The+Guiding+Activity-+Dianne

 **Essential Question:** What would my life be like without fossil fuels? Eighty five percent of U.S. energy consumption is of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used to grow most of our food, transport people and goods, and make most of the things we use every day. Despite its uses, dependence on fossil fuels is causing huge problems for our planet. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the air. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide are major factor in the climatic changes our planet is experiencing. So, what would life be like without fossil fuels? You need to first discover ways fossil fuels are used in your everyday life. Then you need to come up with a solution to reduce the amount of fossil fuels you use every day.   1. What are fossil fuels? 2. How are fossil fuels used in the production of everyday products? 3. What are ways you can reduce your use of fossil fuels? My eighth grade students will create a photo journal telling about how fossil fuels are used in their lives, how their family already works to reduce their usage, implement at least three new strategies to reduce their use of fossil fuels, and document their progress while doing so. 1. Students will research fossil fuels and their role in making everyday products. They will create a power point presentation explaining the products they found. 2. Students will research ways to reduce their fossil fuel usage. They will create a list of 10 things my family already does and 10 things my family may be willing to try. 3. Students, with their families, will design and implement a fossil fuel reduction plan for their home and document their progress for two weeks. 4. Students will create a Photostory or MovieMaker presentation of their documentation of the progress of their plan after two weeks of implementation. 5. Students will share their presentations in an online format. Other students will need to make comments about three different presentations. The presentations will vary depending on the level of family interest, but I will provide a rubric to students to use to make sure they include the learning outcomes I would like. This project will take about 5-6 weeks to implement from research to implementation to presentation phase. There are sites marked on Diigo: []  <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I would specifically send kids to the Everyday Simplicity site and the Use Less Stuff PowerPoint. Those two are interesting and have good ideas. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Wikispace- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://wilkesproject.wikispaces.com/ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The Big Idea: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> Climate Change/Energy Usage
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Challenge: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> Reduce your daily use of fossil fuels.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Guiding Questions: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Guiding Activity: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Guiding Resources: **