Cyclic World of Energy and Materials (Final Paper)

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=56 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="011a0a03.jpg"> <div> Cyclic World of Energy and Materials (Final Paper)</div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=135 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="21fa0c01dduajq.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Educators Science and Math Institute Ser"><U><B>Educators' Science and Math Institute Series</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About the Series"><U><B>About the Series</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Goals"><U><B>Goals</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Institutes"><U><B>Institutes</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="lesson_plans_prepared_by_esmis_participants_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Plans"><U><B>Lesson Plans</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Albums"><U><B>Photo Albums</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ed.mtu.edu/search.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ed.mtu.edu/search.htm"><U><B>Search</B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.ed.mtu.edu/search.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ed.mtu.edu/search.htm"><U><B> ESMIS</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=424 BGCOLOR="#EEEEEE" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Eric Abbott</div> <div> ESMIS- Isle Royale Summer 2001</div> <bR> <div>      I have to start by saying that the ESMIS Isle Royale Summer Institute was one of the most wonderful experiences that I have ever had.  The wildlife and people that I came in contact will be a memory that I treasure forever.  I have bragged many times already about my “torturous” college class on Isle Royale.  It was an experience that changed me in many ways.</div> <div>      The classes that I presented the ideas gained from that experience to were 9<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> grade physical science classes.  In these classes we are constantly talking about energy and how energy changes forms, including potential energy, kinetic energy, and chemical energy.  The way that Isle Royale fits into this scenario is by the circle of life, so to speak.  Isle Royale, being an isolated biome, takes very little energy from outside the physical confines of the island itself.  It is true that plants use carbon dioxide for their life processes, so they certainly would gather energy, in the form of chemicals, from outside the physical environment.  However, for the most part, energy transformations are secluded to the water boundary surrounding the island.</div> <div> The focus of my report from this class was energy transformations.  My high school classes were given a pre-test and a post-test.  Obviously, in between the tests we spent time classifying energy into the different types of energy and how all energy has always been in the sum total of the universe for all time.  This naturally led to the idea of the Law of the Conservation of Energy.  One of the methods of assessment used during the lesson sequence was a concept map that the students generated concerning the various types of energy transformations.</div> <div>      Before any instruction began in this unit, I thought it necessary to “quiz” the students concerning their knowledge of energy and energy transformations.   It was important for the students to know that they will not be graded on this for correctness.  To ensure their candidness, I told them that they would not get anything wrong and to be free with their answers.  They were encouraged to be as open and honest as possible and that their answers would not be shared with the rest of the class. As far as people in the school, only I would see their answers.  I also told them that this was for a college class that I was involved in.</div> <div>      During the instruction time, which lasted for three days, the students were required to create a concept map.  Since the students were not very familiar with this type of assessment, some time during one class was spent showing them examples of concept maps.</div> <div>      The Pre-Test questions are presented below:</div> <bR> <div> Energy Transformations Pre-Test:</div> <bR> <div> <I>This is not a graded test!  Please answer the questions as completely and as thoughtfully as possible.</I></div> <bR> <div> What is energy?</div> <bR> <div> What are the units for energy?</div> <bR> <div> List as many types of energy as you can think of.</div> <bR> <div> Can energy be created?  If yes, how?  If no, why not?</div> <bR> <div> Can energy be changed? If yes, list as many examples as you can?  If no, why not?</div> <bR> <div> Below, draw a picture of what you think of when you think of energy.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Pre-Test Results</B></div> <div>      Here are some examples of answers to the Pre-Test questions.  Be reminded that we have not had any classroom instruction time concerning this specific concept at this point.</div> <bR> <div> What is energy?</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">When things are moving they have energy.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Something that things have to run and work.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Something that gives something power.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Particles in motion.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Power produced by protons and electrons.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Energy is something that is power.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Energy is power from the sun.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Something that makes you move and heat up.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It's the source that makes things work.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Something that is moving.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Something that you get from food to keep you going.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It's what comes out of your refrigerator.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A force that can be harnessed and used.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Energy is anything with force on a matter.     </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It's what keeps you going during the day.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It's what you get from food and orange juice.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">11 students had no answer.</div> <bR> <div> What are the units for energy?</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="553" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 94 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Volts, Watts, Snack Packs</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Watts - (8 times)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Protons, Neutrons, Electrons</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Amp, Volt, Watt</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Volts</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Seconds</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">E</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Bananas and eggs = something I wouldn't even feed my rat</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">12 students had no answer.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> List as many types of energy as you can think of.</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="553" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 150 WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Lightning</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Running</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Moving</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Electric Energy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Static</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Solar Power</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Battery</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Friction</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sound</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Hydroelectric</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Magnetic</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Physical</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sugar</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Heat</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Coals</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">8 students had no answer</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Can energy be changed? If yes, list as many examples as you can?  