Exploring South Carolina's Protected Lands

Class, we have an important mission. We must bring awarness about the prestine waters of the Jocassee Gorges and the abundent ecosystems of the Ace Basin to protect and preserve these beautiful gems of South Carolina.

We will be conducting research, sharing ideas, creating amazing works, and impacting the world. The most amazing part is that we will be connecting with students from Brazil! We will reach out and connect to people in our community, school, and students abroad.

Before we can create, we must build our background knowledge by conducting research using the WebQuest that I designed for you. Let's embark on this journey giving it our utmost effort while following our curiosity, creativity, and immaginations.

Due April 10th:

Define the following vocabulary words:

1. Gorge                            7. Estuaries

2. Ecosystems                     8. Brackish

3. Conservation                   9. Natural Resources

4. Watersheds                     10. Basin

5. Hydrological                    11. Escarpment

6. Erosive                           12. Topography

Then find an article on either the Jocassee Gorges or the ACE Basin. Write a claim and 6-10 bullets in complete sentences as facts and details. Then cite the entire article.

Due April 14:

-Complete your reasearch on the eight articles. Make sure you write a claim and have four bullets as textual evidence. Then cite the entire source.

Due April 15:

-Make sure that you have a claim and four bullets of texual evidence to support your claim on 2 article on Jocassee Gorges and 2 articles on the ACE Basin. Also make sure that you correctly cite your sources.

-For homework choose at least 7 points of interest (ex: specific waterfalls, unique plants, hunting/fishing opportunities) for either the Jocassee Gorges OR the ACE Basin. ALL homework must be completed by Wednesday or you are eliminated from round one.

Due April 17:

After reading each article, students must select a minimum of two articles to read about each land area; that is, students read two articles on Jocassee Gorges  and two articles on the Ace Basin, and write the following for each article you read:

1. Write a "claim" about the article.  Remember that a claim is a statement of your position or thoughts on the topic the author is discussing.

2. Write four "bullets" for each article underneath the claim you write.  A "bullet" is a statement of fact from an article.  Since this is a class assignment, these bullets you must write in complete sentences.

3. Cite the article that you read in the proper form.  You may use your citation format sheet that Mrs. Moore gave you during the time of the science fair.  Refer to number ten for the internet articles' citation format.

If you finish four articles, you may read more if you are waiting for your classmates to finish and want to learn more. Reading more than four articles is not required.  It is optional.  You may also explore images in the  computer lab which are within either area.  Topics of interest may include landforms (Whitewater Falls, Turtleback Falls, Oconee State Park, Jocassee Hiking Trails, Jumping Off Rock) or species (Oconee Bells, Maypop, Ladyslippers, or Trillium, as examples.)  

HOMEWORK: After you complete the reading, you should create a list of at least seven (minimum) areas of interest for these places. You may do half on each or all seven on one place.  Ask yourself, "What is it that seems of special interest to me or to other people about this place?"  Maybe you like endangered or rare wildlife.  Perhaps you enjoy waterfalls.  Maybe the birds of Ace Basin, like the endangered whooping cranes, interest you.  You decide what is important to you for your list.  The list does not have to be in complete sentences.

Where we are going next:

The next assignment in the webquest involves two different tasks.  Students divide the mission into two different tasks.  All students in college-preparatory classes (2nd, 4th, 6th, and 7th period) are creating a brochure on the area of his or her choice.  All students in the gifted-talented classes are creating a newsletter on the area of his or her choice, either Jocassee Gorges or Ace Basin.  The instructions for each task is different for each mission.

You may use these websites to conduct your research:

Project A: Creating a Travel Brochure

For this work we are creating the brochure using Word.  Open up WordPerfect and look to the icon "new" to select "Travel Brochure."  The Eiffel Towel is in one column -- this may help you see it faster.  You will use your list of seven potential topics to choose an overall focus and columns within the brochure.  You must include at least one visual image (picture or design from the internet) per column. For your business address and contact information, use the school.  The address is as follows: R. C. Edwards Middle School, 1157 Madden Bridge Road, Central, SC 29630.  Your should have a minimum of four paragraphs of information in your brochure with accurate information explaining topicss about one of the two areas of focus, either Jocassee or ACE, but not both areas.  There should be a heading for each picture that is capitalized correctly.  Remember, the first word and every other important word is capitalized.  All errors of grammar will be noted and points deducted, so be careful to edit carefully.  This project is due at the end of the day on Tuesday, April 21.  

Project B: Creating an Informational Visitors Pamphlet

For this project, there should be a minimum of one picture per page of the pamphlet.  Every page of the pamphlet should focus on a different area of interest.  Let the pictures you choose tell the story also -- do not choose pictures of a sunset that could be anywhere.  Select images of this place and focus area that allow you to tell the story you wish to convey.  Although the pamphlet should have a different area of interest on every page, the overall focus should have a common theme, like for instance, these:

Endangered Birds at ACE Basin Making a Comeback

Amazing Waterfalls at Jocassee

Hiking Trails for the Serious (or for the Novice Hiker)

Ways Hunters Help Ace Basin

Wildlife to Watch for in Jocassee (or Ace Basin)

For the grading of this, teachers will select 4 pages at random.  Each of those 4 pages will be worth 25 points.  You will earn the points based on topic selection, accuracy of researched information, perfection in grammar and editing, and selection of visual images.

This project is due at the end of the class period on April 20, 2015.

Project 1: Creating an introductory video to the students in Brazil

Project 2: Writing letters to local agencies, such as DNR, inviting them to speak to our class and the Jocassee Gorges and/or the ACE Basin.