Gold Seal Lesson:
Problems And Solutions

Copernicus Education Gateway

Subject:

Science

Grade:

5-8

ICLE Standards:

Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science, and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.

Performance Task:

Students (or teacher) will select an environmental issue to research and make recommendations for resolution of the problem. At the local level, this might be a polluted river or a proposed landfill. At the national level it might be quality of water, wetlands, or coastal oil spills. Try to use a topic of potentially high interest to students and, for the first few times that students work through this type of research, have all students focus on the same topic. Allow several class sessions for guided research, sharing of information, analysis of the issues, and discussion of possible solutions. Teams of 3-4 students then create a multimedia presentation that presents the problem in an organized, interesting manner and offers a possible solution that they have developed. This task will extend over 2-3 weeks.

Knowledge / Skills:

Understand the human impact on the environment through pollution (air, water, and soil), and ways to improve it through education, research, laws, and conservation.  (s10)

Understand ecology as the study of the interactions and relationships of organisms with their living and nonliving environments (i.e., the ecosystem, communities, and populations).  (s13)

Gather information from a variety of sources, including electronic sources, and summarize, analyze, and evaluate its use for a report.  (ela3)

Draft a report that engages an audience and is concise, clear, well-organized, accurate, and informative.  (ela12)

Rubric:

Answer each of the questions below using this scale:

• 5: extremely well; professional level

• 4: above average; shows evidence of solid scholarship

• 3: average; a solid, competent job

• 2: just barely-, really needs more work

• 1: not there yet; more work needs to be done

Research: How well does this presentation demonstrate that the student thoroughly understand the complexities of this environmental issue? 

Accuracy: Is the information in the presentation accurate and presented in context so it is not likely to be misunderstood?   

Focus and Organization: Does the presentation focus the viewers' attention on the main issues? Is the presentation well organized? 

Clarity: Is the presentation clear and the problems and recommendation presented in sufficient detail so that they are logical and easily understood? 

Argument Balanced: Does the presentation provide a look at all sides of the issues fairly, rather than omitting what does not agree with the presenters' point of view? Have the presenters recognized the level of expertise/ possible conflicts of interest of varying viewpoints? 

Solutions: Is the proposed solution, or steps that might lead to a solution, logical and carefully developed? Is there evidence of in-depth analysis? 

Keywords:

READING
CONSTRUCT MEANING
RESEARCH WRITING
EXPOSITORY
ENVIRONMENT
POLLUTION
ECOLOGY

COMMUNICATIONS
MULTIMEDIA

Grades:

Kg [] - 1 [] - 2 [] - 3 [] - 4 [] - 5 [X] - 6 [X] - 7 [X] - 8 [X] - 9 [] - 10 [] - 11 [] - 12 []

ICLE Application:

D

© 2000 International Center for Leadership in Education
1587 Route 146 - Rexford - NY - 12148
518.399.2776 Fax: 518.399.7607
66