PERFORMANCE TASK : Ecologist: Invasive Species BIG IDEA: ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: OVERVIEW: GOAL: ROLE: AUDIENCE: SITUATION: PRODUCTS:

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1 PERFORMANCE TASK : Ecologist: Species BIG IDEA: People acting individually and/or as groups influence the environment. Aquatic ecosystems consist of diverse living and non-living components that change over time and among geographic areas. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: How do humans influence the environment? How do changes within living and non-living components of aquatic systems affect the balance within and between them? OVERVIEW: More and more stories are being reported by newspapers and television news shows about pets being let go in the wild and the issues that this can cause. Recently, a giant goldfish was found in Lake Tahoe. Where did it come from? Most likely someone dumped it into the lake from an aquarium. Situations like this can disturb the ecosystem, and in some cases, cause harm that cannot be fixed. GOAL: Your goal is to educate people about the long-term dangers of releasing pets into the wild. You have been asked to develop a national awareness campaign to be used by pet stores around the country. This campaign should help people understand how introducing a new species into an ecosystem can change an ecosystem forever. ROLE: You are an ecologist who has been asked by an organization affiliated with pet stores across the country to develop a public awareness campaign related to invasive species. This campaign should highlight various invasive species that have become key species in a new ecosystem. You will want to share the impact these new species had on other components of the ecosystem and any species that were eliminated from the original ecosystem. AUDIENCE: Your audience will be pet store owners across the country who will be attending a national conference. These people are looking for creative ideas to educate their customers about the dangers of introducing invasive species into an ecosystem. SITUATION: More and more stories are being reported by newspapers and television news shows about pets being let go in the wild and the issues that this can cause. Recently, a giant goldfish was found in Lake Tahoe. Where did it come from? Most likely someone dumped it into the lake from an aquarium. Situations like this can disturb the ecosystem, and in some cases, cause harm that cannot be fixed. Other stories are constantly in the news about other animals that were once pets. These stories include everything from alligators to snakes. People need to understand the impact these creatures can have on an ecosystem and the living components within. PRODUCTS: 1 of 7

2 Brochure This brochure should be designed to be included in store bags and given to customers purchasing pets. The brochure should use images to explain how invasive species impact an ecosystem. Share examples of invasive species that people may not know were once invasive. Include a few facts about each species and the impact it had on the original ecosystem. How is the new ecosystem different than the original ecosystem? Magazine Article Podcast Sales Pitch Webpage Many pet stores distribute pet-related magazines. You have been asked to write a magazine article related to invasive species associated with pets (examples: fish, snakes, rabbits, etc.). For this article, you will want to select one pet that has been released into an ecosystem. Explain how this pet impacted such factors as nonliving resources for other species in the ecosystem. Also, discuss any impact it had on Your article should help customers of all ages understand this idea and why it is very important that they do not release their pets into the wild. You article may include pictures and diagrams to help support the main points of your article. Create a one-minute public service announcement that can be played on the radio and/or may be placed on the Web page. This announcement should explain the ecological dangers of dumping aquarium fish into lakes, streams, and rivers. This oral presentation will need to be creative and engage the listeners. Remember, people of all ages may be listening to the radio. Be sure to address all aspects of the aquatic ecosystem including food chains and carrying capacity. Humans can positively or negatively impact the environment. Your task is to help them make the right decision! You will be doing a 2-3 minute presentation for pet store owners. Your sales pitch should highlight the products you can create to be shared with people visiting pet stores. Your audience is concerned with the increase of pet store pets being purchased and then released into the wild. Human activity can have an adverse impact on biodiversity through habitat destruction, pollution, and the species. Your sales pitch must convince the owners of your knowledge of this concept and how through the development of creative products you can educate their customers in a fun and engaging way. Create a webpage that could be linked from pet store websites. The site should use visuals and multimedia to help people understand ecological concepts to so that they can appreciate how pets can become invasive species in an ecosystem. Human activity can have an adverse impact on biodiversity through habitat destruction, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species. Thus sustaining biodiversity so that ecosystem functioning and productivity are maintained is essential to supporting and enhancing life on Earth. This webpage needs to make this point in a way that engages and maintains the interest of your audience. RUBRICS: 2 of 7

3 Magazine Article - Ecologist: Species Informational Writing Article Structure Writing Conventions Accuracy and Research Human Activity and Product minimally examines ideas and information through selection of content. A headline is present and the article is a narrative that fairly describes the central idea. many errors of spelling, article is poorly written. Some facts presented in the article are accurate and support the topic. Product somewhat examines ideas and information through selection and some analysis of content based upon research. some A headline is present that captures the article s focus. The article is a narrative that describes the central idea. some errors of spelling, article is written using a singular voice. Most facts presented in the article are accurate and support the topic. Details present a synopsis of the topic. some Product sufficiently examines complex ideas and information through effective selection, organization and analysis of content based upon research. predation, competition, and A headline is present that captures the article s focus and is somewhat interesting for the audience. The article has an introduction, body and conclusion all generally focused around a central idea. minimal errors of spelling, article is written using a singular voice. Almost all facts presented in the article are accurate and strongly support the topic. Details are clear and present a synopsis of the topic. Product thoroughly examines complex ideas and information through effective selection, organization and analysis of content based upon research. A headline is present that captures the article s focus as well as the audience s attention. The article has a strong introduction, body and conclusion all focused around a central idea. no errors of spelling, article is written using a singular voice. All facts presented in the article are accurate and strongly support the topic. Details are clear and present an engaging synopsis of the topic. 3 of 7

