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Name ___________________________________Period_______________Date______________
Science 8 Mr. Ascher
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Please, save us!
The PastYou designed and created a new creature. To support your creature, you created an environment for it to survive and thrive in. You even brought your creature into the 21st century by making a page to connect with friends.
The PresentWell, 25 years have passed since your creature was born. Thanks to you, your creature has thrived in its environment. Over the years your species has reproduced and adapted to become successful and fit in the environment, even with some environmental changes.
Now, it is April of 2039. Things have changed. Improvements in medicine and pharmaceutical medications have made it possible for people to live far longer than they ever have before. This has led to a housing crisis, there are more people living on the Earth then there are houses for them all to live in. Construction companies have been buying land to build thousands of houses to accommodate the rising human population.
Until now, your species has been unaffected by housing development, but today that all changed. This morning, while your species was out foraging for breakfast, they heard a loud noise. Before they knew it, there was a giant bulldozer knocking down trees and leveling the ground in their habitat. Most of the species was able to run away from the land where the bulldozer entered, but sadly, there were a few individuals who were not fast enough, and didn’t make it.
The Future
Using your knowledge of evolution, you created your species and set it up to succeed. For many years, your species was able to survive and thrive on its own, but now, for your species to survive, it needs your help once again. Your species is depending on you, its creator to save its existence. The only chance your species has at surviving is if the home development project is stopped before it destroys any more of your species’ habitat. You will need to expand your knowledge of evolution and understand how living things interact with and depend on their environment. You will need to appeal to the construction company using sound scientific reasoning as to why they should not destroy this natural habitat to create more homes. You need to be persuasive, scientific and accurate. The future of your species depends on it!
Ok, so you know what needs to be done… but where do you start?
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Home development is not a new problem. Below is a list of steps other groups have taken to save natural habitats. These steps have all been successful in persuading construction companies to stop construction and habitat destruction. Good Luck!
Task Description Due Date Complete
Task 1:Learn the lingo!
Complete a set of vocabulary squares to familiarize yourself with the proper terms used by ecologists. These terms will help you in your quest to speak with the construction companies and save your species!
Tuesday4/4
Task 2: Welcome to the world wide Eco-web!
Familiarize yourself with topics in ecology by entering the world wide eco-web!
Monday4/10
Task 3:Ecological Succession
Explore the process of ecological succession and consider how it may support your case in preventing land destruction.
DUE: Tuesday4/11
Task 4:A picture is worth 1,000 words.
Construction companies have responded well to pictures representing the “before and after” effect of habitat destruction.
DUE: Tuesday4/11
Task 5:Make it happen! – Save the Habitat
Write a persuasive, scientifically sound letter to the construction company. Your letter should inform them of the possible ramifications of their actions, and explain to them why there are more negative effects than positive ones to continuing construction.
DUE: Wednesday4/12
Review! Complete the review guide to ensure you are prepared for the unit exam on ecology!
Wednesday4/12
Unit Exam Show your expertise on this summative assessment.
Thursday4/13
Task 1: Learn the Lingo – Vocabulary SquaresText Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
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Draw it Use it in a sentence
Text Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
Draw it Use it in a sentence
Text Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
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Draw it Use it in a sentence
Text Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
Draw it/Example Use it in a sentence
Text Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
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Abiotic FactorPage # 7
PopulationPage #8
Draw it Use it in a sentence
Text Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
Draw it Use it in a sentence
Text Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
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CommunityPage #9
Draw it Use it in a sentence
Text Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
Draw it Use it in a sentence
Text Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
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EcosystemPage #9
BiomePage #10
HabitatPage #12
Draw it Use it in a sentence
Text Book Definition (define the word) Definition in your own words
Draw it Use it in a sentence
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HabitatPage #12
ProducerPage #
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CompetitionPage #
PreyPage #
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ConsumerPage #
DecomposerPage #
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PredatorPage #
CaloriePage #
Task 2: World Wide Eco-Web Quest
Introduction:Welcome to the World Wide Eco-Web! Today you are going to embark on an exploration of the essential themes in Ecology.You will be investigating populations, communities, ecosystems, food chains, food webs, and the water, nitrogen and carbon cycle. Then you will investigate the different biomes on Earth. Finally, you will discover how humans have an impact on ecosystems.
