Saving the Best in Louisiana Title: Saving the Best in Louisiana
Subject: Social Studies
Grade Level: 8Overview: Students will identify the importance of animal and plant resources found in wetland regions and identify endangered species living within the state. They will learn about efforts which have been made to conserve endangered species. The students will also take a field trip to Black Bayou Lake NWR to explore answers to questions about wetlands and important wildlife resources in Louisiana.
Approximate Duration: 4 - 50 minute lessons
Content Standards:
Geography: Physical and Cultural Systems
Students develop a spatial understanding of Earth's surface and the processes that shape it, the connections between people and places, and the relationship between man and his environment.
Economics: Interdependence and Decision Making
Students develop an understanding of fundamental economic concepts as they apply to the interdependence and decision making of individuals, households, businesses, and governments in the United States and the World.
Benchmarks:
G-1C-M2
identifying key demographic concepts and using these concepts to analyze the population characteristics of a country or region;
G-1D-M4
identifying problems that relate to contemporary geographic issues and researching possible solutions;
E-1A-M1
describing how the scarcity of resources necessitates decision making at both personal and societal levels.Grade-Level Expectations (GLEs):
Environment and Society
Grade 8
17. Identify a contemporary Louisiana geographic issue, and research possible solutions (G-1D-M4)
42. Analyze situations involving scarcity (limited resources) at the individual, group, and societal levels to determine the need for choices or what is gained/lost by a decision (E-1A-M1)
Interdisciplinary Connections:
Science : Life Science
The students will become aware of the characteristics and life cycles of organisms and understand their relationships to each other and to their environment.Educational Technology Standards:
Use information, media, and technology in a responsible manner which includes following the school's acceptable use policy, adhering to copyright laws, respecting the rights of others, and employing proper etiquette in all forms of communication.
Use multimedia tools and desktop publishing to develop and present computer-generated projects for directed and independent learning activities.
Understand Internet concepts (e.g., website, hypertext link, bookmarks, URL addresses) and apply intermediate on-line searching techniques (e.g., employ keyword, phrases, and Boolean Operators).
Objectives:
l. TLW identify important plants and animals found in wetlands.
2. TLW analyze how the loss of species affects wetlands.
3. TLW determine why Black Bayou Lake is an important wetland in Louisiana.
4. TLW identify endangered species located in Louisiana.
5. TLW analyze plants and animals which cause problems in the refuge system.Lesson Materials and Resources:
questionnaire for each student for Black Bayou Lake field trip
pen or pencil
computer paper
TrackStar #27l027
Technology Tools and Materials:
Hardware:
computer, printer
Software:
MS Publisher to make a flyer
MS PowerPoint to make slides
Websites:
Louisiana Black Bear
http://www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=697
Louisiana plant and animal life
http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar331880&st=Louisiana+Plants+And+Animals&sc=3
Inflated Heelsplitter
http://www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=706
Endangered Species in Louisiana
http://www.endangeredspecie.com/states/la.htm
Earth Fruit
http://www.wlf.state.la.us/apps/netgear/index.asp?cn=lawlf&pid=700
Trackstar Animals in the Wetlands
http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrack.do?number=271027
Background Information:
Students have been studying important products made from the lumber industry in Louisiana.Lesson Procedures:
Day l
Introduce the lesson using Inspiration software for a brainstorming activity. Students will name valuable animal resources of Louisiana. Then have students give reasons why Louisiana is called the Sportsman Paradise. After brainstorming, use the "notes" on each picture in the Inspiration template to discuss characteristics that the otter, muskrat, and mink have in common. Summarize that the following animals were very important to Louisiana's fur industry. Next, teacher will show students a PowerPoint on Endangered Species. After that, students will begin working on TrackStar #271027 about important plants and animal life in Louisiana. Students are assigned links 1-4 and will turn in the TrackStar worksheet at the end of class to be graded as a 50 point activity.
Day 2
The class will go on a field trip to Black Bayou Lake NWR where the students will be given a questionnaire sheet to answer while visiting the site. The students will gather important information about the wetlands and Black Bayou Lake that will be discussed and used in class on the following day.
Day 3
Discuss answers to questions completed while touring Black Bayou, identifying important wildlife and facts about Black Bayou. After finishing oral questions, the teacher will divide the class into halves. One side will be assigned to work in groups of two . This group will use information gathered from the questionnaire while touring Black Bayou to produce a 5-6 slide PowerPoint presentation on Invasive Species which cause problems in the environment. They must identify the problem that the plant or animal causes. The other half of the class will be assigned to complete TrackStar activity #5 on the Louisiana Black Bear. After the students finish the TrackStar, they will make a flyer about the Black Bear which will include important information about the habitat, life cycle, and conservation efforts. The teacher will move around and assist students who need help finding TrackStar and printing flyers using Publisher.
Day 4
Students will present their flyers created about the Louisiana Black Bear. The groups assigned to do PowerPoint will show their presentations. Then each student will begin to work on TrackStar answering questions in activities #6, 7, and 8. They will research websites to identify Louisiana endangered species and efforts which have been made to preserve wildlife in Louisiana. Worksheet 2 for these activities on the TrackStar will be taken up and graded. The last 10 minutes of class, the teacher will use Inspiration software as students orally summarize the importance of wetlands, Black Bayou Lake, and wildlife in Louisiana.
Assessment Procedures:
Teacher Observation
Class participation
Saving the Best Project Checklist
Accommodations/Modifications:
one-on-one help from teacher
preferential seating assigned by teacher
shorten assignment
peer tutoring
Reproducible Materials:
Saving Louisiana's Best PowerPoint
Questionnaire For Black Bayou Lake Field Trip
Answer sheet for Black Bayou Lake Questionnaire
Valuable Animal Resources of Louisiana-Inspiration Template
Saving the Best Project Checklist
Saving the Best Point Guide for ProjectExplorations and Extensions:
Students can view a LPB CyberChannel video about invasive species for additional information.
http://www.lpb.org/education/cyberchannel.cfm
Enviro-Tacklebox: Module 3: Topics and Issues in Environmental Science: Non-Native Invasion (20:13)
Lesson Development Resources:
GLE-related materials
Contact Information:
Kappy Newton
kappy.newton@mcschools.net
Lee Junior High
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