Introduction
Hello Everyone! I have some questions for you. Have you ever gone camping or fishing and noticed that someone left some trash in your path? Have you ever been to a lake or river and seen an animal that was dead and wondered why? Have you ever heard on the news where there is some disease threatening a population in nature, such as deer or trees? Have you ever wondered if the place you were at looked different before people came into the picture? Now is the time to think about ecosystems in Missouri. Do we have extinct species or endangered species in Missouri that should not be? What are some of the causes of these changes in the area where we live? Can you do anything about these issues? Well, you have been chosen to find an ecology issue that can threaten a species or population in an ecosystem right here in Missouri as well as a solution!
Task
Not only are you going to identify an issue, you are going to figure out ways that you can work on restoring that species or population. You will be investigating ways that are being currently implemented to conserve and protect nature, and you will figure out how to further better those implementations. You and your group will complete this research, and then put together a presentation to show the rest of the class. You will be required to have a written report as well as the presentation for this research.
Process
You will be working in groups of four. All of you will begin doing research to agree on an ecology issue that you have found in Missouri. Once you have agreed on a topic and it has been approved by me, you will do some independent research. Member number 1 will be responsible for the first two questions in the guidance/evaluation section. You will need to state the issue and tell me what is causing the issue. Member number 2 will be responsible for question number three in the guidance/evaluation section. You will need to tell me why this issue is a problem to begin with. Member number 3 will be responsible for question number four in the guidance/evaluation section. You will need to figure out what, if anything is being done to solve this issue. Member number 4 will be responsible for question number five in the guidance/evaluation section. You will be responsible for figuring out what we can do to help solve this issue. More than what is already being done. Go get it! Then all of you will get back together and discuss your findings. Put together your paper and then your presentation. Feel free to use google drive so you can work on it all at the same time. Please refer to the credits section to use the resources that I have provided for you. Have fun!
Evaluation
There are a few questions that you are going to answer to guide your research:
- What is the issue? What is the problem that you have recognized?
- What is causing the issue? What is the cause of this problem? Is there more than one reason for this problem?
- Why is this an issue to begin with? What is it that makes this a problem? Why do you think that this is a problem?
- What is being done to help solve this issue? What measures are being taken to solve this problem? Is there any measures being taken to solve this problem?
- What can you and I do to resolve or better this issue? Can you think of other ways to solve this problem other than what is already being done? Is there anything that we can do that would help fix this problem or reduce the effects of this problem?
The grading rubric for this project is posted below!
Rubric for the written portion
|
Criteria |
0 points |
1 point |
2 points |
3 points |
4 points |
5 points |
|
Completeness |
There is no written report available. |
The report is written, however mostly incomplete. |
The report is written and is somewhat complete. |
The report is written and about half complete. |
The report is written and mostly complete. |
The report is written and complete. |
|
Organization |
The report does not have a logical flow of thought at all. |
The report is slightly organized, and has no logical flow of thought. |
The report is somewhat organized with some logical flow of thought. |
The report is somewhat organized and has a logical flow of thought. |
The report is mostly organized and has a logical flow of thought. |
The report is very well organized and has a logical flow of thought. |
|
Content |
The report does not answer the questions asked |
The report only answers one of the questions asked. |
The report answers a few of the questions asked. |
The report answers some of the questions asked. |
The report answers most of the questions asked. |
The report answers all the questions asked. |
|
Participation |
No participation took place in the report |
A little participation took place in the report. |
Some participation took place in the report. |
More equal than not participation took place in the report |
Mostly equal participation took place in the report. |
Equal participation took place in the report. |
Rubric for the presentation portion
|
Criteria |
0 points |
1 point |
2 points |
3 points |
4 points |
5 points |
|
Completeness |
There is no presentation complete. |
The presentation is mostly incomplete. |
The presentation is somewhat complete. |
The presentation is about half complete. |
The presentation is mostly complete. |
The presentation is complete. |
|
Organization |
The presentation does not have a logical flow of thought at all. |
The presentation is slightly organized, and has no logical flow of thought. |
The presentation is somewhat organized with some logical flow of thought. |
The presentation is somewhat organized and has a logical flow of thought. |
The presentation is mostly organized and has a logical flow of thought. |
The presentation is very well organized and has a logical flow of thought. |
|
Content |
The presentation does not answer the questions asked |
The presentation only answers one of the questions asked. |
The presentation answers a few of the questions asked. |
The presentation answers some of the questions asked. |
The presentation answers most of the questions asked. |
The presentation answers all the questions asked. |
|
Participation |
No participation took place in the presentation |
A little participation took place in the presentation. |
Some participation took place in the presentation. |
More equal than not participation took place in the presentation. |
Mostly equal participation took place in the presentation. |
Equal participation took place in the presentation. |
Conclusion
When you are done doing the research, all of you will get back together and discuss your findings. Put together your paper and then your presentation. Feel free to use google drive so you can work on it all at the same time. You will be able to identify issues in ecology as well as how to form solutions, so have fun! There are a lot of issues out there. With the right tools, you can help to solve more than just this issue! Explore the many things in your world around you.
Credits
Here are some websites that will help guide your research. These websites are approved by me and are legitimate for your research:
- http://mdc.mo.gov/ - This is the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website. Here you will find great tools and connections to help you in your research. Also, it is specific to Missouri, which is where your studies are located.
- http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/missouri/ - This website is reputable and will help show what different types of issues are around. A good start for you to explore different issues in Missouri.
- http://www.moenviron.org/ - This website belongs to the Missouri coalition for the environment. You will be able to see some things that are being done to solve issues in the environment, as well as opportunities for you to make a difference!
- http://www.fws.gov/ - A very good website, a lot of verified information is available here about different species.
- http://www.wildearthguardians.org/site/PageServer - This website is great to see some of the latest information about endangered species and publications about species that might be useful for you to research.