Carbon dioxide is one of the most harmful gases to our environment and one of the leading causes of climate change. In the past when there was no human interference increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, we all lived happily and every environment was a “carbon sink”, meaning it took in more carbon dioxide than it produced. Today there are very few areas, such as the wetlands, that have good carbon sinks, in this case we are looking at soil-based carbon sinks. In and around the soil things that affect the sinks abilities are: plants, microorganisms, minerals, and air pockets.
Sinks Will Save Us! TEK8 Student Handout
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process. There is an additional handout that can be used in the planning process.
Sinks Will Save Us! TEK8 Facilitator Guide
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.
There is also a PowerPoint presentation available that was used in the original design challenge implementation.