studentsworktogethertoplanandconductaninvestigationthatincludescollectingdata.