Introduction
Hello everyone and welcome!
For this exciting task, you will explore the natural resources of our beautiful Island Jamaica.
You will pay close attention to Jamaica’s plants, animals, minerals and other valuable assets. Through different activities and research, you should better understand the natural wealth of our beautiful island home.
Task
Mission Briefing
Ok everyone, in our previous lesson we learned about Natural resources what they are and how we use them to make life easier. In this mission, we will turn our attention to natural resources that are specific to Jamaica.
Your Team Task
As a team, you will need to pay keen attention to your surroundings.
After you have taken a minute to observe your environment undisturbed, you will be ready to share your expertise and research skills with your teammates.
Each team member will have a job to complete:
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Team Member 1:
You're in charge of learning about the environment. What plants and animals exist on the Island? -
Team Member 2:
You will focus on the importance of the different plants and animals identified and their usefulness in our communities. -
Team Member 3:
You will focus on minerals found in Jamaica and how useful these minerals are. Also, state how these minerals benefit the country's economic development.
- Team Member 4:
Your job is to identify ways we care for or protect the natural resources identified. A digital scrapbook will be created to demonstrate this.
Process
Activity 1: An introduction to Jamaica’s Natural Resources.
To begin your quest, you will research an overview of Jamaica’s natural resources. You will identify the main categories of resources found on the Island.
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You will find out what makes these resources important for the country’s economy.
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Next, you will use reliable sources to collect information which will help you to write a summary of Jamaica's Natural resources.
Activity 2: Plants and Animals of Jamaica
Jamaica is home to numerous plant and animal species. Research the unique plants and animals found in the country. Identify some endemic species of each and state how these species contribute to the ecological richness of our Island.
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Create a visual presentation showing the information.
Activity 3: Mineral Resources of Jamaica
Let us explore the mineral wealth of Jamaica.
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Identify two main sources of minerals in our country.
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How are the minerals identified used in different industries in Jamaica and across the world?
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Investigate the impact of mining on the local communities.
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Write a brief report highlighting the importance of mineral resources in Jamaica.
Activity 4: Sustainable Management of Jamaica’s Natural Resources
Do you remember the term sustainability? If not, research the term and:
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Investigate efforts made by Jamaica to sustainably manage its natural resources.
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Identify conservation initiatives that are in place to protect the natural environment and wildlife.
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How will sustainable resource management benefit both present and future generations in Jamaica?
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As a group, write a 3 paragraph proposal outlining sustainable practices for preserving Jamaica’s Natural resources.
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Develop a digital poster showcasing sustainable practices that can be used to preserve Jamaica’s natural resources.
Evaluation
| Team and individual achievements | Marks assigned |
| Collaboration: Did all team members work together to complete the given tasks? | 20 |
| Did the team accurately respond to specific questions? | 20 |
| Did the individual conduct research on his or her part of the assignment? | 20 |
| Presentation: Were the group members adequately prepared? | 20 |
| Were all the questions answered in the presentation | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Rubric for preparation and presentation of final work
|
NEEDS WORK |
BASIC |
GOOD |
EXEMPLARY |
|
|
MARKS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
GROUP WORK |
Frequently presented off-task behaviour distracting the group members. |
Contributed to group goals but sometimes presented off-task behaviours |
Contributed most of the time to the group’s goals. |
Contributed positively and actively to the group’s goals. |
|
RESEARCH |
Information is irrelevant. |
Information presented multiple errors and demonstrated a lack of research. |
The information presented had minor errors and showed evidence of research. |
The information was accurate, beneficial and well articulated. |
|
PRESENTATION |
Did not contribute to the presentation. |
The presentation was limited and pronunciation and grammatical errors. |
The presentation was frequent and had minor errors. |
The presentation was fluent and free of errors. |
Conclusion
Great Job Explorers!
Because of your quick thinking and amazing teamwork, you completed your task.
Tell us about your findings on this WebQuest.
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List two things that you learned about Jamaica’s natural resources.
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How do these resources contribute to the development of the country?
Please complete the document below on your own. This will help me to note your individual experiences with this WebQuest.
Credits
I would like to acknowledge the following sources that have contributed to the development of this WebQuest:
Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Jamaica (NSC Curriculum)
National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Jamaica
Geological Society of Jamaica.
Teacher Page
Welcome, fellow educators!
I am happy to share this WebQuest “Using Jamaica’s natural resources” with you. This task is designed to engage students in exploring and understanding the rich Natural Resources of Jamaica. This task was developed in alignment with the National Standards Curriculum (NSC). As teachers, we have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to inspire our students to appreciate our Island's resources, and though this is my first time trying, I hope my WebQuest will provide you with useful ideas to enhance your classroom teaching.
As you use this tool to engage your students, I encourage you to enforce a collaborative and inquiry-based learning environment. Encourage students to conduct research, engage in discussions, and participate in hands-on activities to deepen their understanding of the topic. Additionally, consider inviting resource persons or engaging in field trips to further enrich the learning experience.
Standards
This WebQuest aligns with the following National Standards Curriculum (NSC) standards:
Science: Investigating the properties and uses of various natural resources found in Jamaica.
Social Studies: Exploring the historical and cultural significance of Jamaica’s natural resources.
Geography: Understanding the geographical distribution and significance of Jamaica’s natural resources.
Other
In addition to these resources, I recommend using multimedia materials such as videos, maps, and Google slides to enhance student engagement. Encourage students to think about the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources in Jamaica.
I hope this WebQuest will serve as a useful tool in your classroom. Enjoy!