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Earthworks
Earth System Science for Secondary Teachers
Land Cover of Pickaway County, Ohio (Circleville)
Who: Earth Science classes (Juniors)
What: Conduct a survey of the land cover of the Circleville area and draw a corresponding map
When: Fall
Where: Circleville City and Township limits
Why: To develop students' observational skills and to provide an opportunity for students to visualize and contextualize land cover and land use. Students will compare current land cover to Landsat images and to past aerial photographs.
Materials: GPS, compass, topographic maps, Landsat-7 images, multi-spec or Arcview software
Methods:
- Discuss the project and develop categories for land cover: forest, field (prairie), farm field, industrial, residential, landscaped, lake/pond.
- Students will be assigned a particular grid on the topo map (or a portion of the grid) to use as their study site. On the site, the student will make a map depicting the land cover. They will also put approximate % for each type of land cover.
- Students will collaborate and share their data. As a class, we will construct a large map. This map will then be compared to GIS data from Landsat images to determine accuracy. It will also be compared with older images of the area to help students draw some conclusions and speculate about how land cover and use has changed over time.
- Students will write up the results of their survey in the form of scientific paper.
Barriers/Constraints:
- The project will require that students have time to travel to the different sites. This aspect will most likely occur outside of the school day. Students will be assigned ones that they live in or near, or have the ability to travel there.
- Time is always a constraint.
Extensions: We live in an area of rapid expansion-suburbia approached rapidly. Students can see how development has change the land and how our open spaces are decreasing and becoming fragmented. Students can also research the zoning laws to draw conclusion about where future development can and cannot occur.
Comprehensive Forest Analysis
Krista Holman & Jeremy King (Earthworks 2000)
What: Comprehensive Forest Analysis - What effects do climate and soil composition have on species diversity density.
When: Spring 2001 - During the spring of 2001 students will collect data 3-4 days for analysis
Why: Learning Objectives
1. To learn how to collaborate research with others.
2. To learn how to analyze data and draw conclusions from it.
3. To learn how climatic changes can affect tree diversity, density, and survivorship
4. To learn how soil composition can affect tree diversity, density, and survivorship
5. To learn basic tree identification
6. To learn how to use the scientific method to solve problems
7. To learn how to communicate research findings through both oral presentations and written research papers Where: Denison University Bioreserve -Students will organize research on the 350 acre reserve
Who: Jeremy, Krista, Students, Professors and Students from Hamilton TWP. and Circleville will work with their teachers, as well as, professors from Denison University
How: Collect, Analyze, Organize, & Share Data
- Student Research Groups will consist of students from both schools.
- Students will receive background info. From teachers and professors then will develop research projects.
- Data will be shared between group members via e-mail and video conferences.
- Students will get constructive feedback from professors.
- Students will present research findings in a scientific symposium.
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About Us
Jeremy King (Earthworks 2001)