CSI: Carbon Sink Investigation: A SCALE K-12 Curriculum Unit

By Rachel E Gehr1; Siddika Selcen Guzey2; Doug Mayfield3; Leslie VanHoy3; Kerrie Douglas4; Morgan M Hynes4; Greg J. Strimel5; Tamara J. Moore4; SCALE K126

1. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 2. Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 3. Loogootee Community Schools, Loogootee, IN 4. Engineering Education, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 5. Technology Leadership & Innovation, Polytechnic Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 6. SCALE K-12, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

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Teaching Materials

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Abstract

Grade Level

High School

Approximate Time Needed to Complete Unit

3 weeks 

Unit Summary

In this unit, a client asks students to engage in an engineering design challenge of reducing the effect of carbon emissions from a nearby power plant. Students are tasked with creating a carbon sink. Lessons are provided about the carbon cycle, climate and environmental justice, microelectronic sensors, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration. Students will brainstorm their ideas, build an algae farm, and test it to see how effective they were at reducing atmospheric carbon.

Credits

Author order: Rachel Gehr, Selcen Guzey, Ryan Hoyt, Doug Mayfield, Leslie VanHoy, Kerrie Douglas, Morgan Hynes, Greg Strimel, Tamara Moore

Teacher Authors:
Ryan Hoyt
Doug Mayfield
Leslie VanHoy


Project Authors:
Rachel Gehr
Selcen Guzey
Kerrie Douglas
Morgan Hynes
Greg Strimel
Tamara Moore


 

Sponsored by

This work was created with support from the U.S. Department of Defense [Contract No. W52P1J-22-9-3009] and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation [Contract No. A281-3-IPF-1028 424208].

Cite this work

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

  • Rachel E Gehr, Siddika Selcen Guzey, Doug Mayfield, Leslie VanHoy, Kerrie Douglas, Morgan M Hynes, Greg J. Strimel, Tamara J. Moore, SCALE K12 (2024), "CSI: Carbon Sink Investigation: A SCALE K-12 Curriculum Unit," https://nanohub.org/resources/39032.

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Submitter

Anne DeLion1, Rena Ann Sterrett1, Amy Joo2

1. Engineering Education, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 2. Network for Computational Nanotechnology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Tags

  1. biology
  2. carbon based materials
  3. carbon cycle
  4. CO2
  5. engineering design process
  6. has NGSS
  7. high school
  8. microelectronics
  9. NGSS HS-ETS1-1
  10. NGSS HS-LS2-1
  11. NGSS HS-LS2-5
  12. photosynthesis
  13. SCALE K-12
  14. SCALE (Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement)
  15. sensors/sensing