ProjectBasedLearning #2 March-April, 2015
Integrating Science, Language Arts and Math using the “Four C’s”:
Creativity, Collaboration, Communication and Critical Thinking
Our Driving Question: “How can we reduce or eliminate the human
effects which are threatening the health of plant, animal and insect
species, and their habitats, in Northern California?”
 The Goal
Choose a species and/or a habitat which is being threatened or harmed by
human activity. This activity could things such as pollution, litter, poisons
such as pesticides, habitat reduction due to development, changing land
use practices, or any other thing which is causing harm to a habitat and/or
a particular animal or plant species.
Based on your research about your chosen species/habitat, develop a plan
which could help reduce or eliminate the negative effects, or which could
create healthier, safer spaces for these species living in proximity to people.
 General Information
 This is a collaborative project that requires teams of three or four
students to work cooperatively, to research, to problem solve, and to
prepare a team proposal in essay format, and a creative product with
a presentation.
 Class time will be available for this project, but work outside of class
is necessary and expected.
 Information in the essays must be supported with evidence from
cited resources.
 Be creative! Have fun!
 Project Requirements
 Form a team of three or four students and meet all deadlines and
project requirements.
 Within your team, choose your species and or habitat, and research
the general information and status of your chosen s/h.
 To research this topic thoroughly you will need to learn about the
following:
 Find out what your species/habitat needs to function in a
healthy way, and determine what things people are doing that
are causing harm.
 What is the previous condition of your s/h (before human
activity began harming it)
 What is the current condition of your s/h?
 What is the human activity that is specifically harming your
s/h?
 What potential harm might people do?
 What other factors are affecting your s/h- drought? Increased
predators? Reduced food sources? Or???
 Then come up with a plan! What will help your species or habitat
regain a healthy status OR be able to maintain a healthy existence
within an urban/suburban environment (if living close to people.)
 What options are currently available?
 What could you do or suggest that would help your s/h status?
 Write a research essay:
o Paragraph 1:introduce your species or habitat. How is your
species/habitat important to the “big picture” of
interdependence and environmental health? Be clear - give an
overview of the problem and the possible ways we can help.
This is introductory- you don’t need details in this paragraph,
just let the reader know what the body of your essay will
contain.
o Paragraph 2: provide details about your species/habitat; what
it needs for health and sustainability. Provide details about
what is causing it harm or threatening its existence/health.
This is based in research and must be supported accordingly.
o Paragraph 3: clearly describe your plan or suggestions for
actions to improve the situation for your species/habitat.
What will make things better? What actions can be taken
which are feasible and realistic? Be sure this tells what impact
your ideas will have and how it will help.
o Paragraph 4: Restate the situation and what will help. This
should include a restatement of the species/habitat’s role in its
ecosystem. This may include a call to action.
o The essay is based on evidence and data from your research.
(Cite your sources: websites, books, people, etc.)
 Prepare a class presentation to show a panel of your proposed plans
of action.
 You can create a video commercial, a poster, Public Service
Announcement, jingle/song, informational power point, or
something else creative and persuasive! You will present your
proposed solution to a panel of adults from the community at the
end of this project.
 You should also include research regarding approximate costs, and
available sources of any materials that may be needed.
 Possible focus targets for your project:
 Any endangered or threatened animal species.
 Any threatened or diminishing habitat, especially those which
are critical to the health of animals living there.
 Any specific pollution source which has widespread impacts
on habitats or species.
 Any groups of animals or plants which rely on each other for
subsistence.
 Pollinators and what effects may be harming them.
 The role of increased or decreased species within a food
chain.
Handy Websites:
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/
click on Conservation tab- there is a LOT of information and potential ideas!
http://www.savetheredwoods.org
Click on the “Redwoods” tab. This site has lots of good basic information
about the redwood habitats and the species living in them. The site is broken up
into redwood habitats that
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/documents/AttractingPollinatorsV5
.pdf
This site has info on what native pollinators need and ways to attract them.
http://www.nwf.org/
This is the National Wildlife Federation website. If you click on the wildlife
tab, then “search” California Species (upper right area of page), and lots of good
ideas come up to look into.
monarchs/?s_subsrc=Web_Biggie__Home_SavetheMonarch
This National Wildlife Federation blog has info on the monarch butterfly
http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-forWildlife.aspx?campaignid=WH14F1DSCXX&s_subsrc=Web_Navigation_CWH_Wild
life
This NWF site has info on gardening for wildlife
http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/amphibians-reptiles-andfish/california-red-legged-frog.aspx
This is another NWF site that talks about a threatened species and provides
information about the factors that are threatening the red-legged frog; this article
may provide ideas about possible threats to other species.