Responsibility
Middle School - October 2010
Character Education
Newsletters
Broward County Air
Quality Program
Take the Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge!
We are proud to announce the 2nd annual Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge!
The Conservation and Climate Change Challenge (C3 Challenge) is an educational
competition intended to engage students, teachers, school administrators, staff, and parents
in practical strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions school-wide and at home.
Become your school’s Climate Leader and register by e-mailing us at
airoutreach@broward.org and receive a free Back To School Eco-Friendly C3 Starter Kit.
Each kit contains items such as rules, bookmarks, pencils & pens made from recycled
material, a reusable shopping bag, stickers, book covers, Energy Star climate change
materials and a Broward County Teacher Resources CD. For more information visit
www.broward.org/air.
The winning school will receive:
Go Green
Climate Change
Broward County Kids
Corner
Broward County Public
Schools Environmental
Stewardship
Upcoming Events
October:
C3 Challenge

Celebration Day hosted by the Broward County Air Quality Program at your school
Walk to School Day

Sustainable School Plaque

E-Certificates for each teacher who participates
November:
C3 Challenge

Winning banner for school (8” by 3”)
America Recycles Day

2011 Clean Air Calendars

Recognition from the Board of County Commissioners
December:
Clean Air Poster Contest

Climate Change Collection (books, documentaries, movies) for library

A NatureScape activity: resources & interaction with the experts (i.e. butterfly garden)
The Broward County Pollution Prevention, Remediation & Air Quality Division continues to
incorporate Character Education into its educational efforts. Each month the newsletter will
relate core values to science in an effort to educate students about good character and the
importance of protecting our natural resources.
This year’s newsletters support the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Science.
Grade 6 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific
Knowledge; Big Idea 3: The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses & Models
Grade 7 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific
Knowledge; Big Idea 3: The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses & Models; Big Idea 6: Earth
Structures
Grade 8 - Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific
Knowledge; Big Idea 3: The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses & Models
Clean Air
Grade Levels: 6-8
Question: Does indoor or outdoor air have more particulate pollution?
Possible Hypotheses:
Inside air has more particulate pollution.
Outside air has more particulate pollution.
Materials:
10 white index cards
Petroleum jelly
Plastic knife
Magnifying glass
Procedure:
1. Label the index cards 1-I to 5-I (indoor) and 1-O to5-O (outdoor).
2. Smear petroleum jelly on cards 1-I and 1-O using the knife, and tape them to the same
window, with 1-I on the inside and 1-O on the outside. Avoid placing the cards near a door.
Make a note of the weather and any interesting observations that may affect particulate
pollution each day (such as, a wildfire, Saharan dust, vacuuming or cleaning of the room,
etc.).
3. After 24 hours, take the cards down and repeat the procedure with the cards labeled 2-I and
2-O. 4. Do this for a week, replacing the cards each day. Examine the cards closely and
compare them to each other and to previous sets.
5. Record your observations, noting any differences.
6. Repeat the experiment in a different location or at a different time of year.
Analysis and Conclusion:
How does the inside and outside air compare? How does it compare in different weather,
different locations and in different seasons? What do you think is the main source of
particulate pollution in your area? Research and find out.
Source: www.NEED.org
January:
Clean Air Poster Contest
February:
Clean Air Poster Contest
March:
Clean Air Poster Contest
Recommended Reading for
the Month:
The NEW 50 Simple Things
Kids Can Do To Save the
Earth
© The EarthWorks Group
Printed on recycled paper
with soy ink.
Acid Rain
Grade Levels: 6-8
Questions:
Does precipitation in your area contain acidic emissions from power plants, industries or
vehicle emissions?
Does the acidity of the precipitation change during the year?
Possible Hypotheses:
The precipitation does/does not contain acids?
The acidity levels change/do not change during the year.
Materials:
Litmus paper
Plastic container
Meter stick
Procedure:
1. Place a plastic container outside every day to catch any precipitation that falls.
2. Measure the amount and acidity of the precipitation every day at the same time and record
on a calendar.
3. Analyze your data after several months.
Analysis and Conclusion:
Is the precipitation in your area acidic? Does the acidity level change and if so, why? What do
you think causes any acidity in the precipitation? Research the power plants, industries and
vehicle emissions in your area.
Source: www.NEED.org
If you have a sample FCAT question you would like to see featured in this section,
please e-mail it to airoutreach@broward.org
Which of the following is responsible for the creation of fossil fuels?
A: oil derricks
B: the decomposition of animals and plants
C: supernovae
D: oil-burning stoves
Answer: B. The term 'fossil fuels' literally means fuels that are derived from the decomposition of carbon-based
life forms.
The Pollution Prevention, Remediation and Air Quality Division
received three NACIO Awards of Excellence for air quality educational
programs developed by the Division. The electronic Character
Education Newsletters won a NACIO Excellence Award!
The Walking School Bus
Join the bus! A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with parents or
volunteers. It gives children a jump start on daily exercise and learning. Benefits include
saving fossil fuels, reducing traffic & emissions around the school and students getting
physical activity.
Spread the Word!!!
Subscribe to our electronic Character Education Science FCAT Warm-up Newsletters
Today!
The monthly edition of this newsletter is distributed only through a FREE electronic e-mail
subscriber list. E-mail the Broward County Pollution Prevention, Remediation & Air Quality
Division at airoutreach@broward.org to ensure that you continue to receive this valuable
curriculum resource. The newsletters are also available on our Environmental Kids Club web
site at www.broward.org/kids. Archived copies of the newsletter are also available through
the School Board’s BEEP system.