4 Webpage - Ecologist: Species Webpage Layout Conventions Human Activity and Evidence from Research The webpage does not fonts and attributes which makes the webpage easier to read. The webpage incorporates some color and background as part of the layout. The webpage contains a large number of errors of spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. Some sources are appropriately cited. The content is fairly aligned with the purpose of the project and the big idea. Most content is accurate and some detail is provided. The webpage uses fonts and attributes which can be sometimes difficult to read. The webpage incorporates some color and background to make the layout more appealing. The webpage contains a number of errors of spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. Most sources are appropriately cited. some The content is fairly aligned with the purpose of the project and the big idea. Most content is accurate and some detail is provided giving some information to the reader. some The webpage employs fonts and attributes which makes the webpage easy to read with a complimentary background, color, and layout to provide visual appeal. The webpage contains few errors spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. All sources are appropriately cited. The content is aligned with the purpose of the project and the big idea. All content is accurate and some detail is provided information for the reader. The webpage employs a deep knowledge of fonts and attributes making the webpage very reader friendly. The webpage is visually enhanced through the artful use of background, color, and layout. The webpage contains no errors of spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. All sources are appropriately cited. The content is strongly aligned with the purpose of the project and the big idea. All content is accurate and detailed providing substantial information for the reader. 4 of 7

5 Sales Pitch - Ecologist: Species Additional Materials & Presentation Aids Persuasive Presentation Presentation Delivery Technology Applications Human Activity and Additional resources are poorly connected with the content of the presentation and they do not enhance minimally effective in persuading the target audience through the supporting evidence provided. Difficult to hear, mistakes in pronunciation, close to monotone. Information mostly read and lacking body language. Too basic or wordy and the technology distracts the audience from the presentation. Images do not enhance or provide dept to the presentation. Additional resources are loosely connected with the content and design process. The resources somewhat enhance the learning opportunity. somewhat effective in persuading the target audience through the supporting evidence provided. Difficult to hear and follow presentation. Minimal eye contact with frequent note checks. Hand gestures aid Technology somewhat contributes to Pictures, videos and primary resources minimally further some some Additional resources are Additional resources are closely connected with the connected with the content information presented in and design process. The the presentation. The resources could be more resources strongly user-friendly so as to enhance the understanding maximize the learning of the design process and opportunity. the benefits to the final product. effective in persuading the target audience through the information, findings, and supporting evidence provided in a clear, concise and logical manner. Clear voice and good voice tone. Strong eye contact with frequent note checks. Hand gestures aid Technology contributes to Pictures, videos and primary resources are appropriate but do not further predation, competition, and very effective in persuading the target audience through the supporting evidence provided in a clear, concise and logical manner. Clear voice with helpful and varied voice inflection. Excellent eye contact, little use of notes. Body language enhances presentation Technology furthers Slides are brief and interesting. Pictures, video and primary sources well integrated into presentation. 5 of 7

6 Podcast - Aquatic Biologist Informational Speaking Delivery Human Activity and minimally effective for the target audience in providing information so that listeners have some understanding of the topic. The communication exhibited somewhat limits audience engagement and makes it difficult to fully comprehend the topic. somewhat effective for the target audience in providing information, findings, and supporting evidence are presented so that listeners have understanding of the topic. The communication exhibited somewhat limits audience engagement and makes it difficult to fully comprehend the topic. some some effective for the target audience in providing supporting evidence are clearly, concisely, and logically presented so that listeners can follow the line of reasoning. Rehearsed, effective communication is exhibited and an easy to understand conversational style is utilized to engage the audience. predation, competition, and very effective for the target audience in providing supporting evidence are clearly, concisely, and logically presented so that listeners can follow the line of reasoning. Well rehearsed, highly effective communication with uses an easy to understand conversational style which to engages the audience. 6 of 7

7 Brochure - Aquatic Biologist Supporting Arguments from Evidence (x2) Creativity Mechanics Human Activity and Impact of The brochure provides The brochure provides few some accurate facts and accurate facts and details details providing the providing the audience with audience with pieces of limited information related to information related to the the topic and big idea. topic and big idea. The brochure does not use media to engage the audience and is unoriginal. The product contains numerous spelling and grammar errors and issues with sentence structure. of living and non-living The brochure has some originality and uses minimal media to help engage the audience while providing some relevant knowledge related to the topic. The product contains some spelling and grammar errors with complete sentences that keep audience interest. some some The brochure provides many accurate facts and details providing the audience with important information related to the topic and big idea. The brochure is original in design using some media to help engage the audience while providing relevant knowledge related to the topic. The product contains minimal spelling and grammar errors with complete sentences that keep audience interest. The brochure provides a large number of accurate facts and explicit details providing the audience with critical information related to the topic and big idea. The brochure is original in design and creatively crafted utilizing engaging media to maximize audience engagement while providing important knowledge related to the topic. The product is free of spelling and grammar errors with complete sentences that keep audience interest. 7 of 7