[PAEE] Environmental Education in Pennsylvania

[rroperti at zoominternet.net]

My name is Jim Woods. I am the Director of Public and Education Relations for the Steel Recycling Institute. We are a not-for-profit environmental trade association. And, as part of our many duties, we develop standards-based multi-material sustainability/environmental education programming pre-k through grade 12. 

We have just completed revisions of our Cycles for Science program which is a science-based program for students in grades 9-12 (physical science, earth science, life/environmental science.)

I am hoping you could help me to identify a few environmentally-minded educators in Pennsylvania that might be interested in examining/testing/reviewing our updated programming. We have 18 exercises that I've identified below. If you have email addresses--or if you'd like to see the lessons first--please email or call me and I will move forward accordingly.
Thanks so much! 

Jim Woods
Director, Public and Education Relations
Steel Recycling Institute
p: 412.922.2772 x215
f: 412.922.3213
c: 412.974.2586
e: jimw at recycle-steel.org
Steel: The EnviroMetal
  a.. Earth Science 
    a.. Melting Alloys: 
      a.. Essential Question: Why are the melting points of alloying elements important to know when manufacturing steel for items from cookware to bridges? 
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Earth Sciencce, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives 
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Consumer Products & Global Population Growth, Earth's Resources
    b.. Metals for Toasters
      a.. Essential Question: What are the challenges for consumers and communities in recycling household items such as toasters?
      b.. NSES: Education: Science as Inquiry, Earth Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Consumer Products & Global Population Growth, Recycling
    c.. Mines to Mills
      a.. Essential Question: How much does a ton of iron ore cost a steel mill?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Business/Manufacturing, Consumer Products, Earth's Resources, Recycling
    d.. Mining our Landfills
      a.. Essential Question: What types of waste are generated at home and school and what steps can be taken to reduce/recycle this waste?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Living Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Solid Waste Management, Waste Reduction, Recycling, Composting, Waste-to-Energy
    e.. Prospecting for Ore
      a.. Essential Question: How are veins of underground ores located and mined?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Earth Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Consumer Products & Global Population Growth, Recycling
    f.. Sink and Float
      a.. Essential Question: How are minerals and recyclables sorted using a sink and float method?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Earth Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Earth's Resources, Recycling, Waste Management
    g.. Where in the World
      a.. Essential Question: What countries produce the most iron ore and have the most reserves and reserve base?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Earth Science, Science in Personal and Growth Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Consumer Products & Global Population Growth, Recycling
  b.. Life/Environmental Science
    a.. Climate Change and Waste
      a.. Essential Question: What are climate-change drivers and how can individuals make a difference?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Living Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Businesses/Manufacturing, Consumer Products, Earth's Resources, Recycling
    b.. Composting With Worms
      a.. Essential Question: How much food waste would be diverted from landfills each year if every household used a vermicomposting system?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Living Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Eco Friendly Homes, Landfills, Recycling, Waste Management
    c.. Food Spoilage and Waste
      a.. Essential Question: How does food processing and packaging reduce food spoilage and waste?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Living Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Business/Manufacturing, Consumer Products, Earth's Resources, Recycling
    d.. Green Energy
      a.. Essential Question: How does a biomass (cow manure) through anaerobic respiration produce green energy?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Living Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Business/Manufacturing, Consumer Products, Earth's Resources, Recycling
    e.. Leachate Collection
      a.. Essential Question: How can communities design landfills to reduce or eliminate the potential contamination of groundwater, rivers and lakes from lechate produced from landfill waste?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Living Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Landfills, Recycling, Waste Management
  c.. Physical Science
    a.. Fluff Stuff
      a.. Essential Question: What design changes in a typical, family automobile could improve its reuse and recyclability?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Consumer Products, Technology, Innovation, Recycling, Waste Management
    b.. Jumping Metal
      a.. Essential Question: How are magnets and electrical fields used to sort commingled recyclables?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Recycling, Waste Management
    c.. What's a MRF
      a.. Essential Question: What is the most efficient process for collecting, sorting and processing commingled recyclables?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Landfills, Recycling Waste Managements
    d.. Nails in Solution
      a.. Essential Question: What makes steel long-lasting and versatile for some many different end-use products?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Solid Waste Management, Waste Reducation, Recycling
    e.. Steel Home
      a.. Essential Question: In terms of sustainability, how does steel framing compare/contrast to wood as an alternative building material for construction of new homes?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Buildings, Communities and the Environment, Eco Friendly Homes, Recycling
    f.. Stretch and Strain
      a.. Essential Question: What types of metal wire are more desirable for guitar strings, electric lines or suspension bridges?
      b.. NSES: Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
      c.. Thematic Concepts: Buildings, Communities, Earth's Resources, Recycling

Jim Woods
Director, Public and Education Relations
Steel Recycling Institute
p: 412.922.2772 x215
f: 412.922.3213
c: 412.974.2586
e: jimw at recycle-steel.org

Steel: The EnviroMetal

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