SVMS 

Earth Awareness Plan

Photo Courtesy MSOffice

Photo Gallery

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world" 

 Oil covered bird from

Exxon Valdez oil spill

Photo Courtesy WWF

Webquest Developed By

Mrs. Duncan

OVERVIEW:

This is a page designed to give an overview about what Earth Day is, to help students research the problems /issues that have made Earth Day evolve, to discover how people around the world are trying to help, to support students at SVMS in their quest to raise awareness of these issues to people in their community.

INTRODUCTION:

The year is 2030 and the town of Platteville has no more trees, no more water, and pollution is everywhere you turn.  What can you do?  The answer: Nothing.  But we have 27 years to try and help avoid this harsh reality!

What is Earth Day?

Unfortunately, many people in your community don't know how they can help, which is where you come in!

TASK

You and your team have just been hired by the Environmental Protection Agency to help raise the awareness of the people in Platteville about the critical environmental issues that we are all facing.  Along with your team, you will review on-line materials regarding your chosen environmental issue.  Your team will create a campaign to communicate to the Platteville Community and school members why they should be concerned and how they can help alleviate/ stop your environmental issue.

PROCESS

• The 1st step is to go on-line and find an article about your issue for each member in your group to summarize.   Each member then needs to fill out a graphic organizer.  It will take some time to gather a sufficient amount of information.  It is suggested that each team member review/ share materials with the group. 

• Search the internet to see what other schools/ people your age have done to help raise awareness.

• Together with your partners, decide what people in the community might be able to do.

Your Group Must Create a Media Campaign

That Includes Two of the Following

1.) Design a poster:

Must identify your environmental issue and your school organization,  include your views, have powerful graphics, and have a slogan in large print.  

OR

2.) Write a newspaper article to be placed in the editorial section of a local newspaper.  Must identify your environmental issue and your school organization,  include your views, inform others how & why they can help your environmental issue.  

OR

3.) Create a 1-1½ minute (audio tape) or T.V. (videotape) broadcast.  Must identify your environmental issue and your school organization,  include your views, express your opinion and give scientific reasons for this opinion.  

OR

HELPFUL  HINTS FOR SUCCESS

It is important for you to be clear about deadlines for your tasks.  Determine a plan of action everyday so tasks get accomplished.  Be familiar with the rubric for evaluation.  Ask your teacher if you have questions.  At the end of class your team should meet to wrap up and see what needs to be done before the next class.

A group that can cooperate, collaborate, and make good decisions, and share equally in the work load is essential.  Find out the strengths and weaknesses of the members of your group.  Use this info to assign the various jobs needed to be done to accomplish your task. 

Pick a strong leader who will encourage the group to stay on task and meet the deadlines.

RESOURCES

RUBRIC

CONCLUSION

Congrats on a successful mission!  But your job is not complete.  Remember good scientists always wonder how they can take what they have learned and use it for a "next time" situation.

JOURNAL*  

At the end of the project, I would like to know what you have learned and what new questions this has raised for you, or how you might use this data in the future.