If no, why not?</div> <div> Yes, because:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">electricity is energy and is not created </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by water powered turbines</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by waterfalls</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by moving or using electricity</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by making more protons than electrons or more electrons than protons</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by solar energy and hydroelectric.  They can be created with energy from the sun or with water</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">ghosts, electricity</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by two different objects reacting together</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">like with whatever elements they use in light bulbs and then with electricity.  Man can create anything!</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">you can dam up water then when it is released it goes through the turbines and creates energy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by nuclear plant or by food, like when you make food</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">because lights were created</div> <div> NO students answer “no” for this question.</div> <bR> <div> Can energy be changed? If yes, list as many examples as you can?  If no, why not?</div> <div> Yes, because:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">it can have like more energy or less energy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">electricity can be transformed by generators</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">because man can do anything!  They can turn off the electricity, which stops the energy from moving</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy can be changed into heat, it powers the lights, and TV's.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">we have dimmer lights and it controls the amount of energy</div> <bR> <div> No, because:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy is always energy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">once it's there it can't be taken away</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy is God</div> <bR> <div>      I was, of course, fascinated by some of the answers that the students came up with.  The units for energy are certainly not Snack Packs, but in all reality, it might just be a good representation of a Joule so that the students would have something to relate it to, at least for a day or so, to gat the hang of this little talked about unit.</div> <div>      But, the most fascinating things that came out of this pre-test were some of the pictures.  Below, I have placed some of the pre-test drawings that the students created and included some comments about them.</div> <bR> <div> Below, draw a picture of what you think of when you think of energy.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2abacf20.png" border=0 width="172" height="242" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig, 1 - There were several students who thought that a battery was a great example of energy.  This is a basic representation of some of those pictures</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2addc900.png" border=0 width="476" height="144" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Fig. 2 - One student drew this picture of a car. A teacher or observer may wonder what aspect of energy he is referring to.</div> <bR> <div> By looking at the above pictures, one should notice that many of the pre-test pictures drawn by students seemed to lack creativity.  They were simple drawings that appeared to represent a larger idea of what energy really is.  A care, for example, is not truly an example of energy, but we could infer that the student meant that a car takes energy to run.  Or, possibly, the student is meaning that a car moves, which is a type of energy.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2aff39e0.png" border=0 width="499" height="158" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Figure 3</div> <div> Representing an apparent common thought - electricity is energy.</div> <bR> <div> Again, in Fig. 3, we see some of the more simple drawings that students came up with for their initial ideas of energy.  There seems always to be a common thread of thought when it comes to energy on the early high school level.  Looking at the Figures 1, 2, and 3, one could assume that each one involves electricity in some way.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2b1f5220.png" border=0 width="245" height="290" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 4 - “Jack's frozen pizza gives me energy”.</div> <bR> <div> Another common theme to represent energy seems to be food.  Consider these figures.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2b3f4780.png" border=0 width="500" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 5 - Two people eating at a table.</div> <bR> <div> In figures 4 and 5 we can see that food appears to be a common thought for students in their freshmen year.  Figure 4 describes one student's idea of energy as found in his favorite frozen pizza, and in figure 5, two people sit eating at a table.  I find it interesting that, by my interpretation, there is a man and a woman and they are both apparently eating a cake.  Who knows what goes through the mind of a child.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2b5afa50.jpg" border=0 width="431" height="165" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 6</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2b7c47b0.png" border=0 width="452" height="123" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 7</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2b9f48f0.png" border=0 width="500" height="143" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 8</div> <bR> <div> Figures 6, 7, 8 - Many of the pictures include the sun as a</div> <div> representation of energy.</div> <bR> <div> Lastly, a common theme to demonstrate what a student thinks of when they think of energy is the sun.  This seems very normal, and almost expected, since is truly is the ultimate source of all the energy on our planet.  Even though most students do not realize that without the sun there would be no life on earth, many students know that the sun is a very important energy source.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2bbabac0.png" border=0 width="427" height="172" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 9 - A ghost - an energy source?</div> <bR> <div> One student even thought that a ghost must be some sort of energy.  I suppose, as students consider energy and sources of energy, they attempt to classify everything that they are aware of.  If a ghost would happen to come to mind, then it may just make sense that it must be energy.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Concept Maps</B></div> <div> During the three-day instruction, the students were given instruction, a short article that described the wolf-moose relationship on Isle Royale, and were guided in the construction of concept maps.  Then they were required to create a concept map entitled “energy transformations”.</div> <div> The article was a short one that discussed the relationship between the wolf packs and the moose population.  We spent some time in class discussing how energy is transformed from one life source to another when an animal lives and dies.  The students understood the basic circle of life and were able to fill in ideas as to were the remains of a dead animal go and how it helps plants to live.  Then animals eat the plants and are able to reproduce and so on.  We did not focus on that aspect of energy transformations for very long, only to introduce it and use it as a broad field approach to introduce energy in its more basic level.</div> <div> After some discussion on the second day about energy and energy sources, I spent time defining and giving examples of energy.  We covered potential and kinetic energy, electrical energy, and other ideas of energy.  