Air, ground, and water pollution is a concern now and in the future. Our good health depends on a cleaner environment. My Humans Affect Atmosphere Lab is an example of my understanding of environmental science and the investigative nature of science in general. The intention of this field lab is for students to observe and record the atmospheric discharge from U.S. Steel Gary Works. The purpose is not to single-out U.S. Steel, although air pollution is often associated with steel production. The purpose is to observe and record pollution in general.

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

2. • 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)

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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?

6. • 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)

7. • 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)

8. 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.

9. • 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)

10. 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

17. 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:

18. 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.