Week 3 Thursday October 30th: Human interaction with each other and soil

At Energy-Net, the team worked on a Pittsburgh Industry Timeline activity. Each teen was given a card with an event related to Pittsburgh's history. The teens were then challenged to determine where on the timeline each event was supposed to go. Afterwards, we went over the timeline and corrected any misplaced events.

Rob brainstorming with the teens where the events go on the timeline 

Michelle and one of the teens going over the timeline

Afterwards, PhD candidate and paleoclimatologist David Pompeani gave a presentation about ancient lead pollution. He is responsible for finding the oldest lead pollution in the world! He gave a history of the ancient origins of lead contamination and the techniques used to determine previous levels of lead. He also discussed how lead contamination affects human health. High levels of lead can cause headaches, kidney damage, aggressive behavior and even lead to a lower IQ. He ended with a discussion of his research, which looks at how mining affects lead pollution in lakes.

David Pompeani giving his lead pollution presentation

The Energy-Net staff then gave the teens Straight Talk. In this activity, staff members talked with the teens to tell them what they are doing well and how they can improve. In the future, the teens will be giving the staff members straight talk, so that the staff can be evaluated and make Energy-Net a better experience for everyone. 

                                                                 Happy Halloween!  

One of the interns with the skeleton in the Energy-Net Classroom

Week 3 Tuesday October 28th: GPS Adventures

At Energy-Net today, we began with a recap of the field trip to Gamp Guyasuta this past weekend.

The team listened to an audio excerpt about recent research that explored the microbial diversity in urban soils. 

We then had the teens practice their communication skills through an icebreaker where half of the students could talk but not see while the other half could see but not talk. The teens had to work together to line themselves up in order of their birthdays. While it was a challenging exercise, it was very rewarding to see the teens complete the task and find ways to communicate. 

Two of the teens bonding outside

Afterwards, the Energy-Net team went to Schenley Park to learn about how to use a GPS. Rob explained to the teens how to check coordinates using a GPS. He also talked about the precision of GPS devices. The teens used a map to find the circles that the staff had previously set up set up at various locations in the park. The teens then recorded the coordinates of the circles using the GPS.

The teens working in groups to take the GPS coordinates 

Afterwards, we evaluated the day's activities as a group.

Week 2 Thursday October 23rd: Contamination Projects

Today, we did an ice breaker to make sure everyone knew one another's names.

We talked about the Camp Guyasuta field trip this weekend and made sure everyone had the appropriate forms so they could participate.

The interns and teens did a recap of the past week so everyone who missed a day was aware of what was going on and what needed to be done that day.

The teens then continued researching their respective contaminant topic and finished creating their presentations. The teens presented to the rest of the group and we videotaped them. The presentations ranged from power points to skits.

Teens performed a skit where they pretended to be scientists and answered questions about agricultural pollutants  

Another group performed a skit about Acid Mine Drainage

One of the images from one group's Prezi presentation on Air Pollutants

A slide from the last group's powerpoint presentation about lead 

Week 2 Tuesday October 21st: Why soil and the earth is important to us

Today, we started by drawing an outdoor place that is important to each of us. We then explained to one another why that place was special and why we would care if that area was polluted or contaminated.

We then read two stories from different Native American tribes about the creation of the earth. The teens split into two groups and each performed one of the 2 stories we read as a skit. We utilized taxidermy animals from the museum's collections to help us represent some of the animals in the stories. Afterwards, the students analyzed and interpreted how the stories reflect what is important to the people who wrote these stories.

An intern with a taxidermy animal used in one of the skits

To finish the day, the teens learned about contaminants. They divided into four groups that each focused on and researched a specific pollutant. The groups were air pollution, acid mine drainage, lead, and agricultural pollutants like fertilizer. The students did preliminary research on their topics and created an outline of the work they needed to do on thursday to complete the project.  

Week 1 Thursday October 16th: Creating Goals, Analyzing exhibits, and learning about Soil

Today at EnergyNet, we started out with an IceBreaker where we had to find things in common with our partners. It was interesting to see how people of different ages and backgrounds still had a lot of things in common!

After some paperwork and going over EnergyNet standards, the group discussed what our personal goals were in the program and what everyone could to to help one another achieve those goals. Everyone decided that a common goal was to make new friends. We also talked a lot about what constitutes being respectful.

One of the teens contributing ideas during a group discussion

The teens then divide up into 2 teams. One group went into the museum and analyzed one of the current exhibits while the other group went through stations about soil topics. In the museum, the students explored an exhibit about race and discussed what makes a good exhibit.

One of the teens watching a video in the exhibit and learning about race

The students discussing the exhibit's components with Gale, a member of the museum's education department

The students learning about soil went to 2 stations. At the first one, they learned how to determine the color of a soil sample using the Munsell Soil Color Chart. They also learned how to use the soil texture to determine the soil type.

Rob showing the teens how to use the Munsell Soil Color Chart

At the other station, the teens looked at Winogradsky columns and examined samples from the columns under microscopes. We found a lot of cool microorganisms today!

One of the teens and one of the interns placing slides under the microscope

The teens then switched groups so everyone got a chance to look at the exhibit and rotate through the soil stations.

  

Week 1 Tuesday October 14th: EnergyNet is back!

Today we welcomed back some old teens and met some new ones!
The group enjoyed getting to know one another and getting acquainted with the program.

The group formed a circle and got to know each other

We then brainstormed group, personal and museum goals as a further introduction to EnergyNet.
The teens also were introduced to the main topic of EnergyNet this year: Soil! Rob, a geology PhD candidate at the University of Pittsburgh that works with this program taught the teens about soil.

Rob explaining what soil is and the difference between soil and dirt

The teens then got to make a "soil column" out of candy and other fun foods.
We had a lot of fun working with the teens today and are looking forward to the rest of the semester!