Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium

• The intention of this field lab is to observe and record the atmospheric discharge from US Steel, Gary Works. The purpose is NOT to single-out US Steel, although air pollution is often associated with steel production. The purpose is to observe and record atmospheric pollution in general. What better place to do this from if not from a great ballpark located blocks from a huge steel mill?

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

In the past, a sudden burst of pollution as intense as this has been observed at U.S. Steel Yard.

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

…and equally as sudden, all traces of the burst of pollution are gone.

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Will Mr. Parr’s science students observe any airborne pollutants from the steel mill while they are at the baseball game?

• The steel mill is to the north of the US Steel Yard ballpark. North is toward left and left-center field, therefore the students looked in that direction when recording their observations.

• The materials we used to record our visual observations were a digital camera, pencils, and paper.

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

• What people expect to observe often affects what they actually do observe. Therefore, important information may be missed because the observers are too focused.

• An example of a solution to this problem is not to tell the people involved what they should be looking for. Just tell them to observe and record whatever they see.

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Mr. Parr’s science students were not told what to look for in order to help insure accurate observations.

• Procedures for conducting classroom portion of field lab:

• Make a two-column by seven-row table to make more readable notes in your portfolio. Type the inning, then type observations for that inning in the next column. An example of what the table should look like is on the following slide:

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

• Procedures for conducting classroom portion of field lab:

• The students who did not go on the trip can make their observations at this time from the following photos that were taken at the top of each inning.

Innings Observations

Notes:

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

First Inning

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Second Inning

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Third Inning

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Fourth Inning

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Fifth Inning

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

Sixth Inning

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

• Procedures for conducting classroom portion of field lab:

• Now our student scientists will organize their observations in essay form beginning with the Four-Square method. You should have one Four-Square for each inning. An example is on the next slide:

Innings Observations

First Inning

Second Inning

Third Inning

Fourth Inning

Fifth Inning

Sixth Inning

Notes:

Field Lab: Monitoring the air quality at Gary’s baseball stadium (continued)

• Procedures for conducting classroom portion of field lab:

• Use AutoShapes to make your Four-Square, then copy your design for each inning to save time. Select rectangles and lines to make it.