The mystery of Ocean acidification Tricia Thibodeau Virginia Institute of Marine Science Grade Level High School Subject area Life Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Environmental Science This work is sponsored by the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative, which supports collaborative research that addresses coastal management problems important to the reserves. The Science Collaborative is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and managed by the University of Michigan Water Center. Contents of Lesson Plan Lesson plan outline ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Appendix 1. Additional SOL’s ....................................................................................................................... 6 Appendix 2. Student handouts .................................................................................................................... 7 Appendix 3. Teacher guide ......................................................................................................................... 12 Appendix 4. Excel plotting directions ........................................................................................................ 15 Appendix 5. Premade graphs for data nugget activity ............................................................................. 21 Appendix 6. Discussion questions and answers ........................................................................................ 24 Virginia scientists and educators alliance (VA SEA) 2017 Thibodeau Page 1 of 29 ~~~The Mystery of Ocean Acidification~~~ Focus: The chemical processes of ocean acidification and potential impacts on biological organisms. A case study activity highlighting Antarctica and the impact of ocean acidification on the abundance of a species of pteropod (open-ocean snail). Grade levels/Subject: HS life science. Also, applicable to HS chemistry, earth science, physical science, and marine biology/science with differentiation. VA Science Standards addressed: HS life science (see appendix 1 for non-life science SOL’s met) Life Science LS. 1: D: models and simulations are constructed and used to illustrate and explain phenomena; F: Dependent variables, independent variables, and constants are identified; G: Variable are controlled to test hypotheses; H: Data are organized and communicated through graphical representation, interpreted, and used to make predictions; I: Patterns are identified in data and are interpreted and evaluated; J: Current applications are used to reinforce life science concepts LS. 6: A: Carbon cycle, C: complex relationships within marine ecosystems LS. 8: A: Relationship between predators and prey LS. 9: B: Characteristics of marine ecosystems LS.10: B: Climate changes LS. 11: E: Environmental issues Learning objectives/outcomes: • Students will outline ocean chemistry processes, and identify key points of Antarctic geography and biology of polar species • Students will synthesize scientific information from the internet and reproduce in their own words • Students will record and graph real scientific data using excel • Students will interpret graphs and make predictions about future trends based on graphical information Total length of time required for the lesson: 135mins or approx. three, 45min classes Virginia scientists and educators alliance (VA SEA) 2017 Thibodeau Page 2 of 29 Keywords, vocabulary: • Chemistry: o Solubility: The amount of a substance that will dissolve for a given amount of a solvent to give a saturated solution under specified conditions. o Acid: Ionic compounds (a compound with a positive or negative charge) that break apart in water to form a hydrogen ion (H+). The strength of an acid is based on the concentration of H+ ions in the solution. The more H+ the stronger the acid. o Base: Ionic compounds that break apart to form a negatively charged hydroxide ion (OH- ) in water. The strength of a base is determined by the concentration of Hydroxide ions (OH-). The greater the concentration of OH- ions the stronger the base. o pH: hydrogen ion concentration = -log[H+]. • Biology: o Pteropod: Pelagic (open ocean) planktonic (drifting) snails. Some species have a shell made of aragonite (calcium carbonate, CaCO3) and a ‘foot’ that has developed into wings. Pteropod in Latin means ‘wing (ptero) foot (pod).” These pelagic gastropods are commonly referred to as a sea butterfly due to their wings that give them a distinct swimming behavior unique to pteropods. • Climate change: o Fossil Fuel: A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms. o Global warming: A long-term increase in Earth's average temperature. o Ocean acidification: A result of human induced (anthropogenic) increases in dissolved carbon dioxide into the ocean. As dissolved carbon dioxide increases, ocean pH decreases and there is a coincident decrease in carbonate and subsequently aragonite (made of carbonate). Background information: There is a mystery to be solved! Teacher presents students with the challenge of identifying the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is a pertinent topic when discussing the general concept of seawater chemistry. Hence, this lesson plan uses ocean acidification as a method to apply more traditional chemistry concepts (i.e., solubility, acids- bases). The lesson also focuses on a case study in Antarctica and the potential effects of ocean acidification on an open ocean plankton, the pteropod (tero-pod) species Limacina helicina, whose shell is easily dissolved in ocean acidification conditions. The class will begin with an ocean acidification gallery walk in which students work in pairs or small teams to scan QR codes with iPads/iPhones. Students will record their findings from each website they are directed to in a provided worksheet and then report their findings as a class. This starter activity will cover the “What is ocean acidification?” The teacher will then show a powerpoint to review the concept of ocean acidification (What and When) and explain Why ocean acidification is happening. The powerpoint also discusses ocean acidification in Antarctica and how it could affect a species of pteropod, Limacina helicina (Where and Who). Students will participate in a data nugget activity for much of class to learn “How is it happening?” Class will conclude by students reviewing the 5 W’s of ocean acidification with a think-pair-share activity. Virginia scientists and educators alliance (VA SEA) 2017 Thibodeau Page 3 of 29 Student handouts and other materials needed: • Ocean Acidification vocabulary QR-code gallery walk worksheet • Pre-made pteropod abundance graphs (if desired) • Data Nugget summary questions (as worksheet or written on board) Materials and supplies, A/V/Tech support • QR-codes, posted around classroom walls (starter activity) • iPads and/or smartphones available for students (starter activity) • Powerpoint slides available (mini lecture) • Data nugget (core activity) • Graphing app/program available for students (core activity) • Large post-it notes or index cards (closing activity) Classroom/lab study setup: Desks are clumped in groups of four to accommodate group work. No chemicals will be needed. Procedure: 1. Announce plan for day, the hook! (< 5mins) A. News clip on ocean acidification by ABC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJbyC-eqrfs 2. Starter activity: QR Gallery Walk (30mins: 5min explanation and set up, 20min for activity, 5min for recap) a. Students complete QR website vocabulary activity on iPads/iPhones by scanning codes hung around classroom b. Teacher checks in with students/groups during activity c. As a class, students share thoughts on what ocean acidification is based on what they learned in activity 3. Teacher shows powerpoint slide illustrating ocean acidification and Antarctica (30mins) a. Students listen (notetaking optional) to lecture reviewing the concept of ocean acidification and how it is changing Antarctica and affecting pteropods I. Youtube video on OA for summary (embedded in PPT): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgdlAt4CR-4 b. Teacher emphasizes relationship that pteropods have on Antarctic food web, the ‘so what?” c. Teacher recaps (within lecture) the 5 W’s of ocean acidification from QR activity and powerpoint to provide context for data nugget activity 4. How is it happening? Teacher introduces the data nugget (30mins) a. Teacher shows on powerpoint/white board how the data nugget is organized Virginia scientists and educators alliance (VA SEA) 2017 Thibodeau Page 4 of 29 I. See appendix 4 for graphing information in excel b. Teacher models plotting DIC variable vs. pteropod abundance in excel to class I. Provide a discussion of independent vs. dependent variables, if necessary II. Ask students to write down a hypothesis based on what they have learned about pteropods and ocean acidification 5. Students (pairs or groups) use selected variable and graph vs. pteropod abundance (15mins) a. Teacher assigns a different variable (from six available) to each group *Differentiation: Teacher can also print graphs ahead of time and have students only interpret the graphs rather than generating their own I. See appendix 5 for premade graphs 6. Students compare results with classmates and make conclusions based on results (15mins) a. Students print or expand graph on computer to show classmates, compare