Introduction
Our state faces a variety of environmental problems, such as habitat loss, environmental pollution, invasive species, and a decrease in population of some animals, to name a few. Based on what you've read and learned about interdependence and environments, what is one environmental issue you feel is important to bring attention to in order to help solve the problem? How would you share this information and with whom would you share it to make the most impact?
Task
In this webquest, you will begin investigating environmental issues that we face in the state of Florida in order to choose a topic for your research. Using your graphic organizer , you will take notes on each topic in this webquest by following the links to the articles and websites. By the end of this week you will be expected to know which of the following topics you would like to focus on.
habitat loss
environmental pollution
invasive species (choose 1 plant or animal)
decrease in animal population (choose 1 animal)
Process
Click on this link to read about nonnative spcies. Read the article and complete your graphic organizer. Then, click on the animal types to learn more about specific animals. Choose 3 of the animals that interest you, and write 5 facts about each one on the back of your graphic organizer.
Click on this link to read about nonnative plants and their affect on Florida's ecosystems. Read the answers to the following questions and take notes on your graphic organizer. Why is it important to remove invasive nonnative plants from public lands? Are all aquatic plants weeds? What does Maintenance Control mean?
Click on this link to read about some of Florida's endangered animals and plants. Complete your graphic organizer. Then, click on each of the categories and write an example from each.
Click on this link to read about habitat loss and it's affect on plants and animals. Remember to take notes as you read.
Click on this link to read about pollution's affect on plants and animals. Take notes on your graphic organizer as you read.
Evaluation
Pre-Research Rubric for Note-Taking
You are investigating environmental issues in the state of Florida in order to choose a topic for research. Your research work for this week will be graded with this rubric. This score will count as an assessment score for this week.
|
Note-Taking Skill |
Expert |
Practitioner |
Apprentice |
Novice |
|
Content |
Located and recorded information that answered all of the research questions. |
Located and recorded information that answered most of the research questions. |
Located and recorded a lot of information that did not directly answer the research questions. |
Located and recorded incomplete information that failed to answer any of the research questions. |
|
Organization |
Organized, neat, easy to read notes. |
Organized notes and most were easy to read. |
Notes not organized effectively; many were messy and hard to read. |
Notes not organized; all notes were messy and hard to read. |
|
Information |
Wrote all notes using own words and key facts from the source. |
Wrote most notes using own words and key facts from the source. |
Wrote some notes that were copied word-for-word from the source. |
Copied most or all of the notes word-for-word from the source. Relies on background knowledge instead of sources. |
|
Listing Sources (Bibliography) |
Included all sources used and listed sources in correct format. |
Included most sources used and listed sources in the correct format. |
Included most sources used, but some information was missing or incorrect. |
Failed to include most of the sources used, and a lot of the information was missing or incorrect. |