Snow Science Awareness Project
Essential Questions
1. In what ways was Snow Science relevant to your life? 2. What do you now understand about the role snow and water play in the American West (be specific)? 3. What skill did you develop through engaging this material? Personal Reflection Snow science has been relevant to my everyday life by informing me about the dangers that some recreational activities have in snowy environments. I didn't know that there could be so many accidents in skiing and now I know what to look out for if I ever do ski. After conducting my own research I've found that I probably won't be doing any of the recreational activities that involve skiing or snowboarding. I found that sky-diving has a significantly smaller number of fatalities than skiing every year in the U.S. I don't necessarily believe that sky-diving is safe and skiing is dangerous, but that they are generally very different in the safety aspect according to statistics. During the couple months that we spent on this unit, I learned the process of snowflake growth which was very interesting. We also learned a little about the water allocation in the South Western states and how the usage of that water in the upper states can have huge effects on the lower states that the water stream flows into. I would have liked an extended lesson on this topic because it does sound like something that we should be informed about. I think it's important to understand the environmental impact that water has on the land and how humans can have detrimental or beneficial effects on that impact. I did however enjoy the documentary that we watched which gave us some insight as to how the people in the video have adapted to their environment and how they live off of it in the best way. They would talk about how they appreciated the place they live in and how it provides all they need to live. Overall, this unit was very educational and useful for my everyday life. |