After some time with notes and discussion of this kind, the students were required to create a concept map.  They were allowed to work in groups of two or three.</div> <div> The students have had little experience with concept maps at this stage of their education.  When asked, some say that they have never done a concept map before and some say that they have.  The theme of their concept map was to be “energy transformations”.  I gave them a very basic starting point and let them be creative with whatever they could come up with.  Below are some examples with explanations.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2bdf4c00.png" border=0 width="500" height="192" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 9</div> <div> An example of a concept map.  The chemical change from </div> <div> caterpillar to butterfly caught my attention.</div> <div>      </div> <div>      I enjoyed discovering some of the connections that the students made in their concept maps.  For the most part, however, it became obvious that the students did not spend a lot of their educational career using and creating concept maps.  This became evident because there were very few cross-connecting thoughts and inter-linking lines.  However, some of the thoughts were curiously interesting.</div> <div>      In figure 9 I thought it out of the ordinary that a student would consider a caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly would be a chemical change.  It truly is, but I would not have expected a freshman to think of that.  It seemed to me a very creative connection.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2c9f4e80.png" border=0 width="500" height="488" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Fig. 10 - Another interesting connection.  The yellow arrows, in both cases, </div> <div> point toward the words “people having children”.</div> <bR> <div> There was one student who discovered that when people have children there are both physical and chemical changes that occur.  The student evidently did not know how to make the connection between the common thoughts with a connective line, so this person put the same example for both cases.</div> <div> There were incredibly few concept maps that showed any interconnectedness.  However, as shown below, there was one that was very interesting.  The students not only know a bit about energy and science, but also about biology and health.  A second graphic showing an expansion of the interconnectedness is shown below the original.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2c0f39a0.png" border=0 width="499" height="410" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Fig. 11a - Arrows in this concept map point to some very good examples of interconnected thought.  A blowup of one of the examples is shown below.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2c1f0ca0.png" border=0 width="240" height="202" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 11b</div> <bR> <div> The exploded picture, figure 11b, shows that the students understand that vitamins cause chemical changes.  But the map also demonstrates that they understand that the sun shining on us causes some vitamins that people need.  Very intuitive.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2c284d00.png" border=0 width="388" height="208" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig, 12 - There are always some examples that are incorrect.</div> <bR> <div> Of course, no study ever gives perfect results and this one is no different.  By careful inspection, one should notice that, although purported to be examples of chemical changes, not all of these are.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Post-Test Results</B></div> <div> The Post-Tests were exactly the same as the pre-test. This was an attempt to discover exactly how their thinking, reasoning, and perspective related to energy and energy transformation had changed as a result of this instruction. The instruction was intended to discover what ideas the students had concerning energy and then to examine how their thinking and reasoning changed after the three days of instruction.  Below is a list of the results from the Post-Test.</div> <bR> <div> What is energy?</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">power to make something grow, move, light up, heat up, or go cold like an ice pack</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">something that you can create or change that powers an object to move</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">it is a source that cannot ever be destroyed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">like the sun, lights, things that can give off light.  Light is energy.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">something that is generated</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">anything that can be transformed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">something that is moving/something that is using force</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">anything that does work</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">something that has always been here.  Something that cannot be created or destroyed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">something that is in a body, a computer, etc.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy is something that we live off of</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">power created from raw material</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">everything that can be transformed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">the ability to cause change</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">anything that gives off energy so you can do things</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">something that changes but sometimes stays the same</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">everything</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">11 students had no answer</div> <bR> <div> What are the units for energy?</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="553" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 75 WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">watt (13 total)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">amp</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">volt</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">frequency</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">speed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">length</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">11 students had no answer</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> List as many types of energy as you can think of.</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="553" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 206 WIDTH="271"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Battery</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Lightning</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Animals</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Humans</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Generator</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Plants</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sun</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sound</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Electricity</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Swinging pendulum</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Physical</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Chemical</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Thermal</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Kinetic</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Magnetic</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Fire</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Food</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Windmills</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Microwave</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Static</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Everyone gave an answer</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Can energy be created?  If yes, how?  If no, why not?