Western High School Rebecca Reichenbach Irene Stone Shelly

Western High School Rebecca Reichenbach Irene Stone Shelly Holt

Why is Las Vegas so HOT?

Our Starting Premise Rock radiation and heat retention have more effect than students realize

POS 666 Content Covered NV Content Standard N. 12. A Nature of Science Unifying Concept A – Using Data – Record Keeping – Accuracy – Safe Experimentation – Models CCSD Syllabus Objectives • 1. 1 Scientific Method/Process Skills • 1. 3 Laboratory Technique • 1. 4 Laboratory Safety • 1. 5 Organize, Analyze, Present Data

POS Content Q 1 NV Content Standard E. 12. A Earth and Space Science Unifying Concept A – Sun’s Energy – Weather CCSD Syllabus Objective • 2. 6 Weather Patterns/Human Effect • 2. 11 Lithospheric Plates/Topography • 2. 12 Mapping • 2. 13 Rock/Mineral Characteristics

POS 666 Content Q 2 NV Content Standard P. 12. C Physical Science Unifying Concept C – Forms and Uses of Energy CCSD Syllabus Objective • 3. 2 Forms and Transfer of Energy

POS 666 Q 3 NV Content Standard P. 12. C Physical Science Unifying Concept C – Forms and Uses of Energy CCSD Syllabus Objective • 4. 7 Conservation of Matter and Energy

POS 666 Q 4 NV Content Standard L. 12. C Life Science Unifying Concept C – Cycles – Ecosystems CCSD Syllabus Objective • 5. 8 Environmental Influence • 5. 9 Biomes

Part I: Gathering Preliminary Information Teacher’s Note of Recommended Starting Points: – National Park Service • nps. gov – KLAS Channel 8 Las Vegas • aws. com/klas/sitelist. asp – National Atlas • www-atlas. usgs. gov/ – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin. • www. noaa. gov/

Student Preliminary Investigation • Set up the class to track weather comparing local daily temperature to Red Rock as reported by local weather services. • Graph the data together as a class. • Why is the Red Rock area hotter? • How much does the radiation of heat from rock affect ambient temperature?

Part II: Terrariums • One terrarium to be “desert landscaped” with rocks, sand, cactus. • One terrarium to be landscaped as “classic” terrarium with soil and many plants. • Thermometers to be placed inside each, preferably suspended to measure air temperature

Part II: Terrariums • Place both terrariums in the sun. • Track the change in temperature. • Bring back to controlled temperature in the classroom. • Chart the change in temperature versus time. • Which changes faster? • Which retains heat longer?

Part III: Prediction • Predict the temperature at bottom of Grand Canyon as compared to that at the rim. • Why the difference, if any? • Track through NOAA observations over the course of one week.

Part IV: Application to Las Vegas • Does our valley’s landform and rock composition raise temperature?

Part V: Materials • Small Terrariums can be obtained from – Science kit at http: //www. sciencekit. com • $25. 95 for a 2. 5 gallon “woodland” habitat with plastic tank • $25. 95 for a 2. 5 gallon “desert” habitat with plastic tank – Sargent-Welch at http: //sargentwelch. com • $23. 10 for an empty 1 gallon glass tank • $30. 59 for a “desert” habitat, no tank • $28. 59 for a “woodland” habitat, no tank