SNC1P: Sustainable Ecosystem’s Unit Task

The Issue: Every day we hear so much about our changing environment and climate. Global warming, loss of biodiversity,

disappearing habitats – the news media seems to bombard us with stories about these and other issues. How

can we make sense of it all? How can we communicate our understanding to others?

Goal: In this Unit Task you will monitor a variety of media for stories about the environment and ecosystems. The

stories can be on local, regional or global issues. You will use these media sources to better understand

current environmental concerns. Then you will present your learning in a creative format.

Gather Information: During the time you study this unit you will have several opportunities to use the computer lab or iPads to read

stories about the environment. You will be given links to popular and reliable news sources but you are free to

find your own. You can also watch the news and use those stories as well. Each time you read or watch a story

you will complete a card. You must complete a minimum of 10 stories.

Identify Solutions & Make a Decision: Once you are done summarizing each article you will have to identify social effects and challenges related to

the issue. You’ll also include your ideas for solutions to the problems presented in the article.

Communication You will share your news report with the teacher in a one on one interview.

Computer Lab/iPad Access Dates: Sept. 21, Oct. 5, Oct. 8, Oct. 14, Oct. 19 (may get more iPad dates)

Due Date: Thursday October 22, 2015

Evaluation: See Assessment Checklists at the end of this package. Every student must complete the Self-Evaluation prior to submitting their work.

Environmental News Story #1 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Environmental News Story #2 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Environmental News Story #3 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Environmental News Story #4 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Environmental News Story #5 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Environmental News Story #6 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Environmental News Story #7 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Environmental News Story #8 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Environmental News Story #9 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Environmental News Story #10 Today’s Date: _________________ Media Type:

Newspaper Magazine Television Radio/Podcast Other: _____________________

Specific Source and date of article/show (name of source, include the URL if available)

________________________________________________________________________________________

Headline or Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Topic Sentence:

Main Ideas (overview in 2 sentences, answers who and what):

Supporting Details (important details, evidence, key terms, answers why, when, where, how):

What are the social effects and challenges?

What solution(s) can you suggest?

Unit Task Self-Assessment Checklist:

Name:

Check your level of understanding for the criteria below, and make comments as needed.

Not all criteria or categories will fit every activity.

1. I was unable to …

2. I needed help to …

3. I was usually able to …

4. It was easy for me to …

Knowledge and Understanding 1 2 3 4 Comments

• gather ten different news stories from at least three different media types

• complete an information chart for each story

• answer the summary questions for each selected story

• identified solutions for each situation

Unit Task Rubric

Categories and Criteria 50–59 % (Level 1) 60–69 % (Level 2) 70–79 % (Level 3) 80–100 % (Level 4)

Knowledge and Understanding

The student:

Gathering ten different news stories from at least three different media types

• gathers ten different news stories from at least three different media types with limited effectiveness

• gathers ten different news stories from at least three different media types with some effectiveness

• gathers ten different news stories from at least three different media types with considerable effectiveness

• gathers ten different news stories from at least three different media types with a high degree of effectiveness

Completing an information chart for each story

• completes an information chart for each story with limited effectiveness

• completes an information

chart for each story with some effectiveness

• completes an information chart for each story with considerable effectiveness

• completes an information chart for each story with a high degree of effectiveness

Thinking and Investigation

The student:

Answering the summary questions for each selected story

• answers the summary questions for each selected story with limited clarity

• answers the summary questions for each selected story with some clarity

• answers the summary questions for each selected story with considerable clarity

• answers the summary questions for each selected story with a high degree of clarity

Communication

The student:

Sharing a report on the issue with the teacher

• shares a report on the issue with the teacher with limited effectiveness

• shares a report on the issue with the teacher with some effectiveness

• shares a report on the issue

with the teacher with considerable effectiveness

• shares a report on the issue with the teacher with a high degree of effectiveness

Application

The student:

Completion of the summary section for each selected story

• completes one summary for each selected story with limited effectiveness

• completes one summary for each selected story with some effectiveness

• completes one summary for each selected story with considerable effectiveness

• completes one summary for each selected story with a high degree of effectiveness