Eco-Detectives: Designing a Sustainable Future

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Eco-Detectives: Designing a Sustainable Future

Grade 7Science4 days

The 'Eco-Detectives: Designing a Sustainable Future' project engages 7th-grade students in investigating human impacts on local ecosystems and developing sustainable solutions. Through interactive activities such as solving cryptic clues, participating in a scientist-led symposium, and conducting visual impact analysis, students learn to identify environmental threats and propose innovative solutions. The project aligns with NGSS standards, aiming to enhance students' analytical, problem-solving, and collaborative skills while emphasizing the importance of sustainability. Students communicate their findings and solutions through presentations, fostering deeper understanding and confidence in addressing real-world ecological challenges.

SustainabilityEcosystemsHuman ImpactEnvironmental SolutionsCollaborationInnovationNGSS Standards

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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as eco-detectives, investigate the impacts of human activities on our local ecosystem and design innovative, sustainable solutions to ensure a healthier future for our community?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

How do human activities impact the biodiversity and stability of local ecosystems?
What are the short-term and long-term consequences of pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction in our community?
What innovative solutions can we design and implement to promote a healthier and more sustainable future for our local ecosystems?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Students will be able to identify and analyze the impact of human activities on local ecosystems.
Students will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of various sustainable solutions for mitigating human impact on the environment.
Students will be able to design and propose innovative solutions to address specific environmental challenges in their community.
Students will be able to communicate their findings and proposed solutions effectively through presentations and reports.

NGSS

ESS3-C-IS1-1

Primary

Human activities in agriculture, industry, and everyday life have had major effects on the land, vegetation, streams, ocean, air, and even outer space. But individuals and communities are doing things to help protect Earth’s resources and environments.Reason: Directly relates to investigating human impacts on ecosystems and designing sustainable solutions.

ESS3-C-IS1-2

Supporting

Examples of environmental effects could include loss of habitat due to dams, loss of habitat due to surface mining, and air pollution from burning of fossil fuels.Reason: Provides specific examples of human impacts on ecosystems.

MS-LS2-5

Primary

MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.*Reason: Focuses on evaluating solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services, directly relevant to the project's goal.

MS-ESS3-3

Supporting

MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.*Reason: Encourages applying scientific principles to design solutions for minimizing human impact, aligning with the project's focus on creating sustainable solutions.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Cryptic Package

A mysterious package arrives containing a series of cryptic clues and a distressed message from a local ecosystem in peril. Students must decipher the clues to uncover the environmental threat and begin their investigation.

The Scientist's Plea

A local scientist specializing in ecosystem health “visits” the classroom (virtually or in person) to discuss their research and present a real-world environmental challenge facing the community. Students are tasked with brainstorming initial solutions.

Visual Storytelling

Students analyze a collection of compelling photographs or video clips showcasing both the beauty and degradation of various ecosystems. They reflect on the emotional impact of these visuals and discuss the human actions contributing to the changes observed.

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Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Eco-Clue Investigators

Students work as detectives to decipher cryptic clues from the mysterious package. This activity sets the stage for their investigation by introducing them to real-world environmental issues via engaging scenarios.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Open the mysterious package and examine the cryptic clues. Document initial observations in a detective notebook.

2. Work in groups to analyze the clues, discussing possible meanings and environmental threats they hint at.

3. Research potential human activities that could have led to these environmental issues using provided resources.

4. Develop a hypothesis about the environmental threat based on the clues.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collaborative report outlining the clues, their meanings, and a hypothesis about the environmental threat.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with NGSS ESS3.C by encouraging investigation into human impacts on ecosystems.

Activity 2

Scientist Symposium

Students participate in a symposium led by a scientist (real or virtual), where they discuss the current state of the ecosystem in the community and initial ideas on addressing these challenges.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Attend the symposium and actively listen to the presentations given by the scientist, noting critical points.

2. Engage in discussions with peers to reflect on the research presented and its implications for the local ecosystem.

3. Develop a set of initial solutions or actions that could mitigate these environmental challenges.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA set of initial solution proposals for mitigating the identified environmental challenges.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with NGSS MS-LS2-5 by evaluating solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Activity 3

Visual Impact Analysis

Students analyze impactful visuals to understand human actions’ effects on ecosystems. Through reflection, students connect emotional responses to factual information, encouraging empathy and deeper engagement with the topic.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. View a curated collection of photos and videos showing both thriving and degraded ecosystems.