</div> <div> Yes, because:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">it can be changed - waterfalls</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by things dying</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by animals dying and decays into the  ground and helps plants grow and another animal eats the grass it keeps going in a cycle</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">if you take care of yourself and eat right you get more energy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by eating and rubbing things together</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by many substances combining</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by lights, fire or people</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">you can create energy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by, like, wolves and moose</div> <bR> <div> No, because:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy can only change forms (7)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy has always been here (6)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy is nature</div> <bR> <div> Can energy be changed? If yes, list as many examples as you can?  If no, why not?</div> <div> Yes, because:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">power ran waterfall</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by things dying</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">size, shape, power it has</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">don't take care of yourself you lose energy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">if we had no sun we would have no energy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">it can only be created</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy can be changed from food to energy</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by everything moving</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">wolf eats moose, wolf dies, decomposes and is fertilizer for plants, moose eat plants, grows strong and gets eaten by wolf</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">can be changed into different types of energy but you can't run out of it</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">like when you burn paper it's first physical then chemical</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">like in the wolf article and can be transferred which is a change</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">you always use some type of energy to form another</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">like animals; it goes in a circle from wolf eats moose and etc.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">by changing forms</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">water to vapor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">fire to ash</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">gas to fire</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">fire can be changed by heat and it turns into ashes and smoke</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">sugar to carbon/paper to ash</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">from plants to animals</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">wolf moose relationship</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">liquid to gas/solid to liquid</div> <bR> <div> No, because:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">it cannot be created or destroyed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">it's only in one spot and gets used over</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">energy can't be made or destroyed</div> <bR> <div> Below, draw a picture of what you think of when you think of energy.</div> <bR> <div>      There are some significant differences between the drawings of the pre-test and the drawings of the post-test, although there were some instances where there appeared to be little learning.  Some of the pictures show a bit more creativity and, more importantly, more understanding.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2c4eece0.png" border=0 width="494" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 13 - This picture shows a bit broader scope of energy sources.</div> <bR> <div>      There are examples, (figure 13), of a deeper understanding of energy.  Ultimately, the learning shown here could simply be a knowledge of more sources or ideas of energy.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2c6aec90.png" border=0 width="430" height="201" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 14</div> <bR> <div>      Again, as in figure 14, I believe that the more detailed depiction of energy could be interpreted as representative of more confidence in the student.  By comparing this and other pictures on the post-test to the general construction of pictures on the pre-test, it appears that the students are more apt to spend time representing their respective ideas concerning energy.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="353" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 119 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2c780500.jpg" border=0 width="128" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 15 </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="171"><div> <IMG SRC="2c86c5b0.jpg" border=0 width="108" height="91" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fig. 16</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >     </FONT>Of course, not all pictures contained more detail.  These pictures, figures 15 and 16, though very valid, did not show any greater detail.  It is interesting to note, however, that these two, along with several others not pictured, were all drawn by one student on one page, therefore possibly still representing the idea of a more detailed picture on the post-test.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Conclusions</B></div> <div>      It is difficult to approach a physical science class of this level with the ecological data that I gained from this experience.  However, I feel that the students are not intimidated to approach this topic because it deals with animals and outdoor ecology.  I think that, because they are younger, animals and outdoor examples are less intimidating.</div> <div>      Through this study and testing, I have discovered a few very important points for me to ponder and consider in my classroom.  The topic of energy is a very confusing topic to students in their freshmen year of high school.  Energy is not something tangible that the students can see or perform some kind of hands-on experiment with.  Energy takes so many forms that they also have trouble categorizing it and relating it to anything that they have really experienced before.  This is a difficult concept to grasp.</div> <div>      However, students have a concept of the effects of some types of energy.  They realize that electricity is energy, light is energy, and sound is energy.  With these foundational thoughts, I believe that an educator can bridge some of the more complicated thoughts concerning energy.</div> <div>      In my particular setting I was attempting to accomplish two things.  For the most part, I was simply trying to give examples of energy and how it impacts the lives of them each day.  I was also, albeit on a much smaller scale, attempting to use Isle Royale as an example of how energy is the conduit through which all life transforms from one form to another.  The wolf-moose cycle is a perfect setting for such an endeavor.  It is interesting to the students and is a secluded setting, not really affected by the world around it, (at least in ways that are pertinent to my study).  In this way, the students can relate a bit to the ideas about the life cycle and I can interject the idea of energy and energy transformations.</div> <div>      The students seem to have had a greater understanding after the lessons in my study.  The ways that I test this idea is by the verbal discussions that were in class, but also by the difference in pictures produced by the students.  It is not across the board, but there seems to be more confidence in their approaches to the pictures that they drew after the lesson as compared to before.  The pictures seem to show more detail and more expression.  Again, not all of the pictures, but some of them.</div> <div>      This was a very effective lesson, although in the future I will be able to implement this lesson in the appropriate section of the year's curriculum.  As it was, I needed to enter it “out of sequence”, but that will be remedied next year and will, most assuredly, be more of an adequate lesson for the students.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>