VM+WebQuest+Inquiry

WebQuest Inquiry =Original : Purple. My revision: Black.=

=
Plastic is an exceptional material which has entered nearly all aspects of life. Environmentally, plastic goods are hard to throw away. They do not rot and cannot be burned safely because they produce gases that poison and pollute the air. However, plastics are also beneficial for medical and electronic devices, construction and personal home care products. Plastics are derived from many bi-products, which are found in industry and are readily solvent in water. These chemicals are known to leach into our water and aquifer net works. As a team of four students, your group will analyze and report on chemicals derived from plastics, such as DEHP, dioxins, furans, PCB, PVC and hexachlorobenzene, etc. =====

INTRODUCTION
Plastic is an exceptional material which has entered nearly all aspects of life. Look around you. There must be at least five different things in arms reach that are made of plastic. Plastics are beneficial for medical and electronic devices, construction and personal home care products. This makes it a vital part of our lives. Environmentally, however, plastic goods are hard to throw away. They do not rot and cannot be burned safely because they produce gases that poison and pollute the air. Also, plastics are derived from many bi-products, which are found in industry and are readily solvent in water. These chemicals are known to leach into our water and aquifer net works.

Now, our local environment needs your help. There has been a recent PVC spill in Jamaica Bay. Your Environmental Reporting Team will analyze and describe chemicals derived from plastics, such as DEHP, dioxins, furans, PCB, PVC and hexachlorobenzene, among others. With this background information, your ERT will assess and create a cleanup effort for the Jamaica Bay spill.

=
With basic knowledge from our class discussions, you will now break up into groups of four which I will assign. To complete the investigative part of this first assignment, each group member will choose one of the following four topics: =====

=
After completing the above tasks, and presenting your findings, your group will be further challenged by investigating an oil spillage of PVC into Jamaica Bay. Based on your previous investigation on plastics, you will brainstorm and strategize the cleanup of this disaster. Your group will then prepare a final report, of approximately eight to ten pages =====

TASK
Once you are assigned to your four member ERT, each group member will choose one of the following four topics: 1) Research on background of plastic chemicals 2) Legislative history and action 3) Medical/Environmental hazards and disease 4) Management of superfund cites After completing the above tasks, and collaborating on your findings, your team will be prepared to take on the challenge of investigating the oil spillage of PVC into Jamaica Bay. Based on your previous investigation on plastics, your team will brainstorm and strategize the cleanup of this disaster. Your group will then prepare a final report, to be presented to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, describing your efforts and ideas, both for this particular emergency, and to prevent others in the future.

=
Student 1 – Research on background of plastic chemicals. a. Provide properties of plastic chemicals and define its composition/how it is made. b. With this knowledge, you will synthesize a new plastic chemical based on similar properties and how it was created. =====

=
Student 2 – Legislative history and action. a. Provide a background in New York State and major federal laws regarding plastic pollution/contamination. Find the laws that have been created to govern the manufacture, use and disposal of plastics. b. Develop a new environmental law that should be implanted to protect against plastic hazards. =====

=
Student 3 – Medical/Environmental hazards and disease. a. Provide an understanding of the diseases associated with plastic exposure and bi-products. b. Locate a person with a known health problem that may have been related to plastic usage. Provide a background on their story/case. =====

=
Student 4 – Management of superfund cites. a. Find a superfund cite in the United States, preferably New York, that deals with a plastic facility. Discuss the background of the area past and present. Also, what is currently being done to clean up the site? b. Create a potential superfund plastic site and provide the response techniques to limit danger from it. =====

=
For each group member: - prepare a report to present a summary of your findings to the class. The report should be two pages long and will be investigated over the next four weeks. The second week, you will assess and discuss your background findings on your related tasks (from part a). - In your fourth week you will present to the class your creative ideas for the second half of the project (from part b). - Once this has been completed as a group, you will strategize on solving a problem using each member’s area of expertise. This will then be presented by the group for week six. For the final report, there should be a total of approximately eight to ten pages. Do no forget to cite where you have accessed your information from. In addition, any videos, You tube, or documentaries may be utilized to supplement your presentations and better engage your audience. See me ahead of time for approval. =====

PROCESS
Student 1 – Research and Chemical Development a. Provide properties of plastic chemicals and define its composition/how it is made. b. With this knowledge, you will be able synthesize a new, less harmful plastic chemical based on similar properties and how it was created. This information will be included in your report to the NYSDEC.

Student 2 – Legislative History and Action a. Provide a background in New York State and major federal laws regarding plastic pollution/contamination. Find the laws that have been created to govern the manufacture, use and disposal of plastics. b. Develop a new environmental law that should be implemented by the NYSDEC to protect against plastic hazards.

Student 3 – Medical/Environmental Hazards and Disease a. Provide an understanding of the diseases associated with plastic exposure and bi-products, including a case study of one individual. b. Create a “Worst-Case Scenario” handbook for the NYSDEC about counter-measures they should know about in case of a spill or exposure.

Student 4 –Superfund Cite Management a. Find a superfund cite in New York that deals with a plastic facility. Discuss the background of the area, past and present. What, if anything, is currently being done to clean up the site? b. Create a new superfund plastic site and provide the response techniques to limit danger from it.

For each group member: - prepare a draft report to present a summary of your findings to your team. The first day, you will research and discuss your background findings on your related tasks (part A). The second day, you will present your creative ideas for the second half of the project (part B) to your team. - Once the group is up to date on all the aspects of part A and part B, you will work together to create your final presentation for the NYSDEC. This will include:


 * A final report, of at least 8 pages (one page of research, one page of planning per team member), with all information and research cited.
 * A visual presentation of your creative ideas.

COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS:

Hi Victoria! Nice change to the introduction. I like how you added “Look around you. There must be at least five different things in arms reach that are made of plastic.” This gets students to think and realize that plastic really is used in many items all around them. I also like how you put them in a real life situation in which they need to help the environment by coming up with a clean up plan for the oil spillage and how they have to present this plan to the NYSDEC. Under the process, I like how you changed part b of student number 3's task. By making a worst case scenario handbook you are getting the students to use their higher order thinking skills by having them use their research and knowledge of the topic to come up with suggestions for things to do incase another spill occurs. --JEN

COMMENTS: Hi Victoria, I really like your revised introduction, which puts the student in a realistic situation. Your change to the task makes it truly open-ended. Your revision can make the student create new information in the process of accomplishing this task. The only thing that I changed was: “Student 3 – Medical/Environmental Hazards and Disease a. Provide an understanding of the diseases associated with plastic exposure and bi-products, including a case study of one individual. For example, to locate a person with a known health problem that may have been related to plastic usage and to provide a background on their story/case. b. Create a “Worst-Case Scenario” handbook for the NYSDEC about counter-measures they should know about in case of a spill or exposure.” --- QI