Effects+of+Ocean+Acidification+on+Marine+Life

**Effects of Ocean Acidification on Marine Life** Leanna Feeney (__ lef5039@psu.edu __) Amanda Palenchar (__ alp303@psu.edu __)

**Grade Level and Topic**  We will be teaching middle school students the effects of global warming on ocean life. This will be done by showing how global warming is causing ocean acidification and how this will affect the food chain of organisms.

**Education Standard(s) and Pennsylvania standard(s).** National Standards: 6.3. Populations and ecosystems, Diversity and adaptations of organisms.

Pennsylvania Standards: 3.3.7D: Explain basic concepts of natural selection  v Describe how an environmental change can affect the survival of organisms and entire species.  v Explain how biological extinction is a natural process.  v Explain how populations of organisms can increase [or decrease] rapidly.

3.7.7C: Explain and demonstrate basic computer operations and concepts.  v Describe the function of advanced input and output devices (e.g., scanners, video images, plotters, projectors) and demonstrate their use.

3.7.7D: Apply computer software to solve specific problems.  v Apply basic graphic manipulation techniques. <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"> v Apply process knowledge to make and interpret observations: Describe relationship by making inferences and predictions.

<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Instructional Objectives** <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">As a result of this lesson, students should: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"> v Be able to use pH probes to extrapolate a graph. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"> v Gain a better understanding of the effects of global warming. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;"> v Understanding the effects a changing environment may have on a food chain <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: -0.25in;">- more specifically: the effects the acidification of the oceans will have on the aquatic food chain.

<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Content explanation** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">In order to teach this lesson, it is first necessary to understand what global warming is and its effects on the earth, in particular the effects of global warming on the ocean (acidification). It is also necessary to have a basic understanding of pH because this lesson employs pH probes to measure acidity of water while increasing the content of lemon juice, symbolizing increased ocean acidity. A basic knowledge of ecosystems is also necessary so that it is possible to discuss the effects of an environmental change on ecosystems. It is also necessary to have more specific understanding of the ecosystem of the ocean because the instructor will be asking students to create a food chain of marine life and describing how each step of the food chain would be affected by acidification of the ocean and the possible reduction in population or extinction of the organism at the bottom of the chain.

<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Administrative Considerations** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">In order to manage the activity, before performing the actual experiment with the pH probes, the students will first participate in a brief, inquiry based discussion. The students will be asked their ideas on global warming and its effects on the Earth. The students will be led in the direction of acidification of these oceans, what that means, what pH is, and how it relates to acidity. Once a discussion has taken place the activity will be explained to the students. Lemon juice has been decided upon as the acid in this case because it is non-toxic and virtually harmless. Although the students will be well prepared for the activity, it will be their responsibility to create a drop-wise scale of measuring pH, create a graph to extrapolate the data, and provide explanations and relationships to global warming. This discussion may be as facilitated as necessary, depending on the student's relative understanding. In terms of English learners, demonstrations can be done to reduce misunderstandings. In terms of students with exceptional need, the experiment portion can again be demonstrated or modified to fit their needs.

<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Materials, Equipment, & Set-up** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">- Large beaker <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">- Water <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">- Lemon juice <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">- Dropper <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">- PH probe <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">- USB jack <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">- Computer

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">To test rising acidity levels, lemon juice will be added drop-wise to a beaker of water and the pH will be subsequently recorded using a pH probe. This data will be graphed via computer program and related to the level of acidity in oceans due to global warming. A 1-liter solution with a pH of 8.6 will be previously made before the lesson. Lemon juice will be added one drop at a time until the pH reaches a level of 6. After being graphed students will model one drop to be equal an x amount of years. Students will then be asked to predict what outcomes would come of a drastic change in pH as well as the length of time it will take to get there. They will be given a food web where marine life is negatively affected and asked to bring about some conclusion. Together as a group we will discuss their thoughts and give examples to some negative affects that have already been predicted.

<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Body of the Lesson** <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">a). **Engagement**: (1-2 minutes) What do you know about global warming/What have you heard on the news or TV? What are some affects of global warming that you know of? What do you believe would happen to the creatures in the environment if their climate changed? <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">b.) **Exploration**: (10 minutes) In our experiment we are asking the students to make predictions about the affects of a drop of pH to marine life. Students will be asked to collect data using a table and then extrapolate that data using a graph. By asking them to make a graph they will have a visual to make real of its affects and the amount of time it may take for them to occur. With a pre-made food wed, they will be able to see the affects on the environment on a large scale as well. <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">c) **Explanation**: (3-5 minutes) The students will be working in groups of 2 or 3. Together they will work through their thoughts and then we will come together as a whole. After their ideas are shared we will provide some specific examples and a food web that would suffer greatly at a lower pH. <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">d) **Evaluation**: (2-3 minutes) Students will be asked to provide an explanations for the graph they created, giving an approximate time (in years) when a pH would cause damage. Students will also be asked to give their example of how a food web would be affected. <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">e) **Elaboration**: (1-2 minutes) There are other negative affects of global warming such as an increase in temperature, how do they feel this will affect an environment?