Performance Task -Catastrophic Events
You have been hired to warn residents of the environmental effects of a catastrophic
event or natural disaster. You will need to warn them of what they should expect so they
will be ready to fight for survival after the event has taken place.
You have chosen (or been assigned) a catastrophic event and an ecosystem. You will
research the event to understand what happens to the ecosystem during the event. You
will also gather pictures to show the event in progress and the aftermath. Your goal is to
inform viewers of the immediate impact of your catastrophic event and predict the overall
effect your event will have on the environment.
The Final Product will be either:
A newspaper article with pictures and graphics. It should be done on an 8.5 x 11
sheet of manila paper or larger and resemble a newspaper. The article should be
broken up into two sections, information about the catastrophic event and a
prediction of what to expect when the event is over.
A newscast with a full script. It should be clear, concise, and to the point. Decide if
the information will be presented by an anchor person at a news desk and/or a
reporter in the field. The report should include information about the catastrophic
even and a prediction of what to expect when the event is over.
An emergency preparedness poster with pictures and graphics. It should be done
on poster-size paper and be eye-catching. This poster should clearly tell what type
of disaster you were researching, what to do to prepare for such an emergency, and
what to expect in the aftermath.
Requirements and time line:
(Day 1)
What the catastrophic event will do to your ecosystem. (From your research) and
the frequency at which they may occur.
Two pictures to accompany your article. One should be of the event and one of the
aftermath.
(Day 2)
Prediction of what will happen to the ecosystem after the event. Remember to think
of what organisms need for survival such as food and water and how these things
have been impacted as well as the organisms shelter. Could you recommend
anything that may aid in the survival once the event is over – not just for humans,
but all organisms in your ecosystem
Determine if the catastrophic event was so catastrophic after all. Is this event
necessary for the sustainability of the ecosystem or does it damage the ecosystem
beyond repair.
(Day 3)
Organize your information into a newspaper, poster, or news clip. You may write
neatly or type your own words (without cutting and pasting from the internet) and
glue onto your paper.
Project topics
Floods
Hurricane
Tornado
Tsunami
Volcano
Earthquake
Mudslide/Landslide
Rubric
Criteria
for
success
Academic
Quality
4
Demonstrates thorough
understanding of lesson
objective.
3
Demonstrates
understanding of lesson
objective.
2
1
Demonstrates partial
understanding of lesson
objective.
Demonstrates no
understanding of lesson
objective.
1) Not yet
meeting
expectations
for grade level
1) Meets/exceeds
expectations for
grade level
1) Meets
expectations for
grade level
1) Meets minimal
expectations
for grade level
2) Shows high level
of knowledge and
understanding
2) Shows knowledge
of understanding
2) Demonstrates
little ability to
apply learning
to other
science
content
3) Applies and
extends learning to
other science
content
3) Able to apply
learning most of
the time
2) Demonstrates
no knowledge
or
understanding
3) Shows no
ability to apply
learning to
other science
content
Included:
How do I
get this
grade?
 Causes of the catastrophic
event
 Effects on people and
buildings when the event
occurs
 Effects on the
environment
 What should people do to
prepare or stay safe during
and after the event
 Provide an example of the
catastrophic event from
recent history
 What human actions
impact the magnitude of a
disaster (What have
humans done or made that
makes the catastrophic
event worse)?
Included most of
requirements, but 2 or
fewer details were missing.
Included some of the
requirements, but 5 or
fewer details were
missing.
Most of the
requirements were
missing. The
assignment was
incomplete.