HELP WANTED: BOTANIST HELP WANTED: BOTANIST TO SAVE THE EARTHTO SAVE THE EARTH 1970's Oil crisis1970's Oil crisis

2010 Gulf Oil Spill2010 Gulf Oil Spill

CURRENT SITUATIONCURRENT SITUATION

Due to the gulf oil spill, dependence on Due to the gulf oil spill, dependence on foreign oil, and other political and foreign oil, and other political and economic factors, gas prices have begun economic factors, gas prices have begun to sky rocket in the United States and to sky rocket in the United States and around the world. around the world.

Current Current photovoltaic cellphotovoltaic cell technology is technology is inadequate to supplement and eventually inadequate to supplement and eventually replace the worlds energy demands.replace the worlds energy demands.

JOB DESCRIPTIONJOB DESCRIPTION

The fate of the world is dependent on The fate of the world is dependent on botanistsbotanists like you. You must figure out how like you. You must figure out how plants can produce their own food and plants can produce their own food and energy through the process of energy through the process of **photosynthesis** and apply that **photosynthesis** and apply that knowledge to producing a more efficient knowledge to producing a more efficient photovoltaic cell. photovoltaic cell.

****Click on “video link” watch photosynthesis Click on “video link” watch photosynthesis history videohistory video

PROJECTPROJECT

Your team has exactly one week to come Your team has exactly one week to come up with a power point proposal to present up with a power point proposal to present to the president of the United States to the president of the United States (principal of the school). The winner of (principal of the school). The winner of the proposal contest will receive a the proposal contest will receive a government grant in the amount of 1 government grant in the amount of 1 billion dollars (50 bonus points to use as billion dollars (50 bonus points to use as you see fit) to develop this new you see fit) to develop this new technology. technology.

CENTRAL QUESTIONS CENTRAL QUESTIONS

How are photovoltaic cells and the How are photovoltaic cells and the process of photosynthesis alike and process of photosynthesis alike and different?different?

How can an understanding of plant How can an understanding of plant photosynthesis be used to develop better photosynthesis be used to develop better photovoltaic cells?photovoltaic cells?

GROUP ROLES GROUP ROLES (Day #1)(Day #1)

Investigator (Photosynthesis)Investigator (Photosynthesis) Investigator (Photovoltaic Cells)Investigator (Photovoltaic Cells) Power Point Design Specialist (PPDS)Power Point Design Specialist (PPDS) Presentation OrganizerPresentation Organizer All group members will collaborate on All group members will collaborate on

what parts of photosynthesis can be used what parts of photosynthesis can be used to improve photovoltaic cell technology.to improve photovoltaic cell technology.

INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION

Every group member will be responsible Every group member will be responsible for contributing to the research process.for contributing to the research process.

The lead investigators will become the The lead investigators will become the experts on their topic, and will be experts on their topic, and will be responsible for compiling the information responsible for compiling the information the group acquires about their topic to the group acquires about their topic to give to the PPDS. They are also give to the PPDS. They are also responsible for making sure their group responsible for making sure their group understands their topic.understands their topic.

INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION

Once the group has compiled and Once the group has compiled and understands the information about understands the information about photosynthesis and photovoltaic cells, photosynthesis and photovoltaic cells, the group must compare and contrast the the group must compare and contrast the process of photosynthesis to the process of photosynthesis to the production of energy by photovoltaic production of energy by photovoltaic cells.cells.

INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION

After comparing photosynthesis and After comparing photosynthesis and photovoltaic cells, the group will propose photovoltaic cells, the group will propose a model of a more efficient photovoltaic a model of a more efficient photovoltaic cell using photosynthetic concepts. This cell using photosynthetic concepts. This part of the project can and should be part of the project can and should be creative. You must, however, work within creative. You must, however, work within the realm of possibility when creating the realm of possibility when creating your photovoltaic cell.your photovoltaic cell.

INVESTIGATIONINVESTIGATION

Finally your group will present your Finally your group will present your proposal in power point format to the proposal in power point format to the class. The Presentation Organizer will class. The Presentation Organizer will be in charge of assigning parts of the be in charge of assigning parts of the project to present. Every group member project to present. Every group member must present some part of the project.must present some part of the project.