Your Task:Go to our class website, www.ScienceWithMrAscher.com, navigate to Science 8 resources. Explore the posted websites to answer the questions below. This will give you the knowledge you need to save your species! #1 Populations
http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_population.html
a. What is population?
b. Identify 2 things that increase a population
c. Identify 2 things that decrease a population
#2 Communities (http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/ecol_com/ecol_com.html)
d. What is a community?
e. What makes up a community?
f. Complete the table below regarding different types of interactions species can have with each other.
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Type of Interaction
Sign Effects
g. What type of interaction takes place when a bird lands on an elephant and eats bacteria off the elephants back which could make the elephant sick?
h. What type of interaction takes place when two lions compete to attack the same prey, but neither of them are able to kill the prey?
i. What type of interaction takes place when a tick bites a dog and eats some of the dog’s blood, and transmits a disease to the dog?
#3 Ecosystemshttp://forest.mtu.edu/kidscorner/ecosystems/definition.html
g. What is an ecosystem?
h. What do ecosystems include?
i. What happens if one part of an ecosystem in damaged or destroyed?
#3b Ecosystems Diagramj. Look at the diagram on our class website, located under the link for #3.
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k. Create a graphic representation that illustrated the relationship between a species, population, community and ecosystem. (Example: flow chart, circle chart)
#4: Biodiversity http://www.dublin.ie/environment/biodiversity/home.htm
l. What is biodiversity?
m. Why is it important?
n. What are abiotic factors?
o. What are biotic factors?
#5: Food Chains http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/foodchain.htm
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Diagram your food chain:Use the following organisms to create one: Snake, Frog, Caterpillar, Owl, Flower
Type of Consumer Website Link
Herbivores http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/animaldiet/herbivore.htm
Carnivores http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/animaldiet/carnivore.htm
Omnivores http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/animaldiet/omnivore.htm
p. A person is called a _____________________________________ because
they eat meat & vegetables.
q. ________________________ are animals that only eat meat.
r. ________________________ are animals that only eat plants. Go To: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/animaldietgame.htm to play a game to test your understanding of the types of consumers.
#6 Food Webshttp://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/food/food_menu.html
Complete one of the food webs, and then answer the questions below.s. Name a consumer in your food web _______________________________
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t. Name a producer in your food web ________________________________
u. Name a decomposer(if there is one) in your food web ______________________________
Go To: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/foodchaingame.htm and click
In the spaces below, draw OR name the organism in each box of the food web
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*CHECKPOINT: You should be able to complete the following question on your own, without using any resources. If you cannot, you have not mastered all of the
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information you should have at this point. Go back, and review the food chain and food web websites and questions.
Compare and contrast a food chain to a food web.
In the space below, create as many food chains as you can from the food web you made in #6 above.
#7 Energy in an Ecosystem (Energy Pyramids)http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/science_up_close/314/deploy/interface.html
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v. Complete the Energy Pyramid below
w. Explain how some energy is lost on each stage of the pyramid.
x. Draw and label an energy pyramid for a forest, prairie, or ocean.
*CHECKPOINT: You should be able to complete the following question on your own, without using any resources. If you cannot, you have not mastered all of the information you should have at this point. Go back, and review the food chain and food web websites and questions.
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y. Compare and contrast energy pyramids and food webs:
z. Create a food chain from the energy pyramid:
#7B: Energy Pyramid Exampleaa. Look at the diagram on our class
website under the link for #7. (it is also to the right, but in color online)
bb. Describe what would happen at each trophic energy level if the herbivore were to significantly decrease in number due to a pesticide.
Producers would…
Primary Consumers would…
Secondary Consumers would…
Tertiary Consumers would…
#8 10% Rule (you’re on your own for this one! Try to find the answer by yourself)
cc.What is the 10 percent rule? Where does the unused energy go?
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#9 Carbon Cyclehttp://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html
Diagram the carbon cycle:
dd. Name 2 places on the earth we find carbon
ee. Plants pull carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) from the atmosphere to make food, through a process called ____________________.
ff. Through food chains animals get ____________ from the plants and other animals they eat.
gg. When plants and animals die and ____________, carbon goes back into the ground.
hh. Some carbon is buried deep in the ground and forms ________________________.
ii. When humans burn fossil fuels, ________________ is released back into the atmosphere.
jj. When humans and animals exhale, they release carbon back into the air by a process called ______________________________.
#10 Nitrogen Cycle
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Life/nitrogen_cycle.html
Diagram the nitrogen cycle:
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kk.What are 2 ways nitrogen becomes useable to plants, humans and animals?
ll. How do herbivores obtain the nitrogen they need?
mm. How is nitrogen returned to the atmosphere?
nn. What are two ways humans impact the nitrogen cycle:
#12 Biomes Around the World
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php
oo. How are biomes determined?
pp. What are the 6 Biomes of the World?
qq. What are the Freshwater Ecosystems?
rr. What are the Marine Ecosystems?
