YOUR CHALLENGE:

Imagine you are taking a nice walk around your school yard on a sunny day. At the start of the walk, you noticed that the walk was cool and shaded as you pass under some large trees. But by the end of the walk, you are a little hot and uncomfortable as you step through sunny areas of asphalt. We want you to investigate how shade from trees and plants can help cool down the areas around them in your very own schoolyard. Are plants found around the coolest parts of your school? Where do you think plants should be in your schoolyard?

Fairchild will provide an aerial map of your school and tools to analyze the grounds of your school. This October, take two walks with your teacher around your schoolyard — one on a sunny and and one on a cloudy day. Along your walk, pick 10 different spots to collect environmental measurements using the research guide and tools provided while marking the locations on your aerial map. Make sure your walk takes you to both shaded and unshaded points to collect your data. Create a field journal, including the datasheets in your research guide, your school map with the locations marked you took measurements, and anything you notice about the ground around you during your walk. Make conclusions about the way plants change the environment and temperature around your school.

Research Guide

CHALLENGE RESOURCES:

• Research Guide
• How to find latitude and longitude on Google Maps
• How to find latitude and longitude on Apple Maps
• Urban Heat Islands and What They Can Teach Us About Climate Change
• Native Tree Canopy Benefits
• Dream in Green’s GSC Activity (2nd-3rd Grade, Green Living (Buildings & Careers): Green Roofs)

This Fairchild Challenge is funded in part through a US National Science Foundation grant to Dr. Kenneth Feeley at the University of Miami (NSF Award DEB 2344948).