Teachers.Net Lesson Plans

#112. Resource Conservation Exercise

Science, level: Senior
Posted by Bruce Taliaferro (btaliaf@hpcc-k12.gsfc.nasa.gov).
Southern High School, Oakland, Md. 21550 USA
Materials Required: none
Activity Time: one 90 minute period
Concepts Taught: resource conservation

RESOURCE CONSERVATION EXERCISE

Conditions:
1. Automobile with a twenty gallon tank
2. Your auto gets 20 miles per gallon
3. You can only fill your tank twice a month
4. You live in McHenry, Md. and work in Oakland, Md. The round trip distance is 26 miles. You commute to work 5 days a week.
5. You shop in Oakland for groceries twice a week. Your family often likes to shop with you. Round trip distance is 26 miles.
6. You and your family shop in LaVale twice a month. Round trip distance is 80 miles.
7. You commute to Frostburg University once a week. Round trip distance is 70 miles.
8. You like to attend monthly meetings at the Board of Education in Oakland. Round trip distance is 24 miles. These meetings occur on Tuesday nights.
9. You and your family like to go to Swallow Falls during the summer at least 4 times. Round trip distance is 25 miles.
10. Doctor and dentist appointments occur about once a month. The doctor is in Accident, round trip 16 miles. The dentist is in LaVale, round trip 70 miles.
11. You like to take the family out for pizza and ice cream once a month. Round trip distance is 20 miles.
12. You need to reserve 20 miles per week for emergencies or trips that are not planned.

ASSIGNMENT
Can you make all of the trips on the gas you have at your disposal? How would you plan your itinerary (trip schedule) to meet your gasoline budget? Be specific in your plans. You need to do all of the things that you normally do but you MUST stay within your gas budget.
RULES
1. You may trade in your automobile but any vehicle you buy will still use 20 gallons per mile.
2. You may not increase your gasoline budget.
3. You cannot Òmake things upÓ. Everything that you suggest must be currently available technology or real methods.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS A ÒREAL LIFEÓ ISSUE. DO NOT MAKE SPURIOUS SUGGESTIONS, IE, RIDICULOUS ONES THAT YOU KNOW WILL NOT BE AN OPTION. YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DRAW MAPS, SET UP SPECIAL CONDITIONS, JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO DO TO MEET YOUR MILEAGE REQUIREMENTS AND YOUR GASOLINE BUDGET. YOUR GROUP WILL REPORT THEIR RESULTS TO THE CLASS.

Teacher Note: This exercise has no specific answer. Discuss the results with your class. Watch for suggestions to carpool or to extend a day to make one trip cover day/evening events. You may change the geographic location to suit your area and conditions.

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