A SAVAGE Research Project

Savage Earth Research Projects

Overview:

I.  Research and Fact Collection:  Write 15-20 facts about your assigned topic in the space below.

My topic (circle one): Volcanoes * Storms * Deadly Skies * Extreme Environments

My group members:  _____________________________________________

II.  Fake News Report:  With your group members, prepare a 5-minute presentation in the style of a TV news show that presents the information you found in your research.  Be sure to include the following (use this space to plan):

* Scientific facts about your topic






* How these events affect the natural environment






* How these events affect people






III. Rate The Dangers:  Rate these four categories in terms of which one you would least want to have to live through (1) to the one you would most want to have to experience.  Write two sentences to explain your #1 and #4 choices. 

___  Volcanoes / Lahars
___  Storms
___  Deadly Skies
___  Extreme Environments

Why I chose #1:


Why I chose #4:


IV.  Descriptive Writing:  Experiencing an Avalanche.  Watch the following videos <Avalanche - A warning to all Freeriders> <Avalanche Cliff Jump with Matthias Giraud> and write a paragraph that describes the experience from the perspective of either the cameraman or the skier. 

V.  Artistic Response:  Create an artistic response to one of the kinds of events in this unit.  You can work with a partner or in a small group.  This can be a piece of visual art, drama, literature, or music.  Examples:  a skit on avalanche preparedness, imaginary diary account of a lightning survivor, or a piece of music inspired by a lahar.








Resources: 
Volcanoes
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/lahar/index.php
Cyclones
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageseas/weather-side-cyclones.html
Lightning
http://stormhighway.com/survivors.html
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/essd18jun99_1/
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wflash/wflash2.htm
Hail
http://www.chaseday.com/hail.htm
Asteroids
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/danger.html
Avalanche
http://www.nwac.us/

History - Music, Songs, and Historical Events

In this activity, you will choose a song about a historical event and create a written essay about the artist, the song, and the historical event that inspired it. 

Use the site songfacts.com to choose a song to study.  Additional suggestions:

"New Year's Day" - U2
"Sales Tax" - Mississippi Sheiks
"WPA Blues" - Bill Weldon
"What's Going On" - Marvin Gaye
"Whitey on the Moon" - Gil Scott Heron
"Sacco's Letter to his Son" - Pete Seeger
"Hurricane" - Bob Dylan
"Histoire du Soldat" - Igor Stravinsky

Answer the following questions about the song:

I.  Artist
1.  Dates born (and died, if they have)
2.  1-2 sentence description of the artist's career
3.  Title of song to study

II.  Event
1.  What happened?
2.  When and Where did the event occur?
3.  Who was involved?
4.  Why was this event important?

III.  Lyrics
1.  Choose two lines from the song and explain what the lyrics mean and how they explain or tell something about this event.

IV.  Arrangement
1.  Describe the instrumentation - what instruments do you hear?
2.  How would you describe the musical genre, or style, of this piece?

Earth Science: Natural Hazards of California

Natural Disasters

In this unit, you will be learning about natural disasters.  To begin, watch these films about recent natural events and their consequences for humans:

Natural Disasters of 2011

The Japan Nuclear Disaster Explained
Wildfire Preparation Steps

Next, to give you background, read these articles on earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis.  Watch the related animations.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/

Follow this link to a map of California, then find out what are the most critical possible dangers in your community.

http://myhazards.calema.ca.gov/Default.aspx

For homework, complete the "We Prepare" Disaster Supplies Checklist.  Check off any supplies you already have for your family and could get together in 5 minutes.  Highlight any supplies that seem like critical needs that you don't have or keep in a place that's difficult to get to.

http://daphne.palomar.edu/calenvironment/hazards.htm

Earth Science: STAR Test Review

Research the following questions and bring the answers to class on Wednesday.

STAR Test Review

Earth Science

1. Astronomy and planetary exploration reveal the solar system’s structure, scale, and change over time

How are the sun, the terrestrial planets, and the gas giants different from each other?

How do scientists think the Earth and moon formed?

Why do scientists believe the planets are closer to the Earth than stars? Sun not included!

