AS Science in Society 1.3
Transport issues
This longer topic looks at the complexity of transport issues. It covers the chemistry needed to
understand pollution and basic ideas about fuels and energy.
How science works ideas introduced are:
data and their limitations, making decisions. Establishing causal links ideas are further developed in new
contexts.
The topic allows the introduction of argument skills and practice in evaluation of data.
The references below to How Science Works (HSW) and to Science Explanations (SE) use the code
letters found in sections 3.5 and 3.6 of the specification. Learning skills for Science (LSS) activities are
integrated into all the AS topics.
1
Focus of session
Transport use in the UK
LSS skills area 3
Suggested activities
Transport attitudes activity
Homework - introduce Media watch
activity
2
3
Trends in transport in the UK and
in the use of fuels for transport.
Interpretation of area graphs
(HSW Ab, Ha, Hb, Hj)
LSS skills area 4
Chemical reactions greenhouse
gases, photosynthesis,
(SE Ea, Ec, Ed, Ee)
Biofuels
4
Energy and fuels (SE Fa, Fb, Fc,
Fd)
Efficiency (SE Fe)
5
Local air quality (SE Ed)
Chemistry of air pollution (SE Ea,
Ec, Ed, Ef)
LSS skills area 4
6
Measurement and monitoring of
air pollution (HSW Aa, Ab, Ad,
Ah)
(HSW Af)
7
Analysing data using mean and
range
(HSW Aa, Ab, Ad, Ae, Ag, Ah)
8
Evidence for impacts of poor air
quality on health
Ways of presenting and
analysing data
(HSW Ab, Ad, Ae, Af, Ag, Bc)
Transport trends activity
LSS
Skill area 3 LSS: Skim reading a
series of articles – in the context of
alternative fuels and global
warming. This activity introduces
skills which may be useful in the
media watch.
Skill area 4 LSS: Interpreting
graphs – uses the graphs from the
activity ‘Transport trends’. This
could be an alternative approach to
engaging with the data.
Use of models, burning candle or
textbook to review chemistry of
combustion
Media story on biofuels. Reading
textbook p 33-36 and answering
questions on biofuels.
Reading textbook p.36-38 and
answering questions
Look at recent weekly data on local
pollutants from
http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/i
ndex.php
Class discussion on patterns
Reading from textbook on risks
from different pollutants
Spread of smell from drop of
perfume to introduce concentration
Plan Particle collection practical
Reading textbook p.39-43 on
measurement of air pollution
Analyse data from Particle
collection practical
Measurement errors activity is a
quick alternative
Exam style question on air pollution
data and health
Skill area 4 LSS: Processing and
representing data – raw data on air
quality within a passage has to be
converted into an appropriate
visual form.
9
Different social and economic
ways of reducing the
environmental impact of
transport
(HSW Fa, Fb, Hb, Hg)
Role play on social and economic
ways of reducing air pollution
http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/Resourc
es/Teaching_Packs/Key_Stage_4/
Air_Quality/04.html
air pollution and regulation
Argument activity
10
The role of regulation in
improving air quality
(HSW Ha, Hb, Hc)
11
Decision making, different
technological ways of reducing
the environmental impact of
transport
(SE Ee, Fd, Fe)
(HSW Fa, Ha, Hb, Hg)
LSS skills area 6
Overview of current transport
issues.
(HSW Fa, Fb)
Mumbai activity
Or history of urban air pollution in
the UK and the role of regulation in
reducing it.
http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/Resourc
es/Teaching_Packs/Key_Stage_4/
Air_Quality/index.html
The car of the future – which fuel?
activity
12
Skill area 6 LSS: Preparing a
short presentation This activity
aims to help students develop the
skill of acquiring information from
presentations and knowledge of
how good presentations are
structured and presented.
Report back and discussion on
Mediawatch work started in lesson
1
13
Predicting the future - the use of
scenarios to help devise policy
The car of the future*
14
Review and revision
Textbook questions p.49
Discuss personal attitudes to use of
car and air travel and how these
have changed as a result of
studying this topic.
October 2008
* New activities will be available soon