Name _________________________________________________________ Date _________
Environmental Science: Marine Biology News Stories Assignment
Below is your second news stories assignment. This assignment will be for a grade under HS State Science
Standard 3.5.1. It MUST be related to our new unit on Marine Biology. Use your feedback from the last
current event assignment to improve your write-up and your presentation.
DUE: Tuesday, October 7th
The Assignment
1. Find a news article, radio, or video clip about a scientific current event related to Marine Biology.
Your news story must fit these criteria:
 Be from within the last year (2013-2014)
 At least ½ page (if print) or 2 minutes (if audio clip/video)
 Must be related to a Marine Biology Issue.
 Print out the article or give me the link to the audio/video
2. Write a paragraph that discusses your news story. Include:
 Summary of the article (who, what, where, when, why?)
 Why is this article interesting to you or important for people to know about
 Does it connect to anything you have learned in this class or in other science classes? Any
non-science classes? (Make at least one connection)
 Why does this article fit under the topic of Marine Biology
3. Building Science Vocabulary
 Identify at least 2 scientific terms that you are unfamiliar with or you think other people in
the general public might not know (science words, careers, etc.)
 Define these terms in your own words/what do they mean in the context of your article?
4. Present to the class
 3-5 minute presentation (speak clearly and demonstrate understanding of your
article/topic)
 Share your summary, interesting facts and new vocabulary words
 Classmates should be able to answer: What is it about? Why should we care?
 Options: give out copies of article, show pictures, share video clips
Suggested Websites:
www.News.google.com
www.sciencenews.org
www.sciencenewsforkids.org
www.npr.org
www.thenakedscientist.com
RUBRIC
NEWS ARTICLE
SUMMARY
Summary of the article includes:
-The who, what, where, when,
and why of the article in a high
level of detail
-A detailed explanation of why the
article is interesting to you or
important for people to know
about
-A detailed explanation of why the
article fits under the topic of
Marine Biology
PRESENTATION
Presentation is:
-Three or more minutes long
-Shared with the class in an
interesting format (show
pictures, video clips, give copies
of the article, etc)
-Given with a high level of skill
(eye contact, clear speaking, etc)
4
Article is:
-From within the last year
-At least half a page long in print or 2
mins in audio
-Easily connected to Marine Biology
and contains highly relevant
information to the field at this time
-Presented to teacher in written form
or through a link
3
Article is:
-From within the last year
-At least half a page long in print or 2
mins in audio
-Connected to Marine Biology and
contains mostly relevant information
to the field at this time
-Presented to teacher in written form
or through a link
Summary of the article includes:
-The who, what, where, when,
and why of the article
-An explanation of why the article
is interesting to you or important
for people to know about
-An explanation of why the article
fits under the topic of Marine
Biology
Presentation is:
-At least two minutes long
-Shared with the class in an
interesting format (show
pictures, video clips, give copies
of the article, etc)
-Given with a some level of skill
(eye contact, clear speaking, etc)
2
Article is:
-From within the last year
-Close to half a page long in print or 2
mins in audio
-Mostly connected to Marine Biology
and contains some relevant
information to the field at this time
-Presented to teacher in written form
or through a link
Summary of the article is missing
one of the above proficient
criteria or is not addressed
completely.
Presentation is:
-At least one minute long
-Shared with the class by
reading the article
-Given with an attempt at eye
contact, clear speaking, etc.
1
Article is:
-From within the few years
-Close to half a page long in print or 2
mins in audio
-Connections to Marine Biology are
not fully evident and contains little
relevant information to the field at
this time
-Presented to teacher in written form
or through a link
Summary of the article is missing
two or move of the above
proficient criteria or is not
addressed completely.
Presentation is:
-Less than one minute long
-Shared with the class by
reading the article
-Little attempt at eye contact,
clear speaking, etc.
0
News Story Assignment was not
completed
News Story Assignment was not
completed
News Story Assignment was not
completed