wipAdirondack Curriculum Project - www.adkcurriculumproject.org
NYS Content Area Standard

ELA: 1 & 4

MST: 4, L.E. 6 & 7
 		Title: Habitat Inventory at Windmill Sites
Grade Level: 11/12th

Author: Gary Wilson
Johnsburg Central School

Email: Riparius@frontiernet.net
 Adirondack Curriculum Content Area
_X_ Natural History
___ Human History
___ Culture & the Arts
___ Government & Civics
___ Economy
___ Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Investigative Question or Issue: What are the wildlife habitat components present at the proposed Barton Mines windmill site?

 Challenge:  
Context for this Challenge: Teachers will need to instruct students on plant identification using a dichotomous key prior to this activity.  Materials for sampling habitats will need to be constructed, one set per group.  

Challenge: Students will investigate the existant habitat components of the immediate area of the proposed placement of windmills on the Barton Mines property. Students will produce a poster showing the habitat components.  This poster will be displayed in the Tannery Pond Community Center.

Students will satisfy NYS standards in both science, math, and technology, and English. Language Arts as they research sampling methods, conduct the actual habitat sampling on site, record digital images of habitat, and create a final poster display of results.

Quality Standards:

  • Research  and computer lab time is used constructively.
  • Each student will write a description of sampling methods, and habitat components (typed).
    • Takes an active role in the habitat sampling.
    • Creates a data collection sheet including all components of habitat.
    • Summarizes habitat component survey on data sheet.
    • Create a Graph of habitat components  to be displayed on poster.
  • Poster construction containing title, research methods, GPS location of site, graphs of habitat components, digital pictures of site, and concluding statement concerning habitat qualty
Adapted for the Adirondack Curriculum Project from the work of Education By Design TM and Leading EDGE, LLC ©ACP 2002

   Product Quality
Checklist
Date: ________                                                                     Class Period: ________
Product Author(s):

 
 Habitat Inventory at Windmill Sites
Evaluator Name(s)
 
 Observed Standard/Criteria
Possible
Points
Rating

Utilizes research time in computer lab.
 10
  One page description of sampling methods and habitat components
 10
 
  Data Collection sheet created.     
10
  

Student takes active role in habitat sampling
 20
  Habitat component data summarized in graph  
10
  
  Poster   

 

Title and GPS location shown
 5

Research methods displayed
 5

Pictures of site and components
 5

Graphs of each habitat component
 10

Concluding statement concerning habitat quality typed
5
  Oral Presentation
 

Student presentation of poster is clear and planned.
 5   

Each student has a role in the presentation
 5
 
TOTAL
 100  
<>bri Product of the 2008 ACP Biodiversity Workshop, funded by a grant from the New York Biodiversity Research Institute.

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