#13 Human Impact Navigate to each of the links below for various ways humans impact the environment. These sites will be especially helpful in building your case to the construction company and informing them of all of the negative impacts their actions will have.
Use the space provided below to take some notes from each site.
IMPORTANT NOTE: *This part of the assignment is very important, here you will learn the information you need to convince the construction company to stop destroying
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your creature’s habitat! Be sure to pay extra attention to this research, and make sure you are finding and taking notes on information you can use in your letter!
Impact of Human Activity on EcosystemsDeforestation
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Extinction of Species
http://www.animalplanet.com/
wild-animals/endangered-species/
click on some of the endangered animals to read why they are endangered
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Human Soil Erosion
http://www.livescience.com/
environment/041103_earth_movers.html
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Greenhouse Effect
http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/evidence/
greenhouse_effect_img.shtml
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pollution
http://tiki.oneworld.net/pollution/
pollution_home.html
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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click on each type of pollution to find out about it
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Task 4: A Picture is worth 1,000 words!
Using the space below, draw a picture of what your species’ environment was like just before the bull dozer started destroying the habitat. Then, draw what you would expect the environment to look like in 5 years from now, if the construction company continues to level the ground to build homes. Remember- your goal is to make the construction company stop so that your species can survive. Create a powerful picture to accomplish this goal.
Our Habitat Before the Housing Project Our Projected Habitat 5 years from now, if Housing Project Continues in our Environment
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Task 5: Make it Happen! – Save The Habitat
Option 1: Write a letter to the construction company. (150 word minimum)
Explain to the company that your relatively new, rare species is in danger of going extinct if the housing project continues. Present scientific information to them based on your world wide eco-web research and attempt to persuade them to stop the housing project.
In your letter, be sure to:
Use proper letter format, including greeting and signature
Explain your species’ situation
Explain the effects of destroying the habitat
Explain the benefits your species has on the environment, and other species (be creative)
Include at least 5 of the following words in your letter:
o Population
o Community
o Ecosystems
o Biodiversity
o Biome
o Food chain
o Food web
o Carbon cycle
o Nitrogen cycle
OROption 2: Write an essay in which you respond to the following prompt (150 word minimum):
Construction and housing projects have been held up because of the presence of a rare species. Are we really worse off if we lose 1 or 2
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species? AND why is it so important that we have a variety of species? Should housing projects be stopped if a rare species is present?
Include at least 5 of the following words in your letter:
o Population
o Community
o Ecosystems
o Biodiversity
o Biome
o Food chain
o Food web
o Carbon cycle
o Nitrogen cycle
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PROJECT SAVE THE HABITAT SCORING RUBCIC – DID YOU SAVE YOUR SPECIES?
Category Requirements for Level 4 Points Possible
Student Score
Teacher Score Comments
Task 1:Learn The Lingo
All vocabulary squares are completed, including a textbook definition, definition in my own words, appropriate picture
and complete sentence.
68(F.A)
Task 2:World-Wide Eco
Webquest
Webquest is complete Webquest is completed thoroughly and neatly
(Each missing or incorrect answer will deduct 1 point)
100(F.A)
Task 3:Ecological Succession
Ecological succession activity is completed, including thorough and correct answers to each of the questions.
20(Lab)
Task 4:A Picture is Worth
1,000 Words
Both before and after pictures are drawn 3 Drawings are thorough, show effort and creativity 10 Drawings use color 2 Drawings are effective in capturing the negative effects of
the housing project 5
Task 5:Make it Happen- Save
the Habitat
Minimum 150 words 5 Uses at least 5 of required vocabulary terms 5 Text uses proper grammar and mechanics. 5 Text uses specific scientific facts from web quest and
applies them to persuade the construction company to stop the housing project.
5
Text is organized and comprehendible. 5 Text meets the required criteria from page 13. 5
PBIS Classroom Expectations
Safe Use materials appropriately 10
Respectful Listen and talk at appropriate times Use appropriate and kind words Be an active participant Conversations should stay in groups only
20
Responsible Be on time and prepared for class each day – with
this packet! Give your best effort, all of the time Listen to and follow all directions Complete all tasks by assigned due date. Accept consequences graciously
20
Total Points: 288
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