Developing Solutions to World Environmental Issues

Expectations: The purpose of this project is for your student to work with one or two other people on developing a solution to a world (environmental) issue. They are expected to thoroughly research their topic, learn and understand the dynamics of the issue, and create/develop a possible solution to the problem at hand. This project will require them to think outside the box and develop knowledge about issues that exist in the world. Tasks: The following tasks will need to be completed by the end of the semester. Each task should be done within a week s time. We will be doing this as a class in school but your student needs to work hard to make sure that anything not completed in school is done in study hall or at home. A written post explaining a PLAN OF ACTION (a solution to the world issue). (Week 6: 2/11-2/14) A post describing how the plan of action was carried out including a personal reflection. (Week 9: 3/4-3/8) A unique display for the PLAN OF ACTION to present the solution in detail. A presentation of the final project to a small group in the class. Grading and reviewing their classmate s final projects. 4. Defining environmental issue and topic selection (Week 1: 1/7-1/11) Development of EDUblog and creating a theme for the blog (Week 2: 1/14-1/18) 5 full blog posts including research and factual information about the development of the issue: 1. First post explaining the issue to an audience. (Week 2: 1/14-1/18) 2. Second post featuring a podcast explaining the issue in detail. (Week 3: 1/22-/25) 3. A video or a physical display of the world issue using a form of propaganda. (Week 4: (1/28-2/1) 5. Week 5 will be set aside for research and planning. Weeks 7 & 8 will be set aside for students to enact their plans. Week 10 will be presentations in the hub. 200 POINTS TOTAL Parent Signature:_______________________________________

Directions: Throughout the course of this quarter, you will be developing a project pertaining to a world issue that currently exists. On the following pages, you will find the requirements and the expectations for the project. Please read through ALL expectations prior to starting the project. Expectations: The purpose of this project is for you to work with one or two other people on developing a solution to a world issue. You are expected to thoroughly research your topic, learn and understand the dynamics of the issue, and create/develop a possible solution to the problem at hand. This project will require you to think outside the box and develop knowledge about issues that exist not only in your country, but around the world as well. Tasks: The following tasks will need to be completed by the end of the semester. Each task should be done within a week s time. We will be doing this as a class in school but you need to work hard to make sure that anything not completed in school is done in study hall or at home Defining environmental issue and topic selection. (Week 1: 1/7-1/11) Development of EDUblog and creating a theme for the blog. (Week 2: 1/14-1/18) 5 full blog posts including research and factual information about the development of the issue: 1. First post explaining your issue to your audience. (Week 2: 1/14-1/18) 2. Second post featuring a podcast explaining the issue in detail. (Week 3: 1/22-/25) 3. A video or a physical display of the world issue using a form of propaganda. (Week 4: (1/28-2/1) Write a post explaining a PLAN OF ACTION (a solution to the world issue). (Week 6: 2/11- 2/14) Make a post describing how your plan of action was carried out including a personal reflection. (Week 9: 3/4-3/8) Develop a unique display for the PLAN OF ACTION to present your solution in detail. Present your final project to a small group in the class. Grade and review your classmate s final projects. 4. 5. Week 5 will be set aside for research and planning. Weeks 7 & 8 will be set aside for students to enact their plans. Week 10 will be presentations in the hub. 200 POINTS TOTAL

Step one: Research the term environmental issue . Then, write the definition on the lined spaces IN YOUR OWN WORDS: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Step two: Visit the United Nations home page for global issues here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_environmental_issues https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/top-25-environmental-concerns.php Read through the world issues listed on the left side of the screen. Create a list of 3 that you are interested in. 1.) ______________________________________________________ 2.) ______________________________________________________ 3.) ______________________________________________________ Step three: Briefly research each of the three world issues that you listed above. Then, narrow your 3 down to 1. This will be your topic for the remainder of the project. FINAL TOPIC: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Step four: {narrow your topic} Currently, your topic is very BROAD and you need to NARROW your topic in order to make it more specific. For example, if you selected endangered species as your category, you might want to narrow the topic specifically to the causes and possible solutions to cheetah endangerment . NARROWED TOPIC: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Step five: Have your teacher approve and initial this assignment sheet. ___________________________