What is the primary source of the sun's energy?

What role have asteroid impacts played in shaping planets / moons and in mass extinctions on Earth?

2. Earth-based and space-based astronomy reveal the structure, scale, and changes in stars, galaxies, and the universe over time.

What shape is the Milky Way galaxy, and how big across is it?

What are galaxies made of?

How are heavy elements formed?

How do astronomers classify and describe stars?


3. Plate tectonics operating over geologic time has changed the patterns of land, sea, and mountains on Earth’s surface

How does the ocean floor give evidence of plate tectonics?

What are the 3 kinds of plate boundaries, and what structures tend to form at them?

What are 3 kinds of rocks, and how are each formed?

How do earthquakes occur? What scales are used to measure them?

What kind of volcano has steep sides and violent eruptions?

What kind has gentle slopes and large flows of lava?

4. The geology of California underlies the state’s wealth of natural resources as well as its natural hazards

What natural resources are important to California's economy?

What are the main natural hazards in California?

Where does California's fresh water come from? Is there enough for everyone who needs it?


5. Energy enters the Earth system primarily as solar radiation and eventually escapes as heat.

Compare the amount of solar energy that arrives on earth with the amount generated inside the earth and the amount that society uses.




Define reflection.

Define absorption.

Define photosynthesis.

What gases in the atmosphere absorb thermal radiation?

Draw a picture that explains the greenhouse effect.










6. Heating of Earth’s surface and atmosphere by the sun drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents.

How does differential heating affect air circulation?

How do oceans distribute global heat?

How is the Earth's rotation connected to the circular motion of water in the ocean and air in the atmosphere?

What is a temperature inversion? How does one come to exist? How does it affect weather?

Draw a picture of the vertical structure of the ocean, including notes on temperature, salinity, and marine organisms.









At what latitudes would you typically find a rainforest?

At what latitudes would you typically find a desert?

7. Climate is the long-term average of a region’s weather and depends on many factors.

Describe how weather is different from climate.

How is weather influenced by:

Latitude

Elevation

Topography

Proximity to large bodies of water

How has Earth's climate changed over time?


8. Each element on Earth moves among reservoirs, which exist in the solid earth, in oceans, in the atmosphere, and within and among organisms as part of biogeochemical cycles.

Draw a picture that illustrates the carbon cycle as is relates to plants and soil.









Draw a picture that illustrates the carbon cycle as it relates to atmosphere, oceans, and land.






9. Life has changed Earth’s atmosphere, and changes in the atmosphere affect conditions for life.

Draw a diagram of the vertical structure of Earth's atmosphere, indicating the distinct layers.








On your diagram, indicate the ozone layer.

Why is ozone important to life on earth? How do human activities affect its concentration?

World History: STAR Test Review

Research the following questions and bring the answers to class on Wednesday.

STAR Test Review

World History

1. Students relate the moral and ethical principles in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, in Judaism, and in Christianity to the development of Western political thought.

What were important contributions of early Judeo-Christians to democratic thought?

How about the ancient Romans and Greeks?

Give an example of the U.S. Constitution affecting another world political system.


2. Students compare and contrast the Glorious Revolution of England, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution and their enduring effects worldwide on the political expectations for self-government and individual liberty.

How were the following documents important for the development of democracy?

* Declaration of Independence

* French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

* U.S. Bill of Rights

Define nationalism.


3. Students analyze the effects of the Industrial Revolution in England, France, Germany, Japan and the United States.

Why was England the first country to industrialize?

Give examples of two inventions to come out of the industrial revolution and name the inventor.

How did country vs. city populations change during the Industrial Revolution?

What is a union?

How did division of labor make production more efficient?

What are some of the major differences between capitalism, socialism, and communism?

How was the Romantic movement a response to the Industrial Revolution?

4. Students analyze patterns of global change in the era of New Imperialism in at least two of the following regions or countries: Africa, Southeast Asia, China, India, Latin America and the Philippines.

How did nationalism and imperialism relate to the expansion of British empire?

What is social Darwinism?

What was one criticism of Imperialism from the perspective of a colonized nation?

