The Copper Basin Problem

Description of each section of the 5E model	Teacher Lessons	Core Learning Goal Indicators for each activity
I Engagement: This activity captures the students' attention, stimulates their thinking, and helps them to access prior knowledge	Lesson 1 A 10-minute video of a copper mine in Tennessee is shown to introduce a situation in which human impact has had several negative effects on an environment. The video also presents issues for investigation that show the interrelationship between abiotic and biotic factors.	3.5.1, 3.5.3, 3.6.1
II Exploration: In this section students are given time to think, plan, investigate, collect and organize information.	Lesson 2 Students design a set of experiments that will address some of the problems and issues raised by the video. They will employ all of the steps of the scientific method. Students developed the following investigations:	1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.4
	Lesson 3 Will Plants Grow in Copper Basin Soil? (Student Investigation 1) What Chemicals are Found in Copper Basin Soil? (Student Investigation 2)	1.2.2, 1.2.5, 1.3.2, 1.4.1, 1.5.1, 3.5.1, 3.5.3 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.5, 1.3.1, 1.3.3, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.4.5, 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 3.5.1, 3.5.3
	Lesson 4 How Does the Amount of Vegetation Affect Humidity and Temperature? (Student Investigation 3)	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 3.5.1, 3.5.3
	Lesson 5 How Does Acid Rain Affect the Germination of Seeds? (Student Investigation 4) Optional Investigation: Air sampling for SO₂	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 3.5.3
	Lesson 6 What Effect Does Fertilizer Have on the Growth of Plants? (Student Investigation 5)	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 3.5.3, 3.5.4
III: Explanation: Students are now involved in an analysis of their own explorations. Their understanding is clarified and modified because of the reflective nature of the activities.	Lesson 7 Students will collect and share all of the data that has been gathered. Through discussion, students will assemble the data and begin to form conclusions. Students may present their findings in an appropriate manner.	3.6
IV Extension: This section gives students an opportunity to expand and solidify their understanding of the concepts and to apply them in a real-world context.	Lesson 7 (continued) Students gather information about a local mining operation and assess the effects of mining on the environment. The students will relate what they learned from the Copper Basin problem to this local situation. (Charles County has gravel pits that cause problems similar to those in the Copper Basin.) Students will link electronically with a school in another area to share data about other mining operations. (We shared with a school in Western Pennsylvania about coal mining.)	Goal 1, 3.5.3, 3.5.4, 3.6
V Evaluation: This performance-based activity helps students to connect all of the pieces of information involved in these lessons.	Lesson 8 Students are assigned the task of presenting the results of a comparative study of the situations investigated. Students developed the rubric and decided upon the project requirements.	Goal 1, 3.6

Grade:

Title:

9 - 12

“The Copper Basin Problem”

To introduce the topic and unit, a video of a copper mine in Tennessee is used. The video tells of the history of the mining operations in the Copper Basin and gives facts about the mine and the environment in the area. The video is used to stimulate students to think about the impact that humans have had on the environment. Leading questions are used to focus the students on the issues raised by open pit mining. Students use the answers to these questions as a starting point to develop a set of activities and laboratory experiments to investigate the topics raised by the video. During this time, students also use process skills-hypothesizing, conceptualizing, and analyzing. The class develops their own unit of study with guidance from the teacher. Because of their personal involvement the students are highly invested in their own learning.

The unit covers the following concepts and topics:

abiotic factors: temperature, humidity, pH
soil composition
the water cycle
nutrient cycles: nitrogen, carbon
interaction of abiotic and biotic factors
human impact on an environment
steps of the scientific method including: hypothesis, data collection and organization, analysis, drawing conclusions
dependent and independent variables
use of constants
designing experiments
application of knowledge

Suggested Materials:

Copper Basin Video
Cardboard
Chart paper & markers
Eye-droppers
Goggles
Graph paper
Humus or compost
Local Soil
Maps: local and linked area
Metersticks
Nitrogen fertilizer
Paper towels
Petri dishes
Plant trays

Rulers
Scissors
Screw-top jars
Seeds (corn, pine)
Seeds (grass)
Simulated Copper Basin Soil
Small Cups
Soil Tests: pH, P, N, K, S, Cu
Sterile Potting Soil
Table of Relative Humidity
Teaspoon measures (1/8)
Thermometers
Watch/clock/timer
Water Solutions, pH 2--7


Teacher’s Guide Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7 Lesson 8 Concluding Remarks	Student Section This section contains samples of investigations developed by students to address the issues presented in the Copper Basin video. Student Investigation 1 Student Worksheet 1 Student Investigation 2 Student Worksheet 2 Student Investigation 3 Student Worksheet 3 Student Investigation 4 Student Worksheet 4 Student Investigation 5 Student Worksheet 5	Evaluation The students and teacher should collaborate to design an appropriate assessment method. My classes developed the following assessment and rubric.
Printable version (Acrobat 33k) of Student Section Printable version (Acrobat 88k) of The Copper Basin Problem

Sue Gray High School Biology Teacher Westlake High School Charles County, Maryland

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