RIVER BASINS, ESTUARIES AND ECOSYSTEMS OF NORTH CAROLINA PROJECT - Regular
Adapted from Diane Jackson, 8th Grade Science Teacher
You will be working independently to complete a unit detailing river basins, estuaries, and ecosystems of
North Carolina. The unit’s activities will count as a test grade. In other words, you will determine the next
test grade you earn by completing the number of activities that equates to the grade you want to receive,
so work efficiently, thoroughly and to the best of your ability.
Each activity will be completed in your notebook. Be sure to LABEL each assignment with the
NUMBER in the RIGHT HAND CORNER. You will need supplies such as paper, glue, colored pencils/crayons
etc. You are responsible for keeping all work in your notebook in numerical order!
Activities
_____ 1.
Parent Signature on this project contract. (page 36)
_____ 2.
Create a title page for this project (page 37). Design your title page with the
following information:
a. Title: RIVER BASINS, ESTUARIES AND ECOSYSTEMS OF NORTH CAROLINA
b. To get credit for completing the title, it must be decorated and colored.
**You will glue down this project activities sheet on page 38 to keep track of your progress.
Use the Discover North Carolina’s River Basins Booklet to complete the following activities:
_____ 3.
Reading Analysis Questions: Complete the River Basin Scavenger Hunt worksheet
as you read the booklet. (pp. 40-41)
_____ 4.
Vocabulary: Define all of the key words in the booklet using one of the following
methods – note card flip chart or two-column notes. (pp. 42-43) (They are in little green
boxes as you read.)
_____ 5.
Environmental Education: Create a cartoon that illustrates the reasons
environmental education is important. Color the cartoon. (p. 44)
_____ 6.
Water Cycle: Using what you already know about the water cycle, create a drawing
(colored) showing how water cycles through the earth system. You must include the following
terms in your drawing: precipitation, evaporation, condensation, transpiration, infiltration,
percolation, groundwater, and runoff. (p. 45)
_____ 7.
Government Intervention: A decline in water quality led to government involvement.
Discuss some of the outcomes of this. What did North Carolina do in response to this?
Paragraph form. (p. 46)
_____ 8.
Buffers: Draw a vegetative/riparian buffer and a river with no vegetative buffer.
Below each picture, explain how it affects the river and the plants and animals living in the
river using YOUR OWN WORDS. (p. 47)
_____ 9.
Flyer: What can you do to protect your water basins? Create a flyer on blank 8 ½” x
11” paper that would encourage others to help protect these valuable areas. (p. 48 – glue the
flyer down on this page)
Water Quality Issues
_____ 10.
Water Quality Indicators: Complete the Indicators of Water Quality worksheet
using the PowerPoint notes. (p. 49)
_____ 11.
Monitoring Water Quality Part 1: Complete “Simulation 1: Data from Two Days at
Three Lakes Park” to analyze the effect of abiotic factors on a water system. (p. 50-51)
_____ 12.
Monitoring Water Quality Part 2: Complete “Simulation 2: Bioindicators and
Water Quality in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed” to analyze the effect of biotic factors on a
water system. (p. 52-53)
_____ 13.
Pollution: Read the Loop Lake story and complete each part of the worksheet when
prompted to do so. (pp. 54-55)
All about Estuaries:
_____ 14.
Complete the “Just What Are Estuaries?” activity. (p. 56)
_____ 15.
Complete the “How Are You Connected to the Estuary” activity. (p. 57)
_____ 16.
Read the “Estuaries are Habitat” article. Then complete the “Estuaries are
Habitat” activity. (p. 58)
_____ 17.
Read “The Fish Kill Mystery” story then answer the discussion questions in
complete sentences. (p. 59)
All about Wetlands:
_____ 18.
Functions of Wetlands: Read the wetlands article and annotate the text using
underlining, highlighting and main point strategies. (p. 60)
_____ 19.
Wetland Habitats: Using the Wetland Habitats Flow Chart, correctly identify the
ten habitat cards. (p. 61)
Using the full NC River Basins packet, complete the following:
_____ 20.
Make a Brochure to advertise the NC river basin of your choice. Include the
important features, major tributaries, size profile, its estuary, unique wildlife features, etc.
(p. 39 – create a “pocket” on the page to put the brochure in)
Extra Credit (10 pts)
_____ 21.
NC River Basins: Using the NC River Basins packet, complete the River Basin
Riddler activity. This activity should be done on a separate sheet of paper and turned in.
THESE ACTIVITIES MUST BE COMPLETED INDIVIDUALLY. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING
PROBLEMS, COME AND ASK ME TO GIVE YOU CLARITY ON WHATEVER ISSUES YOU MAY BE
HAVING.
Contract and Grading Rubric
I, _________________________________, wish to earn a(n) _____on this project in
Science. I understand that I MUST work on this project in class; although I can do some
work at home, over the weekend. I also understand that I AM RESPONSIBLE for
keeping ALL my work organized in my NOTEBOOK. I also understand that I am expected
to do my OWN work. It is understood that I will only get full credit for each
assignment that is completed accurately, thoroughly, and neatly.
Student Signature ___________________________________
Period _________ Date _________________________
Last day to turn in activities: ____________________ (letter grade reduction if late)
Grading Scale:
A+ (100) = 20 activities
A- (95) = 19 activities
B+(90) = 18 activities
B- (85) = 17 activities
C (80) = 16 activities
D (75) = 15 activities
F = 14 activities or less (each activity is worth 5 points)
Activities completed and turned in (to be initialed by teacher):
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
#16
#17
#18
#19
#20
**ANYONE NOT WORKING ON THE ASSIGNMENT CONSISTENTLY EACH DAY IN
CLASS WILL GET 5 POINTS DEDUCTED FROM HIS/HER FINAL GRADE FOR EACH
DAY S/HE DOES NOT PARTICIPATE APPROPRIATELY. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Parent/Guardian signature __________________________________________