DAY #1DAY #1

Assign Assign group roles group roles Do Do Assignment #1 PhotosynthesisAssignment #1 Photosynthesis Create title slideCreate title slide: Name of Proposal, : Name of Proposal,

picture or video, group members namespicture or video, group members names Create slide #2Create slide #2: Overall chemical : Overall chemical

equation for photosynthesis (use equation for photosynthesis (use chemical formulas and words), include a chemical formulas and words), include a picture of a chloroplast.picture of a chloroplast.

DAY #2DAY #2

Create slide #3Create slide #3: Overview of the Light : Overview of the Light Dependent reaction with picture.Dependent reaction with picture.

Create slide #4Create slide #4: Overview of the Light : Overview of the Light Independent reaction with picture.Independent reaction with picture.

Do Do Activity #2: KWWL Photovoltaic CellsActivity #2: KWWL Photovoltaic Cells ( (turn turn in today)in today)

Each group memberEach group member will will create a create a Venn DiagramVenn Diagram that compares photosynthesis that compares photosynthesis to photovoltaic cells (turn in tomorrow)to photovoltaic cells (turn in tomorrow)

DAY #3DAY #3

Discuss Venn DiagramsDiscuss Venn Diagrams and come up with a and come up with a group Venn Diagramgroup Venn Diagram; turn in individual ; turn in individual diagramsdiagrams

Create slide #5Create slide #5: Explain how photovoltaic : Explain how photovoltaic cells work; include a picture or video clipcells work; include a picture or video clip

Create slide #6Create slide #6: List the similarities between : List the similarities between photosynthesis and photovoltaic cells in a chartphotosynthesis and photovoltaic cells in a chart

BrainstormBrainstorm ideas about how you can use ideas about how you can use photosynthesis to improve photovoltaic photosynthesis to improve photovoltaic cellscells. Turn in ideas. Turn in ideas

DAY #4DAY #4

Develop your photovoltaic cell. Draw a Develop your photovoltaic cell. Draw a schematicschematic on poster paper that describes how on poster paper that describes how your cell works. Be sure to point out what you your cell works. Be sure to point out what you took from photosynthesis in your design.took from photosynthesis in your design.

Create slide #7Create slide #7: Describe how your : Describe how your photovoltaic cell uses photosynthesis as a photovoltaic cell uses photosynthesis as a model (you will describe your poster at this model (you will describe your poster at this point)point)

Create slide #8Create slide #8: Make a final argument about : Make a final argument about how your cell idea is the best; remember, you how your cell idea is the best; remember, you are competing for 1 billion dollars (50 bonus)are competing for 1 billion dollars (50 bonus)

DAY #5DAY #5

PRESENTATION DAY!!!!PRESENTATION DAY!!!! BE SURE EACH MEMBER OF YOUR BE SURE EACH MEMBER OF YOUR

GROUP GROUP KNOWS HIS/HER ROLEKNOWS HIS/HER ROLE PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATION IN PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATION IN

YOUR GROUPYOUR GROUP REMEMBER THERE ARE REMEMBER THERE ARE POINTS FOR POINTS FOR

PRESENTATION SO DO YOUR BEST!!PRESENTATION SO DO YOUR BEST!!

RubricRubric

Click the Click the RubricRubric link above link above to view the to view the grading requirements for this project. grading requirements for this project.

It is It is very importantvery important that you include that you include everything in the rubric so that you can everything in the rubric so that you can get the maximum number of points for get the maximum number of points for your project.your project.

RESOURCES AND RESOURCES AND STANDARDSSTANDARDS

2010 oil spill 2010 oil spill http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/05/how-to-stop-the-gulf-oilhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/05/how-to-stop-the-gulf-oil_n_563239.html_n_563239.html

1970’s oil crisis clip and found on united streaming1970’s oil crisis clip and found on united streaming Botanist link Botanist link

http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/390/Botanist.htmlhttp://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/390/Botanist.html History of Photosynthesis video clip http://www.goldiesroom.org/History of Photosynthesis video clip http://www.goldiesroom.org/ Venn Diagram site Venn Diagram site

http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/tvenn.htmhttp://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/tvenn.htm Schematic site Schematic site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schematichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schematic All other websites can be found on the activity links. Both All other websites can be found on the activity links. Both

activities are located on the activities are located on the trackstartrackstar website. website. The rubric was created on the The rubric was created on the rubistarrubistar website. website. This project covers all standards related to photosynthesis in the This project covers all standards related to photosynthesis in the

Alabama Course of Study and Alabama Graduation Exam.Alabama Course of Study and Alabama Graduation Exam.