Table of Contents:

1. Overview
2. Objectives
3. Materials and/or Software Required
4. Prerequisites
5. Module Description
6. National Standards Addressed
7. Assessment Techniques
8. Areas of Focus
9. Appropriate Grade Level(s)
10. Relevant Links and Related Resources

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Overview:

Radon is a colorless, oderless, radioactive gas that is commonly found in homes and is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths. Levels of radon at 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or greater are a health concern. By conducting residential radon tests in their own homes students can determine a potential health risk that may exist in their homes and then families can correct the problem through radon mitigation.

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Objectives:

1. Conduct an authentic community study of residential radon levels.
2. Use GeoCode.com to determine latitude and longitude based on residential street address.
3. Post data to an online data base for shared analysis.
4. Analyze data for a specific purpose.
5. Create a meanigful visualization of the data.
6. Present analysis of data in abstract form with a visualization of the data.
7. Extension: Compete in Project Citizen to present public policy proposals related to radon.

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Materials:

1. One residential radon test canister per student.
2. Paid subscription to GeoCode.com ($50 for 1000).
3. Online data base (See example: revitalise.ncsa.uiuc.edu/projects/waterloo )
4. Excel, GnuPlot(free), ParaView(free), AVS(expensive, but worth it if you can support it!)
5. Extension: Project Citizen booklets (www.civiced.org/project_citizen.php)

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Prerequisites:

Students benefit from prior exposure to atomic structure and radioactive elements/radioactive decay. Students should have a basic understanding of inquiry (scientific method)and exposure to Excel would be helpful.

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Module Description:

Students collect short-term radon tests in their own homes. Using GeoCode.com students determine the latitude and longitude of their home based on street address. Their residential radon data is then posted to an online data base for access by all students in both science and math class. Students manipulate data in math class learning to use functions in Excel. In science, teams of students select one variable (age of home, foundation type, latitude/longitude, etc...)to study as the independent variable relates to radon level (dependent variable). Each team produces an abstract summary of their study and a supporting visualization. Student teams may choose to use a variety of visualization tools including Excel, GnuPlot, ParaView, or AVS. Project Citizen offers an excellent extension activity that combines science and civics in a state and national competition.

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National Standards Addressed:

NETS:

• Standard 3- Technology productivity tools
• Standard 5- Technology research tools
• Standard 6- Technology problem-solving and decision-making tools

NCTM:

• Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them
• Create and use representations to organize, record, and communicate mathematical ideas

NSES:

• Standard A- develop abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry and understandings about scientific inquiry

NCTE:

• Standard 5- Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes
• Standard 7- Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
• Standard 8- Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

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Assessment Techniques:

1) Content Quizzes, Radon Unit Test.
2) Using GeoCode.com to gather latitude and longitude for street address, successful posting of online data, creation of appropriate visulaization.
3)Abstract – team summary of particular data analysis (floor level, age of home, type of foundation, latitude/longitude/elevation location, etc.)
4)Action Plan Proposal – team or class (Based on classroom objectives or Project Citizen)

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Areas of Focus:

Science, Math, Civics

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Appropriate Grade Level(s):

7-12

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Relevant Links and Related Resources:

• Latitude/Longitude - Geocode.com
• http://revitalise.ncsa.uiuc.edu/projects/waterloo/newData.shtml

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