Problem at the Pump

Introduction

Fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel are used to help power engines in machines and vehicles such as cars, trucks and airplanes. Gasoline is made from crude oil and other petroleum liquids. Gasoline is refined and various liquids are added to it before it enters a vehicle. If you've ever been to a gas station, you've probably observed that there are different types of gasoline. They differ by the amount of octane they contain. Gasoline is very useful and we wouldn't be able to go far without it! The problem is that each time a driver fills the car up, drops of gas always fall to the ground. These drops get evaporated into the atmosphere or end up in the water cycle by being washed into sewers after rain. This is an issue for our world because gasoline is toxic to humans and animals.

Task

Congratulations! You and your team have been selected to invent a tool that will help cure a portion of gasoline pollution in the world. This tool will help clean up wasted resources and prevent gasoline from dripping at the pump.

During this task you will begin by researching independently about gasoline and pollution in our environment. The websites will be given to you to explore and you will fill out a research log. Think about how you can fix this problem!

After you've completed your research, you will work with your group and talk about ideas on what you can create to keep gasoline from dripping at the pump.

To start, download the research log form that is attached and put on your thinking cap.
We will be working in Google Chrome, so open up that browser

After learning about how gasoline is contributing to pollution in our environment, join up with your group members to discuss what you will invent.

You will create a model on Google Chrome in an app called Design Something. Play around with the program first to get comfortable, then get creative!

Once your group has invented a super cool product, together you will create a video infomercial to try and sell what you've created to gas companies all around the world!

Process

LET'S GET INVENTING!

Please follow these directions step by step so that you will be able to accomplish our goal of finding a solution to end pollution from gasoline at gas pumps.

Step 1: Meet and Greet

Step 2: Research

Step 3: Report Findings

Step 4: Collaborate

Step 5: Discussion

Step 6: Create the Product

Step 7: Video

Step 1: Meet and Greet. Meet with your group so that everyone knows each other's names. Find a place where you can all sit next to each other and work on your own computer.

Step 2: Research. Begin your independent research. Look around on the following websites and fill out the research log as you go. Make sure you are reading carefully and thinking of ideas to solve the problem!

http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/air/aq4kids/cars.asp

http://www.ducksters.com/science/environment/air_pollution.php

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/gasoline-kids-10533.html

http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-internal-combustion-engines/

http://biofuel.org.uk/biofuels-for-kids.html

Researcher’s Name _________________ Date ______

Research Report Form

What is gasoline and what is it used for?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

How does gasoline effect the environment?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

What are three things that cause pollution in the environment?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

List 4 facts you think your group would like to know about

Step 3: Report Findings: Report back to your group. Once everyone is done with their research, rearrange your chairs so that you're sitting in a circle. Now it's time for business. Decide which job each member will carry out.

Diligent Documenter- This documentor is in charge of taking notes and creating a sales pitch that includes how the invention works and why it will benefit the environment. You will also state what you used to create the product and why your team chose to make it look and function the way it does.
Design Expert- You are in charge of the computer design process. Your computer will be in charge of creating the final product on Design a Model while the rest of your team gives you great ideas.
Pollution Protestor- During your video, you will state facts about pollution and how it is effecting the environment. Let the audience know what they can do to help reduce pollution!
Project Manager- Your job is to make sure everyone is doing their job. You're in charge of planning, designing, executing, monitoring, and making sure the final product meets the requirements.

Every job is important in this project, make sure you are ready to fulfill your duties.

Step 4: Collaborate. Once the jobs are sorted out, have each team member give their answer to one of the four questions on the research log. Did everyone have the same answers? How did yours compare to your other fellow inventors?

Dear Pollution Protestor, this step is very beneficial for you...start gathering your facts!

Step 5: Discussion. What will your team invent to stop gasoline from dripping at the gas pump? During this step your team will work together to think of creative ideas. Try and answers these questions together:

What is the problem?
What needs to be done?
How will the product work?
What will the product be made of?

Dear Diligent Documenter, this step is important for you! Make sure you're taking notes on groups discussion.

Step 6: Create the Product: Here is where the inventing begins! Now that you have your ideas and you know the function of your product, it's time to get creative. The Design Expert will open Google Chrome and go to this website:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/design-something/fgeclailpjmobncndjbahebjhboblhno?hl=en

Once you open the link, click "visit website" which is located on the top right side of the page.

Begin playing around with the program until you are comfortable, then start creating what your group has discussed. All of the tools you need are on the left hand side. The design must have at least 4 different pieces to it and at least 2 different colors. Use the arrows to see your product at different angles. Make sure you save your work once your product is complete!

Dear Design Expert, even though you are incharge of the design on your computer, remember to let your teammates help and use their ideas as well.

Step 7: Video. Once your invention is complete, you will be trying to sell it to gas companies all over the world! In this step, your group will film an infomercial. These are the components of your video:

Once you have practiced a few times and are ready to be filmed, come find me. We will use iPads to film the final presentations.

