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Students in Ida, Michigan and Lima, Peru collaborate to understand their environments.      June 2, 2013

Students from Ida, Michigan and Lima, Peru have collaborated over the last three months to study their environments and share their observations with each other. Students from Mrs. Kathy Zeichman’s 4th grade class from Ida Elementary School in Southeast Michigan took observations through the GLOBE Program every Tuesday and Thursday  from March through June. The GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment http://www.globe.gov) is an international program that helps students explore their environments. Students develop research questions, take observations and analyze data to address their question. The students in Mrs. Zeichman’s 4th grade class measured the surface temperature of a concrete sidewalk, blacktop parking space and nearby grassy area. They also observed the clouds, condensation trails and air temperature. The students found that the asphalt was always warmer than the grass and concrete. The difference in temperature between the different surfaces was greatest on sunny days with little cloud cover.

In addition, the students from Ida, Michigan developed  research questions related to the temperatures of their playground. They wanted to know what the hottest surfaces were on the playground. Several of the students had gotten blisters by playing on the monkey bars. Their research showed that the metal of the bars was very hot and may have contributed.

Students in Mrs. Maria Milagros Gallegos Rioja science course at Colegio San Ignacio de Recalde in Lima Peru noted that their weather was “irregular”. Temperatures varied quite a bit from day to day. Students in Michigan observed the same temperature variation. One day the temperatures they measured were around 25 C and then next they were 10 C. The temperature bounced around and the weather changed from cold to warm back to cold.

Which light bulb is the best? Is it the cheapest or the one that is the brightest…no maybe it’s the one that uses the less energy…but wait, could it be a combination of all of the above? You bet!

Teacher LEADER Stacy Maynard and her 5th grade science class hosted a demonstration by Dr. Glenn Lipscomb, Professor and Chemical Environmental Engineer from the University of Toledo on Thursday, March 21st. The students took a variety of data measurements and made dozens of observations during the one hour session trying to determine which bulb had the greatest value.

So…which bulb will be suggested for purchase? Mrs. Maynard will be reviewing their data next week with the students to come up with a final recommendation. So parents, as the lighting in your home operates more efficiently hold on to your wallets and purses as you go shopping for new light bulbs!