Greetings and welcome back. Next Tuesday, November 4 is the election. This week you will have the opportunity to dig in to the issues and the candidates and get to know what is going on. This look at the election will be happening across science, language arts and social studies classes.

A short list of science related issues in the 2008 election includes:

Energy Policy

Energy policy deals with how the United States obtains, produces and uses energy.  Historically we have relied heavily on fossil fuel sources for our energy needs.  With rising fuel costs and conflicts in the middle east, energy policy has become a science related issue in the current election.

Climate Change

The issue of climate change has been hotly debated over the past two decades.  Now the debate has shifted from whether or not climate change is real to what to do about it.  The different candidates at both the federal and state level offer different approaches.

The Environment

Both energy policy and climate change fit into this category also.  But environmental issues extend further.  At issue is how to manage our natural resources in our currently changing world.  Introduced species, increasing land pressures from development and resource use, drought, air quality and pollution are all examples of top issues within the scope of the environment.

There are clearly more issues, some of which may be important to you.  As you work this week, please feel free to chime in here about the issues most important to you.

Selected booksmarks for this weeks unit can be found on my science delicious account.  Just click the election2008 tag.

For your agenda books

Monday- Google Reader, set up igoogle, explore del.icio.us

Tueday- Background research on issues and candidates

Wednesday- Presentations in the 21st century

Thursday- continued research and presentation creation

Friday-continued research and presentation creation