Our Incredible Atmosphere!

 

 

Evangelista Torricelli first discovered air pressure in the early 1600s.  Torricelli filled a 1-meter glass tube with mercury.  When he held the tube in a bowl of mercury, the mercury in the tube dropped to 76 centimeters.  Torricelli concluded that the pressure of the air on the mercury in the bowl prevented the mercury in the tube from emptying completely from the tube.

 

During this assignment you will become scientists who have discovered crucial information about the atmosphere, its components and its behavior.  You will research information about the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and air pressure and air density.  You will use chapter 15, handouts on the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle and nitrogen cycle, in class demonstrations and out of class materials to compete this assignment.  Your project will consist of 2 parts; a question/answer packet with answered questions, diagrams of cycles, observations of demos with recorded results and answered questions; and a poster to present.  Project due date is Thursday January 18, 2007.

 

Information Packet (60 points)

• Using the handouts provided during class, research the information found in the handouts that are about the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle and nitrogen cycle
• This is in the form of a worksheet
• Create diagrams of the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle and nitrogen cycle using the handouts.
• These are separate from your poster; should be on 8.5x11 unlined white paper
• Fill in the page titled “ Atmospheric Gases”.  We will be using the laptops one day to get your started
• During the demonstrations throughout the week you will be responsible for recording your observations and answering the questions provided at those times.
• 2 demos:  crushing a can and egg in a bottle

 

           

Poster/Presentation (30 points)

§         You will create a poster that illustrates the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle and nitrogen cycle in one large collage.  You must use real pictures of landscapes from magazines or from prints of paintings and outline the flow of the two cycles in the landscape you may only use p. 394-395 as a guide only.  I do not want two separate pictures; your job is to show how the cycles are all working on Earth at the same time!                

• You must be prepared for your presentation.  You will be placing your poster around the room for all to see.  Your peers will use the following criteria/questions to evaluate your poster:

 

Criteria (for poster): 

1. All parts of the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle are shown and labeled.
2. All parts of the nitrogen cycle are shown and labeled.
3. All arrows are pointing to the correct place.
4. The poster is neat.
5. The poster is easy to read and understand.
6. The poster is creative.
7. The student’s name is clearly visible on front.
8. The poster is clearly named and labeled (ie title and all labels).
9. The process of nitrogen fixation and bacteria is clearly illustrated.
10. The connection between industry and the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle is clearly illustrated.

           

           

Sample Peer Evaluation Grading Sheet

 

Based on a scale from 0 to 3 (0=Not There/Not Done, 1=Needs Improvement, 2= Good, 3= Excellent) rate each student’s poster.  Use the following criteria for your evaluation:

Criteria: 

1.      All parts of the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle are shown and labeled.

2.      All parts of the nitrogen cycle are shown and labeled.

3.      All arrows are pointing to the correct place.

4.      The poster is neat.

5.      The poster is easy to read and understand.

6.      The poster is creative.

7.      The student’s name is clearly visible on front.

8.      The poster is clearly named and labeled (ie title and all labels).

9.      The process of nitrogen fixation and bacteria is clearly illustrated.

10. The connection between industry and the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle is clearly illustrated.

 

	Student Name	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total points
1
2
3

 

 

Rubric

 

Our Incredible Atmosphere!

 

            Note Packet     (60 pts. Possible)                                            ___________ pts.

1.      Questions (10 pts)    

2.      Demos (2) (10 pts each)

3.      Drawings (2)  (10 pts each)

4.      Atmospheric Gases (10 pts)

 

Poster of Cycles (30 pts. Possible)                             ___________ pts.

 

                        Total (90 pts. Possible)   _____________ pts.