here is the list of the lesson I'm doing for fun... I got this from one of my friends. And I'm curious so I'm just going to do it LOL not for them of course.... I NEED HELP
In The Lorax, Dr. Seuss introduces the "Once-ler" who cuts down the beautiful Truffula trees so that he can use their wonderful silk tufts to knit "thneeds".
Thneed sales are so successful that the Once-ler builds a factory and invents the Super Axe Hacker which cuts down four trees at a time. The Lorax speaks up in defense of the trees, animals, air and water that the Once-ler is destroying in pursuit of bigger and bigger profits.
Finally, when the last Truffula tree is cut down, production of the Thneeds ends. Closed factories, polluted air, polluted water and an uninhabitable wasteland are all that remain on the once beautiful site.
The Lorax can no longer live here, but he leaves behind a small pile of rocks on which the word UNLESS is inscribed. The Lorax illustrates an ecosystem, a natural unit in which living and nonliving parts interact.
All of the parts are linked together and function as a unit. When one of the parts is altered or damaged, the entire system may fail.
The Endangered Species Act (1973) requires the US federal government to identify species threatened with extinction, identify habitat they need to survive, and help protect both.
Step 1: Choose an organism from the endangered species list. Choose something listed within the categories below: The IUCN website will provide some of the information you need, but not everything.
Be sure to get the conservation status listing from the IUCN Red List. The NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL AND THE RED PANDA are not acceptable submissions since they are used as examples.
Step 2: Research the organism. Complete the following questions as you do your internet research. You will need to use multiple websites. Make sure to submit these answers with your assignment. The answers to the questions MUST match the information in your presentation. Endangered Species Research Make sure your answers are accurate and as complete as possible.
CHOOSE ONE
1. Common name of organism: ___________________________________________ Scientific name (Latin, 2 words):________________________________________
2. Current Status: _____________________________________________________ Choose something listed as: vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, or extinct in the wild Use the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
3. In which continent/countries is its natural habitat? _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
4. In which biome does it live? _____________________________________________ (ex. Tropical RainForest, Taiga, Tundra, Desert, Savanna, Ocean, Fresh Water)
5. What does it eat? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
6. What is its trophic level (producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore or decomposer)? ______________________________________________________________________
7. What organisms eat it? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
8. Draw (write) a food chain or web that includes this organism as well as at least 3 other organisms.
9. Describe its reproductive patterns (mating season, # of offspring, mating behaviors). ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
10. Do you think its reproductive patterns are a part of the reasons its population is in trouble? Explain why or why not. ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
11. What human activities or natural causes have caused it to become in trouble? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
Important Terms: Biodiversity = the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem Poaching = illegal hunting Direct Harvesting = removal of organisms from habitat for use as pets, house plants, aquaria organisms, etc Habitat Loss = destruction of natural living space of organism through a variety of human activities like logging, urban development, and pollution
12. What is being done to try to protect it? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
13. Are the protective actions working? Describe its current population (size/location/recent changes). ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________
14. List the resources used (web site links) ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Step 3: Google Presentation Create a Google presentation to "speak for your animal" in class. You will be able to share your presentation with the class in LiveLesson for extra points if you choose. Create a Google SlideShow including the following. Slide 1 Your name Name of animal (common name) Image of animal (1 or more) What is its status on the IUCN Red list (near threatened, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, or extinct in the wild)? Slide 2 Where does your animal naturally live (continent/country AND biome/habitat)? Include an image of the biome or a map. Slide 3 What is the ecological role of your animal in its habitat? How does its population decline affect the ecosystem? Slide 4 How does human activity contribute to the decline of your animal’s population? Discuss at least two specific examples. Slide 5 Propose a comprehensive conservation plan for your animal, considering BOTH short-term and long-term strategies. Short Term: Can the proposed conservation plan actually be implemented? Does your plan impact the species or the ecosystem? Which resources will your plan impact? Long Term: Is your plan sustainable? Explain. Does your plan aim to restore and maintain a balanced ecosystem? How? Describe at least one way that your plan can involve the community? Slide 6 Links where you found your information Please only include these points in your presentation for the sake of focusing on the objective – learning about the causes of loss of biodiversity and what can be done to save endangered species. Click here to access the rubric.
It seems like you have a lot of information to gather and organize for this project. Here are some steps you can take to start:
1. Choose an organism from the endangered species list that you are interested in studying.
2. Research the organism using multiple websites to gather accurate and complete information.
3. Answer the questions provided in the assignment related to the organism's status, habitat, diet, reproductive patterns, reasons for decline, protective actions, and more.
4. Create a Google presentation to present your findings in class, including information on the animal's status, habitat, ecological role, human impacts, conservation plan, and resources used.
5. Make sure to include any relevant images, diagrams, and links to your information sources in your presentation.
If you need help with any specific questions or information, feel free to ask for assistance. Good luck with your project!