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SCI 8: Chemistry & LEED certification: Chemistry & LEED Certification

A project for grade 8 Science applying chemistry concepts to our new buildling's LEED certifcation

Two Tasks

Task #1: In-class writing

  • What chemical compounds are involved in your topic? (Know the Chemical formula and diagram it)
  • What chemical reactions are involved in your topic? (Know products and reactants)

Topic Questions Table

Guided Notes Template (forced copy)

Task Sheet and Rubric

Unit Slides

Task #2: Create a Video

How does the construction of the Commons change the chemical reactions to reduce or improve the situation?

1. State the LEED requirement you are researching

 

2. Explain the reason for that LEED requirement (What problem is the requirement solving?)

 

3. How does it improve the environmental impact of the "traditional" method?

 

4. State if there are limitations to the use of the LEED requirement method or material. (For example: Cost?  Availability? Other?)

Chemistry & LEED Certification

Research Skills

  • Gathering information (note-taking)
  • Citation (track where your facts come from, cite, create bibliography)
  • Mention your sources in your video narration using signal phrases ("According to....")
  • Organize information (notes > storyboard)
  • Synthesize information (connect new facts to our school's new building)

General Resources

Climate Change, via the EPA

Energy Basics, via Energy.gov

Energy.gov videos

Chemicals and Toxins, via the EPA

A Guide for Schools, via The Guardian

Earth Easy, eco solutions

Science Command Terms

Analyze Break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure. To identify parts and relationships, and to interpret information to reach conclusions.
Apply Use knowledge and understanding in response to a given situation or real circumstances
Describe Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process
Discuss Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors or hypotheses. Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence
Outline Give a brief account
State Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation
Summarize Abstract a general theme or major point(s)

Hydrocarbons & Petroleum

LEED Requirement: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles preferred parking

  • What are hydrocarbons?  What is gasoline?
  • What is the formula for gasoline and natural gas?
  • What is a cracking tower for hydrocarbons?
  • How does a gasoline engine work?
  • What chemical compounds do you start with in gasoline engine?
  • What chemical compounds(the products) do you end up in a gasoline engine?
  • Are these end compounds (products) harmful or helpful for the environment?
  • Why should FDR give special parking close to the school and reserve spaces just for energy efficient vehicles?

Resources:

Lighting

Energy Savings

Lighting : What is the difference between regular light bulbs end energy efficient bulbs

  • What is the difference between energy efficient lights and incandescent lights?  
  • How do energy efficient lights work?
  • How do incandescent lights work?
  • Is there a chemical reaction that creates or breaks down material in the light bulbs?
  • How does the use of energy efficient lights (LEED requirement) help save energy?  
  • Are these types of lights worth the cost?

Resources:

Topic 6: Greenery

How can plants help combat climate change?

Ozone

Leed Requirement: Environment friendly refrigerants

Super cool cooling systems: Our cooling systems are earth-friendly and reduce impact to the ozone layer.

  • What is the formula for Ozone?
  • How does ozone relate to cooling systems like AC and refrigerators?  
  • Is ozone a positive or negative compound in the environment?
  • Is there a chemical reaction that ozone creates or breaks down ozone?
  • How does the cooling system in the LEED requirement work?  
  • Is this a better option than other methods?

Resources

Paper

LEED Requirement: Storage and Collection of Recyclables

  • How is paper made?
  • Research fish kills and paper making
  • What chemical compounds are responsible for making paper?
  • What chemical reactions take place in the papermaking process that help or harm the environment?
  • Should FDR emphasis paper reduce or recycle?
  • Should FDR have storage bins?

Resources:

Water & Plastic

LEED Requirement: Storage and Collection of Recyclables:

  • How much water is used to make plastic?
  • What is the chemical formula for the most common type of plastic found at FDR?
  • Why is this type of plastic used?
  • What chemical reactions take place when plastic is burned or stored?
  • How does the use of water relate to plastics?
  • How does recycling plastic impact water resources?
  • Are there alternatives to plastic that would impact water less?
  • Should FDR emphasis recycling or reducing plastics? Why?

Resources:

Plastic Waste

LEED Requirement: Storage and Collection of Recyclables

  • What is the chemical formula for the most common type of plastic found at FDR?
  • Why is this type of plastic used?
  • What chemical reactions take place when plastic is burned or stored?
  • Should the school emphasis recycling plastic or reducing plastic?  Why?
  • Are there alternatives to this plastic that FDR could use?
  • Are recycling bins worth the cost? Why?

Composting

Storage and Collection of Recyclables

  • What is composting?
  • What chemical compounds are related to composting?
  • What are the chemical reactions that take place?  What chemical compounds do you start with?  What compounds do you end with?
  • Are there any end results(the products) that are harmful or helpful to the environment?
  • Is composting at FDR worth the money and time?

Resources:

Air Conditioning

LEED Requirement: Environment friendly refrigerants

  • What is the formula for freon?
  • How does ozone relate to cooling systems like AC and refrigerators?  
  • Is freon a positive or negative compound in the environment?
  • Is there a chemical reaction that freon creates or breaks down that affects the environment?
  • How does the cooling system in the LEED requirement work?  
  • Is this a better option than other methods?

Resources:

VOC Paint

LEED Requirement: Low-emitting paints, sealants and adhesive:

  • What is VOC paint?
  • Why chemical compounds are involved in VOC paint?  
  • Is it better for the environment to have high or low VOC paint
  • Is there a chemical reaction that VOC  creates or breaks down that helps or damages the environment?
  • Why use VOC paint?   
  • Is this a better option than other methods?

Resources:

Hydrocarbons & Petroleum

LEED Requirement: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles preferred parking

  • What are hydrocarbons?  What is gasoline?
  • What is the formula for gasoline and natural gas?
  • What is a cracking tower for hydrocarbons?
  • How does a gasoline engine work?
  • What chemical compounds do you start with in gasoline engine?
  • What chemical compounds(the products) do you end up in a gasoline engine?
  • Are these end compounds (products) harmful or helpful for the environment?
  • Why should FDR give special parking close to the school and reserved just for energy efficient vehicles?

Resources:

Topic 10: Heat Island Effect

What is the "heat island" effect? How can we address this issue?

Science Vocabulary

Be sure you have used as many of these scientific words as possible!

Terms with an asterisk (*) are not in your class glossary - look them up!

Endothermic

Exothermic

Chemical Product

Chemical Reactant

Chemical formula

Chemical compound

Chemical Equation

*Catalyst

Density

Element

Ionic

Covalent

Atom

Molecule

Law of Conservation of Mass

Precipitant

Chemical Change

Chemical reaction

*Decomposition Reaction

*Double Replacement Reaction

*Single Replacement Reaction

*Synthesis Reaction

*Signs of a chemical  change