Food Chain PSA

HOW: We have been

learning about the
important role we play in
food chains. Now is your
chance to show-off what
you have learned! Create
a video PSA that teaches
viewers about the positive
and negative impacts
humans can have on
terrestrial and aquatic food
chains.
Step 1: Write a script
and practice what you
plan to say and do.
Use the rubric to help
you decide what to
include in your video.
Step 2: Film your PSA
All work will be done
individually and in class.

WHO: Congratulations, you

have just been hired by
the World Wildlife
Foundation (WWF)! WWFs
mission is to conserve the
environment and protect
living organisms.

WHAT: Your first

assignment is to create a
national public service
announcement (PSA)
about the impact humans
have on terrestrial and
aquatic food chains. A
PSA is a television ad that
raises awareness about a
problem in the world.

WHEN: The Shenandoah

Sierra club will be visiting on
December 12 to watch our
PSAs.

Plains Elementary School

Harrisonburg, Virginia
November 17, 2014
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We have had a wonderful time learning about food chains over the past
couple of weeks. We have created and labeled food chains, explored the cause
and effect of our actions on food chains, and composed a series of journal entries
about the importance of food chains. Next time youre in the school, stop by and
see our beautiful dioramas displayed in the library!
I am very excited about the next step in our journey to understanding food
chains! Next week, we will begin a performance-based assessment focusing on the
impact of human actions on food chains. Performance-based assessments are
tasks that generate a more authentic assessment of a students knowledge, skills,
and abilities by going beyond answering multiple-choice questions. Students must
use high-level thinking to perform, create, or produce something with transferable
real-life application.
Attached to this letter is a copy of the assignment sheet students will receive
as well as the rubric I will be using to evaluate their work. In this assessment, students
will assume the role of a World Wild Life employee. Their first assignment on the job
will be to create a public service announcement explaining the impact of humans
on food chains. Students will explore both the negative and positive impacts
human actions can have on terrestrial and aquatic food chains. In addition,
students will explain why we should care about food chains and the organisms that
comprise them. Students will work individually and all work will be completed in
class. We will begin filming our PSAs on December 9. Members from the
Shenandoah Sierra Club will be visiting the classroom on December 12 to watch our
videos and offer valuable insight into their work and mission.
You can stay up-to-date with the happenings in our classroom by visiting our
class website, www.missvinsonsclass.com. Updates and pictures will be posted
frequently as we work on this assessment. As always, do not hesitate to contact me
with any concerns or questions that you may have.
Best Wishes,
Miss Vinson
Phone Number: (703) 472 4167
Email: vinsonjm@dukes.jmu.edu