Ways to teach Scientific Concepts
in a Social Studies Class
August 4th 2011
By Shubha Sarode
What is social studies?
What is the scientific process?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Have a problem which needs a solution
Studying the problem, forming a hypothesis
Testing your ideas
Analyzing results
Coming to conclusions
Using those conclusions to make impacts in the
world
• Understanding these impacts in the bigger
scheme of things
We should always ask questions!
• Asking questions!
Where can social studies intersect with
science in a classroom?
•
•
•
•
•
Biofuels
Acid Rain
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
Clean Coal Technology
Nuclear Power
What are greenhouse gases?
Any gas that absorbs infra-red radiation in the
atmosphere.
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Methane (CH4)
• Nitrous Oxide (N20)
• Fluorinated Gases
How is Carbon Dioxide Released into
the Atmosphere?
• Burning of 3 main fossil fuels
– Coal, Oil & Natural Gas
– Burning of these carbon containing compounds
results in combustion:
Example: CH4 + 2O2 ---> CO2 + 2H2O + HEAT (energy)
Biofuels
Concept
Video
• Converting Biomass to Liquid Fuels
• http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_biofuels.ht
ml
Combustion of Ethanol
• C2H5OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O + heat
• (Ethanol + Oxygen  carbon dioxide + water + heat)
• Total GHG emission of carbon dioxide for one
molecule of glucose is: 6 molecules of Carbon
dioxide
• *numbers based on fermentation of ethanol
and combustion of ethanol equations
Advanced Initiative Energy Mandate:
February 20th 2006
• Renewable ethanol and biodiesel. The energy bill
signed by the President last summer established a
renewable fuels standard to require the use of 7.5
billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel by 2012, and
extended tax benefits enabling both fuels to compete
in today’s market.
• Alternative fuel facilities. The energy bill also provides
a 30% tax credit for installation of alternative fuel
stations, up to a maximum of $30,000 per year.
Currently only 556 public “E85” (85% ethanol) fueling
stations exist in the U.S, and many more will be needed
to increase the use of renewable fuels above the 10%
that can be blended into conventional gasoline.
How can social studies and science
work together to create critical
thinkers?
• Make sure you have the right resources!
(anything that ends with .gov, .org and other
educational websites)
• Extra credit opportunities
• Current Event articles
• Collaborate with the science teacher at your
school
Other Topics in Sustainability
•
•
•
•
Acid Rain- Clean Air Act
CFC’s – Montreal Protocol
Clean Coal Technology – Election of 2008
Nuclear Power – Chernobyl, Three Mile Island,
even the most recent Japan disaster
Good Resources to Brush up on
Science
• Acid Rain: http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what/index.html
• http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/maps/Default.aspx (click on NTN for network,
deposition for map type and NO3 or SO4 for analyte and years to look at
impact
• CFCs: http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/monthly/climatology_10.html
• Clean Coal Technology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdLFUNrinG8
• http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/science/earth/22coal.html?_r=1
• Nuclear Power: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2201447884087561869&q=nuclear+reaction&hl=en#
• http://www.visionlearning.com/library/flash_viewer.php?oid=3602
• http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/map-power-reactors.html
Need more help?
• These are just some ideas, if you have any
questions, please contact me at
shubha.sarode@gmail.com