Strands

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Field Studies Strands

During the field studies component of the Institute, teachers participate in one of the following strands: Energy and Climate Change, Land Use and Urban Trees, and Public Health. All three strands are described below. Each teacher who participates in Institute will be assigned to one of the three strands. By the end of the week, teachers will be able to present their new knowledge to their fellow participants so that each teacher group will be able to learn about the other strands. All of the three groups attend lectures in the morning and the field studies component in the afternoon.


 * Energy and Climate Change **

How do humans use energy? Is the Earth's climate changing? In this strand, you will focus on climate change in relation to how we use energy. To understand the changing climate, you will learn through field study investigations which focus on solar input as the major energy source in our environment. Special attention is paid to carbon and about the carbon cycle, its role as a greenhouse gas, and different ways carbon is produced. You will learn how to connect climate change with your daily activities by relating carbon dioxide to food, trees, and types of energy being used. You will use technology such as Apple I-Pads, laptops, and Vernier probeware in order to collect data out in the field. The strand concludes with an action plan on how your school can limit energy usage, therefore reducing the impact of climate change.


 * Land Use and Urban Trees **

This strand focuses on how urban landscapes change and what are the forces that change them. You will consider various factors that bring about change to the urban landscape, in particular urban trees, and how are such changes measured. You will learn that land use practices are guided by the natural characteristics of the landscape and by the behavior and cultures of the people who live there. You will use Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIS) to collect information on urban trees as it pertains to urban forestry practices. The strand concludes with an action plan that determines and models the economic value of trees in your city or around your school. There will also be an environmental justice component of the value of trees in the urban setting.


 * Public Health **

This strand focuses on the qualities of healthy urban neighborhoods and how this is related to human health. You will consider the impact of culture on health and how it is influenced by the norms of family and friends. You will conduct ecological field studies to learn about water and air quality and how these factors influence the health of the environment and it inhabitants. You will discover successful ways that the quality of both air and water can be improved. By the end of the Institute, you will understand the role of cities in the spread of disease, and how it is related to population density. Also, comparisons will be drawn between health and wealth in terms of access to food and other land use practices. Special attention is paid to green space in a city, in terms of both physical and social health advantages. The strand concludes with an action plan that focuses on identifying resources and is designed to improve the health of their urban neighborhood.