Urban areas face significant air pollution challenges due to increased industrial activities and vehicle emissions, impacting public health and environmental quality. This issue is compounded by inadequate regulatory measures and a lack of widespread adoption of sustainable practices.
Challenge Question
How can we leverage our understanding of chemical reactions and processes to develop sustainable solutions for air pollution and soil degradation in urban and agricultural settings?
Standards
[Next Generation Science Standards] PS.1.B - Chemical Reactions
[Next Generation Science Standards] HS-PS1-2 - Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.
[Next Generation Science Standards] HS-PS1-6 - Refine the design of a chemical system by specifying a change in conditions that would produce increased amounts of products at equilibrium.
Competencies
Self-Advocacy - Identifying allies (LL.SD.3.a)
Governments - Public policy (FK.SS.1.c)
Politics - Influencing government (FK.SS.2.a)
Learning Partners and Clients
Engage with local water management authorities like the Salt River Project to involve students in projects focused on water conservation and management, providing insights into the chemistry of water treatment and distribution. Team up with community food banks or organizations like St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance to create projects where students analyze the nutritional chemistry of food and develop innovative solutions to improve food security. Partner with the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix to provide students with hands-on lab experiences and workshops that align with each session's chemistry topics, utilizing their resources and expertise. Collaborate with local environmental organizations such as the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to engage students in projects addressing air pollution challenges, offering real-world data and case studies for analysis. Work with the University of Arizona's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to connect students with agricultural experts who can guide them in exploring soil chemistry and sustainable farming practices.
Phase Outcomes
Phase
Learning Outcome
Discover
I can identify the core challenge and its underlying causes by engaging in an immersive activity that sparks my curiosity and conviction about the problem.
Examine
I can investigate the causes and effects of the challenge through structured research tasks that connect directly to specific learning outcomes.
Engineer
I can develop a detailed plan and construct a solution designed to make a tangible impact on those affected by the problem.
Do
I can implement my solution in a real-world context, gather data on its effectiveness, and refine my approach based on the results.
Share
I can share my final solution and personal growth journey with an authentic audience through an interactive presentation that highlights my learning and self-discovery.
