stakes are high with this particular scientific dilemma, and no one will experience the consequences more acutely than our students and future generations. As educators, we have an opportunity to equip our students with effective communi- cation skills and the best available climate science in order to enhance their collaborative problem-solving.
Practical Information for teachers
Materials for each pair of students: • 10-gallon glass terrarium (or any other container with transparent sides and an air-tight lid)
• Glass lid (We have the hardware store cut glass to the exact dimensions of the inside lip of our terrariums, then cover the sharp edges with electrical tape.)
• Suction cup (to open and close the biosphere top) • Trowel
• Access to natural materials (dirt, moss, plants, rotting wood, insects, water, etc.)
• Assorted containers (used for catching bugs and trans- porting water or other materials)
CO2 monitor purchasing information and tips • We use the XT-10 CO2 Monitor, which has an easy-to- read display that gives CO2 readings in real time and is rechargeable with a USB cable.
•
https://www.co2meter.com/products/recharge- able-co2-monitor-data-logger is the website for purchasing (also on Amazon for slightly lower cost).
• Make sure automatic calibration is OFF; automatic cal- ibration takes the lowest CO2 reading and uses it as 400PPM outdoor air. Using the CO2 meter in a biosphere
Green Teacher 122 Page 17
will cause readings to artificially increase. If you bring your CO2
meter outdoors and it is outside the 350–
450PPM range, then it should be manually recalibrated. See the instructions manual for how to turn off automatic calibration and manually recalibrate.
Biosphere Observations (See Appendix B.) • We welcome you to use or adapt this chart for student bio- sphere data collection.
Jimmy Karlan, Ed.D., excels in crafting science curricula that engage and empower middle and high school students. Jimmy directs the Science Teacher Certification Concen- tration in the Environmental Studies department at Antioch University New England. Hannah Root is pursuing her Masters of Environmental Studies along with her Science Teacher Certification at Antioch University New England. She studied environmental writing at Middlebury College for her undergraduate and worked with Bill McKibben on a creative thesis exploring place-based education in public elementary schools in Vermont.
Endnotes:
1. All Wild Treasures: Climate Change curriculum is available for free at
www.wildtreasuresclimatechange.weebly.com
2. Karlan, J.W. (1995) Children’s Ecological Concepts & Theories: 5th Graders’ Ideas About the Nature of Nature, Harvard University.
& 8th
3. Dr. Rachel Thiet is a soil ecologist and Director of Conservation Biology at Antioch University New England. Personal conversation (September 29, 2018).
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