Fred Matter
Barbara Goleman Senior High
What natural resource protection plan is the best and why?
At a glance: Students will research different approaches to conservation/preservation techniques and determine best practices. They will
participate in debates or design a plan for various scenarios.
Background: No formal background information will be given to the students. Interest will be ignited by a short PowerPoint presentation and
probing questions
Preparation:
PowerPoint presentation using Mayan Biosphere Reserve as example
Probing questions to guide students’ research

Advantage/disadvantage of conservation and preservation
o Success stories/failures and why
o Genetic diversity preservation is it important or not?
o Is it different for plants and animals?
o Are big agencies out touch and does it matter?
o Protection of different sized areas?
o Species Approach vs ecosystem approach
 Flagship species
 Indicator species
 Keystone species
o Who should manage the project
 Private
 Governmental (federal, state, local)
o What happens when government officials change?
 Large scale
 Small scale
 International
 Do we have the responsibility to actively participate in conservation in other parts of the world
Fred Matter
Barbara Goleman Senior High

Do we have the right to intervene in other countries?
o If we do not help provide funding do we have the right to use any of the resources or do research?
Procedure:
Show the powerpoint to activate the brain cells
Attention grabbing video about scarlet macaw
http://www.wcs.org/news-and-features-main/scarlet-macaws-guatemala-video.aspx
Attention grabbing video featuring Brooklyn Bridge repair as a conservation practice possible integration with AP Art History? AP Human Geo?
http://www.wcs.org/news-and-features-main/brooklyn-bridge-forest.aspx
Students will conduct research on different conservation techniques and find examples to answer all of the probing questions.
After the research students will participate in a debate. The debate could be individual of in teams of two. A poll should be taken prior to the
debate and a port debate poll to judge the effectiveness of the data presented in the debate. (bonus points may be awarded for changing votes)
Possible debate topics could include
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Which is better conservation or preservation?
Local people are/are not the most important part of the success of a plan.
The United States should/should not get involved in protection of natural resources in other countries
Protection of natural resources is most effective when it is government/privately implemented.
Protecting plants/animals is more effective.
The protection plan should be species/ecosystem approached.
Human rights/cultural practices are more/less important than plant and animal protection
It is acceptable/not acceptable to have auctioned off a license to shoot an endangered black rhinoceros.
Assessment: Debate Rubric
Fred Matter
Barbara Goleman Senior High
Superior - 4
Proficient - 3
Poor - 2
Unsatisfactory - 1
Factual Information
Used many facts
to support all
arguments.
Used some facts
to support all
arguments.
Used few facts
to support arguments.
Did not present facts to
support arguments.
Comprehension
Demonstrated thorough
understanding of
information.
Demonstrated accurate
understanding of
important information.
Demonstrated minimal
understanding of
information.
Demonstrated
misunderstanding of the
information
Persuasiveness
All arguments were
logical and
convincing
Most arguments were
logical and convincing
Some arguments were
logical and convincing
Few arguments were
logical and convincing
Delivery
Communicated clearly
and confidently;
maintained eye contact;
excellent voice
inflection and delivery
rate.
Communicated
clearly; frequent eye
contact; good voice
and delivery rate.
Seldom communicated
clearly; poor eye
contact; poor voice and
delivery rate.
Failed to communicate
clearly; no eye contact;
monotone delivery.
Rebuttal
Addressed all opponent
arguments with
counter-evidence.
Addressed most of
opponent’s arguments
with counter-evidence.
Addressed some of
opponent’s arguments
with counter-evidence.
Did not address
opponent’s arguments.
Extra Credit (specify)
Total Score
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Score
Fred Matter
Barbara Goleman Senior High
Resources: Theses may be used by the teacher to gain an understanding on many of the related topics. I do not recommend giving these to
students unless their research abilities are limited.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov
http://www.conservation.org
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-policies/
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Rare_Plants/conservation/success/
http://www.wcs.org/saving-wild-places/latin-america-and-the-caribbean/maya-biosphere-guatemala.aspx
http://www.propeten.org/index.php/en/