5. Students analyze the causes and course of the First World War.

Describe the system of alliances that existed before WWI broke out.

How did the Russian Revolution affect the course of the war?

What atrocity was committed by the Ottoman government against Armenians?

6. Students analyze the effects of the First World War.

What were Wilson's 14 points an attempt to do?

How did the Treaty of Versailles penalize Germany?

What negative effects on world society were a result of the war?

7. Students analyze the rise of totalitarian governments after the First World War.

Define totalitarian.

Describe Stalin's style of government in the early Soviet Union.

What three fascist governments rose in Europe during the 1930s? Name the leader of each government.

8. Students analyze the causes and consequences of World War II.
What was the policy of appeasement?

What was the Nazis' "final solution"

What was the significance of the following WWII battles:

* Battle of Britain

* Midway

* Normandy

What new technology brought an end to the Asian campaign of WWII?


9. Students analyze the international developments in the post-World War II world.

How did the Marshall plan attempt to rebuild the economies of post-WWII Europe and Asia?

How did USA and the Soviet Union "fight" during the Cold War?

What was the Truman doctrine, and how does it relate to these conflicts?

Who was Mao Tse-tung, and how does he relate to modern Chinese history?

How did countries in Eastern Europe attempt to rise up against Soviet influence in the 1950s and 1960s?

Why was Israel founded, and by whom?

What is the purpose of NATO, SEATO, the Warsaw Pact, and the Organization of American States?

US History: STAR Test Review

Research the answers to these questions and bring to class on Wednesday:

STAR Test Review

US History

1. Students analyze the significant events surrounding the founding of the nation and its attempts to realize the philosophy of government described in the Declaration of Independence.

What was the Enlightenment?

How did "natural rights" influence the Constitution?

What was Reconstruction?

How did Reconstruction affect race relations in the South?

2. Students analyze the role religion played in the founding of America, its lasting moral, social and political impact, and issues regarding religious liberty.

How did religion affect social reform movements (women's suffrage, temperance, etc.)?

What were the First and Second Great Awakenings?

How does the Constitution provide for religious freedom in America?

3. Students analyze the relationship among the rise of industrialization, large-scale rural to urban migration, and massive immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

How did industrialization affect lives of workers in cities?

How did industrialization affect the mix of people living in the city vs. the country?

What are trusts and cartels?

What was Social Darwinism?

What were the Populists trying to do?

How about the Progressives?

4. Students trace the rise of the U.S. to its role as a world power in the 20th century.

How did America's role in world politics change after the Spanish-American War?

How did the Ku Klux Klan form, and what were its goals?

What is the American Civil Liberties Union?

What is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People?

What were some results of the 18th Amendment (Prohibition)?

What was the importance of the 19th Amendment?

What was the Harlem Renaissance?

How did mass production and new technology affect life in America in the early 1900s?

5. Students analyze the major political, social, economic, technological, and cultural developments of the 1920s.

Why was the Federal Reserve created?

What was the Great Depression?

What were three causes of the Great Depression?


6. Students analyze the different explanations for the Great Depression and how the New Deal fundamentally changed the role of the federal government.

What was the New Deal? Give three examples of New Deal programs.

What is the American Federation of Labor? Why was it created?

What is the United Farm Workers? Why was it created?

7. Students analyze the American participation in World War II.

How was America involved in World War II before Pearl Harbor?

What was the importance of the battle of Normandy?

What was the importance of the battle of Midway?

What were Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms?"

Why did Truman decide to attack Japan with atomic bombs?

What was the Marshall Plan?

8. Students analyze United States foreign policy since World War II.

What is the United Nations? What is its purpose?

What is the IMF? What is its purpose?

What is NATO? What is its purpose?

What was McCarthyism?

What was the Truman Doctrine?

Why was Berlin cut off from Western Europe? How did Western countries respond?

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?

What does M.A.D. mean?

Why did America send troops and military aid to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War?

Why did President Nixon resign?

Earth Science: Carrying Capacity and Culture

Carrying Capacity

After completing the activity, read the handout "Carrying Capacity." Choose one of the cultures given in the reading, then use book or Internet research to answer the following questions:

What are the culture's main sources of energy and food?