Researching your Topic (Initial Research): Rewrite your narrowed topic here: _________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ When researching your topic, find credible websites or articles and for each one fill out the table below: Article or Website Name Author and Date published? NOTES

Researching your Topic (Researching a Solution): Rewrite your narrowed topic here: _________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ When researching your topic, find credible websites or articles and for each one fill out the table below: Article or Website Name Author and Date published? NOTES

Requirement 1 {First blog post}: DUE: Friday, January 18th This first post should include scholarly research on the topic that you have selected. Explain in great detail the environmental issue you have chosen. This post should be a minimum of three paragraphs. Introduce the topic and tell me why this issue is important Give me more background knowledge on the topic Give me your opinion on the topic and convince the reader that this is a topic important to them 25 points __________/25 Requirement 2 {Blog post 2 WITH Podcast}: DUE: Friday, January 25th Your podcast will be embedded in one of your blog posts. Think of your podcast as a radio show that will be informing your audience of the world issue you are researching. Your podcast should be a minimum of 4 minutes. Your podcast should include at least one guest speaker (another student and/or teacher). In addition to your podcast, provide a one-minute summary of what was discussed in the podcast. 25 points __________/25 Requirement 3 {Blog Post 3 WITH Public Service Announcement}: DUE: Friday, February 1st Research what a PSA (Public Service Announcement) is. Brainstorm a variety of ideas for your own PSA. How can you get a message across to your audience? Develop and create a PSA related to your topic that will hit home with your audience. You can create this PSA any way you would like. Be creative! EX: YouTube video, newspaper advertisement, comic, drawing, etc. 25 points __________/25 Requirement 4 {Plan of Action Blog Post}: DUE: Thursday, February 14th Develop a project that will provide support or help towards a solution to the environmental issue that you are researching that you can carry out at home, at school, or in your community in the next few weeks. Create a detailed plan of action that explains the process through which you will provide support or help towards a solution. I will provide you with a graphic organizer to help you with this. You will upload the final graphic organizer to your blog. Each group must conference with me during this time to get your project idea approved (At this conference you need to prove that your plan is realistic and attainable). 25 points __________/25

Requirement 5 {Carrying Out Your Plant}: You have three weeks to complete this (2/11-3/1) Once you have come up with a plan that has been approved by me, you will have a few weeks to carry out your plan. Requirement 6 {Final Project and Reflection Blog Post}: DUE: Friday, March 8th Describe how your final project went. What did you do? What obstacles did you run into? Did things work out the way you expected? What went well? What did not go so well? What surprised you? Reflect on the process. Include pictures of your project in this post 25 points __________/25 Requirement 7 {Peer Comments}: DUE one week after each blog post due date Each week for homework, you will visit two blogs posts that were due the week before and make meaningful comments. A meaning comment means giving one glow (something they did well or that you found interesting) as well as a grow (something they can work on or improve). 25 points (5 per blog post) __________/25 Requirement 8 {Final Presentation}: DUE: Thursday, March 14 This is your opportunity to tell other about your project you ve worked so hard on. You should cover all aspects of your project while maintaining a professional demeanor. Eye contact, a clear voice, and grade level appropriate language should be used throughout the entire presentation. You and your groupmates need to come up with a ten-minute presentation using your blog as a visual (no poster or other display required) that reveals: The environmental issue you focused on The solution you researched The PSA you created The podcast The project you created including how it came together and how it addressed the problem and incorporated the solution you found 25 points __________/25 Requirement 9 {Grading Your Peers}: DUE: To be completed during presentations March 14thand 15th You will be grading your peers based on their presentation AND their display of information in. In order to receive the points for this part of the project, you will need to complete a rubric for each of your group members as well as provide verbal feedback. You will be able to see the feedback left from your peers as well. 20 points __________/25 Teacher comments: Total: ______/200

Your name: _____________________________________________________ Name of peer: _____________________________________________________ Topic of peer s project: _____________________________________________________ How effective was your peer s presentation? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 How effective was your peer s podcast? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 How effective was your peer s public service announcement? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 How effective was your peer s overall blog? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 What are your overall thoughts on your peer s project?

