Introduction
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation Conclusion
Your environmental team must demonstrate what you learn by researching, sharing, presenting and influencing.
1. You must first each select your role as Atmospheric Scientist, Air Pollution Scientist, Population Heath Investigator or Environmentalist and answer the guiding questions provided. You are not limited to these; they are just meant to offer a place to begin your research. For the purpose of this investigation, it is important that you pay close attention to the human influences on the ecosystem. Make sure that you take some notes and/or draw some diagrams because you will have to tell the rest of your group what you found out.
2. Once you have answered finished your individual research you must gather together as a group and share your findings. Compare notes and discuss your investigations to determine how all of your topics interrelate within the ecosystem you studied. Think about what ideas and details you found that you expected, and what you discovered that was new and interesting or even shocking. All together, create a mind map showing how your data interrelates. (To make your map, you can use the Inspiration or Kidspiration software packages if you have them at your school, or your teacher can download a free trial for you.) Be aware that you and your team members may have developed different ideas about the causes and effects of various ecological factors so be prepared to support your ideas with factual information and consider others' ideas completely and respectfully as well.
3. You and a partner from your environmental team must then choose one or two important human factors that you think have had a significant negative impact on the ecosystem in Windsor, Ontario. Determine what you believe to be the causes of these troubles in the ecosystem, with support from your research of course, and suggest some ways that the problems can be solved. Your solutions should reflect what you can do as students to make a positive difference in the ecosystem as well as what adults in this area can do. With your partner, design a 5 to 10 slide multimedia presentation for your classmates using HyperStudio or PowerPoint software that explains the negative environmental influences you have identified and the ways you have chosen to help.
4. Finally, each of you individually must take the information your team collected one step further and write a letter by standard mail or email to the Canadian Minister of the Environment. Summarize the findings of your group research and concisely express your personal concerns for this ecosystem and your own as it applies. Make sure that you write a proper business letter, and that your teacher reviews your work before you send it to ensure that you have made the strongest statement possible. You never know - your letter may just be the one that initiates a great change in our world.