Describe the nature of land use; does this culture practice agriculture? Nomadic herding? Are there cities, or temporary / moveable shelters?

To what extend do these land use practices change the ecosystem?

What evidence is there that the culture is "out of balance" or "in harmony" with nature?

What lessons can we apply to current environmental problems?

Document your references (write down names of websites / books) and include maps or diagrams of the region where this culture exists (Use Geography book).

Suggested Resources: You may find some of the information you need at these sites.

Historic Cultures:

Native American Mound Builders
http://www.argenweb.net/woodruff/gary_telford/county_articles/mound_builders.html
http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/moundbuilders.html

Easter Island
http://www.eco-action.org/dt/eisland.html
http://www.livescience.com/616-view-easter-island-disaster-wrong-researchers.html

Anasazi of the Southwest U.S.
http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-mesa-verde-national-park-archaeology-colorado-sidwcmdev_067311.html
http://cpluhna.nau.edu/People/anasazi_collapse.htm

Mayan culture
http://www.chaacreek.com/belize-travel-blog/2011/10/natural-resources-ancient-mayan-civilization/

Mali empire of Africa
http://mali.pwnet.org/geography/geography_resources.htm

Ancient Hebrews
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/33_nomadic.html

Ancient Egyptians
http://www.egyptianagriculture.com/horticulture.html

Contemporary Cultures:

African forest people
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0702.htm

Bushmen of the Kalahari
http://goafrica.about.com/library/bl.san.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/droid/abz/food.html

Inuit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit

Native Americans of the Amazon
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/amazon/amazon_people.html

Earth Science: Population and Carrying Capacity

Overpopulation and Carrying Capacity

Watch this video on overpopulation from legendary YouTube science geek Hank Green. I promise this one will be easier to understand than the Photosynthesis video, but maybe just as depressing as the global warming one.

Follow this link to an interactive activity on population biology.

After completing the activity, complete the reading handout "Carrying Capacity." Choose one of the cultures given in the reading, then use book or Internet research to answer the following questions:

Carrying Capacity

After completing the activity, read the handout "Carrying Capacity." Choose one of the cultures given in the reading, then use book or Internet research to answer the following questions:

What are the culture's main sources of energy and food?


Describe the nature of land use.


To what extend do these land use practices change the ecosystem?


What evidance is there that the culture is "out of balance" or "in harmony" with nature?


What lessons can we apply to current environmental problems?


Document your references and include maps or diagrams.

Earth Science: The Carbon Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

Learn about the fascinating element carbon by watching this video.

Then, play the carbon cycle game here.

Learn about carbon's role in climate change by watching this video.

Complete this interactive presentation.

Now read your chapter on Carbon in the Biosphere and complete your "Decomposition in a Bag" activity.

Earth Science: Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere

The Atmosphere

First, have a look at this crazy video of one man's trip through the atmosphere.

Read the background essay, then view this interactive activity about the atmosphere. Answer these discussion questions:

1. Why are the four major layers of the atmosphere separated where they are?

2. What increases the temperature in the stratosphere?

3. Can planes fly in the mesosphere? Why or why not?

4. On what does the temperature in the thermosphere depend?

History: Cold War Biography Posters

Cold War Biography Poster

In this activity you will do some research about key figures of the Cold War, then choose one to create a poster about.

Using your book or Internet resources, list at the date of birth and least one major accomplishment of each of the following people:

US History:

John F. Kennedy

Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin

Joseph McCarthy

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jonas Salk

Earl Warren

World History:

Nikita Krushchev

Ho Chi Minh

Fidel Castro

Yuri Gagarin

Golda Meir

Lech Walesa

Using one of these people or another from this list, do further research to create a biographical poster.

The finished poster should be on 9 x 12 inch paper or made on the website glogster.com, and include the following:

* a 1-inch margin of empty space around the edge of the poster

* A prominent image of the person's face, either hand-drawn or printed and "treated" by hand coloring or texturing

* The person's name and dates born / died

* At least three important or interesting facts about this person (look here for ideas)

* One quote by this person (look here for ideas, or here)


We will be presenting these posters in class on Wednesday!