STUDENTS WILL

a. Measure the age of a tree, calculate the amount of carbon sequestered (taken up) by that tree during its life;
 

b. compare the amount of carbon sequestered by the tree to a typical American monthly carbon emission.



Notes:

A video overview of the learning activity and a series of short videos on how to use the Collector App are located below in the Video Guides section of this Web page.
 

This overview shows how to use the Web GIS for data analysis in the investigation. You may wish to show your students these videos as you introduce the learning activity.


Important Notes:
  1. We recommend that you read the Carbon Sequestration Investigation Teacher Guide prior to implementing this investigation. The Teacher Guide contains detailed content and pedagogical support materials that are not described on this Web page.
     
  2. The instructional materials have been developed for use in a specific geographic location.  The MS Word versions can be modified for implementing the investigation in other locations.
     
Important Implentation Notes
  1. If students do not know their personal household energy, transportation, or waste sources use data provided in the Carbon Emissions Data spreadsheet.  The spreadsheet includes values for typical energy consumption behaviors ranging from environmentally friendly consumptive behaviors to behaviors of individuals with a large carbon footprint.  Each spreadsheet row contains a different home energy source. Each row can be assigned to a group of students.  In-class comparisons can be made for different home energy sources and different energy consumption behaviors.
     

Materials Needed:


Investigation Handouts

Carbon Sequestration Teacher’s Guide (PDF / MS Word)
Carbon Sequestration Student Guide (PDF / MS Word)

 
Carbon Sequestration Challenge Question Teacher's Guide (PDF / MS Word)
Carbon Sequestration Challenge Question Student Guide (PDF / MS Word)
Carbon Emissions Data Spreadsheet (XLSX / XLS)
 

Video Guide

Carbon Sequestration Overview and Analysis