Cooperation
Middle School - September 2010
Character Education
Newsletters
Broward County Air
Quality Program
Welcome back to school! 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.
Cooperation is defined as “working with others to accomplish a common purpose.” This
month, the common purpose is protecting nature and our natural resources from the effects
of climate change and pollution.
This year’s newsletters support the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Science.
Go Green
Climate Change
Broward County Kids
Corner
NatureScape Broward
Upcoming Events
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
September:
C3 Challenge
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
October:
C3 Challenge
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
Take the Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge!
We are proud to announce the 2nd annual Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge!
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 stupendous 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.
Walk to School Day
November:
C3 Challenge
America Recycles Day
December:
Clean Air Poster Contest
January:
Clean Air Poster Contest
February:
Clean Air Poster Contest
March:
Clean Air Poster Contest
Thermal Energy Put to Work
Question:
Can thermal energy be made to do useful work?
Possible Hypotheses:
Thermal energy is/not useful energy that can be used for work.
Materials:

Plastic 1-liter bottle

Large balloon

Bowl of hot (not boiling) water

Bowl of ice water

Small rock
Produce:
1. Cool the balloon and the bottle in the freezer for 5 minutes
2. Fill the bowl with hot, not boiling, water.
3. Put the balloon over the mouth of the bottle making sure that the air has been squeezed
from the balloon. Place the bottle into the hot water.
4. The air inside the bottle should expand and deflate the balloon. After it is inflated, put the
bottle in the bowl of ice water and observe it deflate.
5. Design a device to convert this expansion and contraction into usable work, such as lifting
a rock. Design a device that circulates hot, then cold, water so that the balloon deflates
and inflates without moving the bottle.
Analysis and Conclusion:
Were you able to make a device that performed useful work? Can you think of devices that
convert thermal energy into electrical energy? Research internal combustions engines and
turbine generators.
Source: The NEED project; www.NEED.org
Energy from Garbage
Questions:
Can you produce a gas from decaying garbage?
Can you control the amount of gas produced from decaying garbage?
Possible Hypotheses:
A gas is/is not produced when garbage decays.
Recommended Reading for
September/October:
The NEW 50 Simple Things
Kids Can Do To Save the
Earth
© The EarthWorks Group
Book is printed on recycled
paper with soy ink.
The amount of gas from decaying garbage can/ cannot be controlled.
Materials:

Packet of dried peas or beans

Six airtight clear plastic bags

Water
Procedure:

Soak the beans or peas in water overnight.

Place 10 beans in a warm sunny place, two bags in a warm shady place, and two bags in
a totally dark place for a week and observe what happens. Record your observations.
Analysis and Conclusion:
Did the decaying beans produce a gas? Which environment is best for producing gases? Do
you think the gas could be used as a source of energy? Why and how?
Source: Energy Kids U.S. Energy Information Administration
If you have a sample FCAT question you would like to see featured in this section,
please e-mail it to airoutreach@broward.org
1. Electrical energy can be produced from which of the following?
a. Mechanical energy
b. Chemical energy
c. Radiant energy
d. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
2. How much of the energy in burning coal reaches the consumer as electricity?
a. 1/3 (one-third)
b. 1/2 (one-half)
c. 3/4 (three-quarters)
d. 9/10 (nine-tenths)
Answer: 1/3 (one-third)
Source: Energy Kids U.S. Energy Information Administration
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!
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.