Introduction: Each member of the team will introduce themselves by saying their name and their job.
- The Project Manager will inform the audience of the problem that your group is trying to solve and will tell them the name of the invention the group has created.
- Body: The camera will then focus on the computer screen of the product in Design Model. The Design Expert will use the arrows in the program to show off every angle of the product.
  - While this is happening, the Diligent Documenter will give their sales pitch.
    - Create a price for the product
    - Explain how the product works
    - Explain how it will benefit the environment
    - Let everyone know what the product is made out of
    - Explain and why your team chose to make it look and function the way it does
Once the Diligent Documenter is finished selling the product, the camera will focus back on the group. The Pollution Protestor will state facts about pollution and how it is effecting the environment. Finish off by letting the audience know what they can do to help reduce pollution!
Closing: This is when the Project Manager will summarize the project.
- Restate the name of the invention and let the audience know the price again
- State the problem your group was trying to solve and explain why your invention will solve the problem and make the world a better place.
- Thank everyone for watching!

Here is a link to an infomercial if you aren't sure where to start: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3lrhPeK6gU

Remember to be creative and have fun!!

Evaluation

Students will be asked to fill out a brief self-reflection questionaire at the end of the activity and check off a list as they go:

Self-Reflection Worksheet

Name:______________________

My job in the Problem at the Pump activity was:____________________________

I know that I did my job well because: ___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Something I could’ve done better to help my group is:

___________________________________________________________________________________

How do you think your team worked together? Explain your reasoning.

___________________________________________________________________________________

CHECKLIST

Meet and greet with group, find 4 computers together.
Visit research websites and complete Research Log
Create a circle with chairs; decide who is doing what job
Share answers from research log; let each member say 1 answer
Brainstorm invention ideas; discuss
Create product on Design Something
Invention has at least 4 different pieces and 2 different colors
Save your work as “Invention”
Practice your infomercial (go get the teacher when you’re ready)
- Introduce each member: Say your name and your job
- Project Manager will introduce the problem and explain invention
- Design Expert will give every angle of the product
- Diligent Documenter gives sales pitch
- Pollution Protestor will state facts and give advice to reduce pollution
- Project Manager gives a summary
Show video to the class

This is a rubric to show you how you will be graded and what I am expecting. You will be graded both individually and as a group!!

PROBLEMS AT THE PUMP INDIVIDUAL RUBRIC

No Evidence

0

Needs some improvement

1

Good

2

Excellent

3

Individual Research

(Research Log)

No research was conducted

Less than half complete, short and not much thought put into answers

Research log is missing a few answers, mostly accurate responses

Research log is complete with correct answers/accurate facts.

Job Maintenance

(How well did you do your job?)

Did not do job

Did very little in position, less than half requirements fulfilled

Tried hard to fulfill requirements of their job, but may have missed a part of their role.

Filled position according to instructions. Each aspect of their job was presented in the group video and they will fill out a self-reflection worksheet.

Total: ___/6

Comments:

PROBLEMS AT THE PUMP GROUP RUBRIC

	No Evidence 0	Needs some improvement 1	Good 2	Excellent 3
Overall Teamwork (How well did team members work together?)	Members did not work together, did not achieve goal	Members often fought and disagreed, almost achieved goal	Members were able to achieve goal but did not have great communication, respect, collaboration, or problem solving.	Members were able to communicate effectively, respect ideas, collaborate and problem solve efficiently. This will be assessed in the self-reflection.
Content (Are your facts correct?)	No facts/answers were correct, gave audience unreliable information	Few facts/answers were correct, gave audience questionable information	Most facts/answers were correct, gave audience reliable information	All facts/answers were correct, gave audience reliable information
Product (Invention)	No invention	Invention is unrealistic, no creativity, not functional	Invention is maybe realistic, some creativity, functional	Invention is realistic and creative, functional
Video (Infomercial)	No Video	Video is incomplete and unpersuasive	Video is complete but does not flow, decently persuasive	Video is well produced and all requirements are spoken about/shown, persuasive

Total: ___/12

Comments:

Conclusion

If you're reading this, you've completed the activity! Congratulations on inventing a brand new product that will help save the world. I hope you learned something new and will spread the word about pollution. Remember that you can make a difference!

Now let's watch all of the classes videos and see what your friends invented!

Thank you for all your hard work,

Ms. Balboni

Credits

Couldn’t have done it without some help!

To make this webquest I looked at ideas from a variety of existing activities. Two of the most influen sites were:

http://www.powayusd.com/projects/mt&r/conflictyellowstonewolf.htm

http://questgarden.com/79/09/6/090326165128/index.htm

These sites gave me a visual to help me understand the format of a webquest.

The idea that gas was leaking from pumps was presented to me by Dr. Corbin at Souther New Hampshire University in his geography 200 course.

I got many pictures from google images or I made them myself.

These are the websites I used for research:

http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/air/aq4kids/cars.asp

http://www.ducksters.com/science/environment/air_pollution.php

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/gasoline-kids-10533.html

http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-internal-combustion-engines/

http://biofuel.org.uk/biofuels-for-kids.html

Teacher Page

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

3-5-ETS1-1.	Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
3-5-ETS1-2.	Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
3-5-ETS1-3.	Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

W.5.7-Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

RI.5.9-Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably. (3-5-ETS1-2)

MP.5-Use appropriate tools strategically