23-25 points 18-22 points 10-17 points CATEGORY 0-10 points Blog Post One (25 points) The blog post exceeds all requirements listed. The blog post is properly cited, well researched, and appropriate length. It is apparent that the student went above and beyond what was expected. The blog post includes most requirements listed. The blog post is properly cited, well researched, and is the appropriate length. It is apparent that the student understood the requirements. The blog post includes most requirements listed. The blog post is either not properly cited, well researched, or appropriate length. It is apparent that the student struggled with understanding the requirements. SOME or NONE of the blog post includes the requirements listed. The blog post is rarely properly cited, well researched, and appropriate length. It is apparent that the student did not understand the requirements. Blog Post with Podcast (25 points) The student\'s podcast exceeds the expectations listed on the project requirements. The podcast is the proper length & incorporates all of the necessary components. The student\'s podcast meets the expectations listed on the project requirements. The podcast is the proper length & incorporates all of the necessary components. Only parts of the student\'s podcast meet the expectations listed on the project requirements. The podcast may or may not be proper length or incorporate all of the necessary components. Few parts of the student\'s podcast meet the expectations listed on the project requirements. The podcast may not be proper length or incorporate all of the necessary components. Blog Post with Public Service Announcement (25 points) The student\'s PSA exceeds the expectations listed on the project requirements. The PSA effectively captures the audience and does an excellent job of conveying a message. The student\'s PSA meets the expectations listed on the project requirements. The PSA effectively captures the audience and does a good job of conveying a message. Parts of the student\'s PSA meet the expectations listed on the project requirements. The PSA effectively captures the audience, but does not fully convey a message. The student\'s PSA does not meet the expectations listed on the project requirements. The PSA does not effectively captures the audience or fully convey a message. Plan of Action Blog Post (25 points) The student's plan of action is well thought out and fully developed. It is evident that he/she went above and beyond what was expected to develop a unique and realistic plan of action. The student\'s plan of action is well thought out and fully developed. It is evident that he/she went understood what was expected to develop a unique and realistic plan of action. The student\'s plan of action is mostly well thought out and fully developed. It is evident that he/she went understood most of what was expected to develop a unique and realistic plan of action. The student\'s plan of action is not well thought out or fully developed. It is evident that he/she misunderstood what was expected to develop a unique and realistic plan of action. Reflection Blog Post (25 points) The blog post exceeds all requirements listed. The blog post is well thought out, contains an analysis of the project, and is the appropriate length. It is apparent that the student went above and beyond what was expected. The blog post includes most requirements listed. The blog post is well thought out, contains an analysis of the project, and is the appropriate length. It is apparent that the student understood the requirements. The blog post includes most requirements listed. The blog post is either not well thought out, does not contains an analysis of the project, or is not the appropriate length. . It is apparent that the student struggled with understanding the requirements. The student does not respond to at least ten posts or the comments are not thoughtful or thought-provoking. SOME or NONE of the blog post includes the requirements listed. The blog post is not well thought out, does not include an analysis, and is not the appropriate length. It is apparent that the student did not understand the requirements. The student either does not complete this assignment or it is apparent that the student did not understand the requirements. The student was not able to fully explain his/her project in immense detail with proper presentation skills. It is evident that this student did not practice or prep for the presentation. The student did not complete any of the necessary components of the peer evaluation. Peer Comments Homework (25 points) The student responds to at least ten posts (2 per week) with thoughtful comments and goes above and beyond to engage in a discussion. The student was able to fully explain his/her project in immense detail with proper presentation skills. It is evident that this student practiced and prepared for the presentation. The student responds to at least ten posts (2 per week) with thoughtful comments and engages the owner of the post in a discussion. The student was able to fully explain his/her project in detail with proper presentation skills. It is evident that this student practiced and prepared for the presentation. Group Presentation (25 points) The student was mostly able to explain his/her project in detail with some proper presentation skills. It is not evident that this student practiced and prepared for the presentation. Peer Evaluation (25 points) The student completed all of the necessary components of the peer evaluation. The student completed most of the necessary components of the peer evaluation. The student completed some of the necessary components of the peer evaluation.