ECOLOGY PROJECT ECOSYSTEMS AND ENDANGERED SPECIES

Introduction: In the lesson, you will research a specific ecological system with its unique animals and plants. You will prepare a report, in the form of a PowerPoint or Prezi presentation, a booklet, a brochure, a written report and Poster, Diorama, or an oral presentation, that details the facts you have learned from researching your particular topic. You will also prepare a poster that will be judged by the students from an art class as to the posters quality of presentation. This lesson will help you understand the beauty and majesty of our Planets ecology. Objectives The student knows of the great diversity and interdependence of living things. The student understands how the flow of energy through an ecosystem made up of producers, consumers, and decomposers carries out the processes of life and that some energy dissipates as heat and is not recycled. Materials: Crayons Markers Posterboard Scissors Magazines Rulers Internet Access for Research Procedure: 1. Divide the class into groups of four students each. 2. Choose an ecosystem from the following list: 2.a. Freshwater 2.b. Tropical 2.c. Savanna 2.d. Desert 2.e. Temperate Grassland 2.f. Temperature Deciduous Forest 2.g. Coniferous Forest 2.h. Tundra 2.i. Ocean 3. Using the Internet, Biology textbooks, and other resources, indicate the physical conditions, such as latitude, temperature, rainfall, population, unique resources, economical value, etc., of the chosen ecosystem and indicate how they would get there and what they would need in order to exist or to visit the location.The conditions that you should indicate include, but are not limited to, the following: 3.a. Latitude 3.b. Temperature 3.c. Rainfall

ECOLOGY PROJECT ECOSYSTEMS AND ENDANGERED SPECIES

3.d. 3.e. 3.f. Population Unique resources Economical value

4. Describe the flora and fauna present, including an explanation of the 4.a. food web, 4.b. nitrogen cycle, 4.c. and the water cycle present in their specific ecosystem. 5. Indicate how you would get to your chosen ecosystem and what you would need in order to survive in the ecosystem. 6. List all endangered species in your area. 6.a. Select one endangered species present in their chosen ecosystem and obtain at least one cool fact, one that would be of special interest about their organism. 6.b. Include the following information on your animal: 6.b.i. Common name 6.b.ii. Scientific name. List the domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The genus is capitalized and written in italics. The species is not capitalized, and is written in italics. 6.b.iii. Population estimate (number alive in the wild) 6.b.iv. Physical description (size, color, distinguishing characteristics) 6.b.v. Habitat (geographical and ecological) 6.b.vi. A map of your species current geographic range 6.b.vii. a photo of your animal 6.c. Why is the chosen species best suited for the environment? 6.d. Why is the selected species endangered? Describe the factors which have caused a decline in the population numbers of their chosen species causing it to be placed on the endangered species list. 6.e. Describe any plans for protecting or breeding the species such as habitat protection, reducing human impact or species relocation plans. 6.f. Why should we try to save this endangered species? 6.g. What benefit do we get from them? 7. This cool fact is to be placed on an art poster and judged by the art classes after the ART teacher has instructed the art class students on what to look for in a poster as to the following checklist. Applicable Websites: http://www.ibinder.uwf.edu/steps/ www.worldwildlife.org www.kidinfo.com/Science/Endangered_animals.html www.iucn.org Earthscape Explorer -Endangered Ecology Discovery Science-CD http://www.Ecostyems.com http://www.endangered.com www.natureserveorg. http://www.ecoflorida.org

ECOLOGY PROJECT ECOSYSTEMS AND ENDANGERED SPECIES

http://www.endangered.few.gov/ia/a/sas8f.htm Assessment: You will be asked to present your work, PowerPoint or Prezi presentation, booklet, or oral presentation, to the class as the assessment portion of this activity. You will be judged on many factors as this activity includes many aspects of the learning process. You will find the list of points possible for assessment in the table below. You will be given a calendar with check points and rubric to guide your work. Remember that any plagiarized work will receive an automatic zero as a grade! Art poster assessment: i. Visual appeal- 20 pts. ii. Proper dimensions of objects portrayed on the poster- 20 pts. iii. Legible Lettering- 20 pts. iv. Use of multiple colors-20 pts. v. Content correct-20 pts.