Activity 1. Selection of the case study and Forum 1

Purposes:

  1. Students distinguish the different geosystems and know the difference between the hydrosphere, atmosphere and lithosphere.
  2. Students choose a case study and make a collage to show that problem.

Materials:

  1. Magazines, printed digital images and so on.
  2. Collage tool (AutoCollage, Shape Collage)

The case study

The case study is to conduct a thorough investigation of the situations or problems facing a group of people in specific time and space, with the purpose that the students to examine with the greatest possible detail, situations or problems close to their reality.

My case study!

Each team, choose a deteriorating situation of your interest to make your case study. Select diversified, so that all teams in the group split, covering most environmental problems your local subjects. Among the topics of choice, they are: climate change, habitat loss, loss of biodiversity, erosion, water pollution, invasion by animal species, inappropriate use of water, and so on. Check the list to consider other issues for decision:

Geosystem

Problems/Issues

Lithosphere is the layer of the Earth's surface, comprising the continental and oceanic relief; ie planet soils.
  • Deforestation
  • Desertification
  • Excessive logging
  • Overgrazing
  • Excessive cultivation for agriculture (soil exploitation for agriculture in excess)
  • Forest fires
  • Pesticides
  • Erosion
  • Loss of biodiversity
  • Habitat loss
  • Loss of land for the construction of buildings for residential homes and / or businesses

Hydrosphere consists of ocean and inland waters; that is, all the water on our planet.
  • Lack of water
  • Pollution of rivers, lakes and / or lagoons
  • Irrational use of water
  • Decrease or loss of aquifers
  • Loss of biodiversity

Atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds, protects and regulates the Earth's climate.
  • Air pollution
  • Greenhouse / loss of the ozone layer
  • Global warming
  • Acid rain
  • Loss of biodiversity

After selecting the subject, gather the required images allowing them to develop their collage in order to represent the problem that reflects the effects has caused in the environment.

For making a collage online, download the AutoCollage or Shape Collage program, and the bank of images that have been found on the Internet; then place your collage on the online interactive wall, you can also print it and put it on the school's mural newspaper.

Forum questions

Afterwards, exposed and share the class and the Discussion Forum the following questions:

  • What is the topic they have selected for case study?
  • Why did you select it?
  • What did you observe in the collage of other students?

Finally, share this experience working both on his blog and on the Facebook profile of the project.