2. Reflect on your emotional responses to the visuals, noting specific human actions depicted.

3. Correlate the emotional impact with factual information from previous research.

4. Discuss with classmates how visuals can be powerful tools in raising awareness.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA presentation that combines visual analysis with researched information to propose ways to raise awareness about local ecosystem challenges.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports NGSS MS-ESS3-3 by applying principles to effectively communicate the impacts of human activities.

Activity 4

Sustainable Solution Design Lab

Students design innovative solutions to a specific environmental challenge identified earlier, applying scientific principles to ensure effectiveness and feasibility.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Identify a specific environmental issue to address based on previous activities and research.

2. Brainstorm potential innovative solutions, considering technological, biological, and social aspects.

3. Apply scientific principles from lessons to refine your solutions, ensuring they are feasible and sustainable.

4. Prepare a detailed presentation of your proposed solution, including implementation steps and potential impact.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive design proposal for an innovative solution to a selected environmental problem.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsDirectly aligns with NGSS MS-LS2-5 and MS-ESS3-3, focusing on designing solutions to minimize human impact.

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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Eco-Detectives Learning Assessment Rubric

Category 1

Investigation and Analysis

Assessment of students' ability to investigate and analyze environmental clues and data related to human impacts on ecosystems.

Criterion 1

Data Interpretation

Ability to accurately interpret and analyze environmental clues and data.

Exemplary

4 Points

Interprets and analyzes data with exceptional precision and consistency, identifying trends and patterns seamlessly.

Proficient

3 Points

Interprets and analyzes data accurately, identifying most trends and patterns correctly.

Developing

2 Points

Interprets data with some inaccuracies and inconsistent identification of trends and patterns.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to interpret and analyze data accurately, unable to identify key trends and patterns.

Criterion 2

Hypothesis Development

Ability to formulate plausible hypotheses regarding environmental threats based on investigation.

Exemplary

4 Points

Develops a highly plausible and insightful hypothesis, clearly connected to the data and evidence gathered.

Proficient

3 Points

Develops a plausible hypothesis that is logically connected to the data.

Developing

2 Points

Develops a basic hypothesis with limited connection to the data and evidence.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to develop a hypothesis based on the data, lacking logical connection to evidence.

Category 2

Solution Design and Feasibility

Assessment of students’ capability to design and propose innovative, feasible solutions to environmental issues.

Criterion 1

Innovativeness of Solutions

Creativity and originality in proposing solutions to address environmental challenges.

Exemplary

4 Points

Designs exceptionally innovative and imaginative solutions that offer unique approaches to solving environmental challenges.

Proficient

3 Points

Designs creative and original solutions that effectively address environmental challenges.

Developing

2 Points

Designs basic solutions with some originality, lacking implementation detail.

Beginning

1 Points

Designs unoriginal or impractical solutions with significant room for improvement.

Criterion 2

Feasibility and Impact Assessment

Assessment of the practical application and potential impact of the proposed solutions.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides a comprehensive feasibility study, effectively assessing the potential impact of solutions, backed by evidence.

Proficient

3 Points

Provides a detailed assessment of feasibility, addressing potential impacts with supporting evidence.

Developing

2 Points

Provides a basic feasibility assessment with limited impact analysis and evidence.

Beginning

1 Points

Lacks a coherent feasibility assessment, with minimal consideration of impact or supporting evidence.

Category 3

Communication and Collaboration

Evaluation of students’ ability to effectively communicate their findings and collaborate in group settings.

Criterion 1

Presentation Skills

Effectiveness in presenting findings and solutions through verbal and visual communication.

Exemplary

4 Points

Presents with exceptional clarity, engaging audience with well-structured and visually impressive materials.

Proficient

3 Points

Presents clearly and effectively, with well-structured materials and coherent storyline.

Developing

2 Points

Presents with basic clarity, using materials that need better structuring and cohesiveness.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles with clarity in presentation, with materials lacking organization and focus.

Criterion 2

Collaboration and Teamwork

Ability to work collaboratively, contributing effectively to group discussions and tasks.

Exemplary

4 Points

Demonstrates leadership and initiative in collaboration, consistently contributing valuable insights and solutions.

Proficient

3 Points

Collaborates effectively, contributing meaningful insights and cooperating with peers.

Developing

2 Points

Participates in group work with limited contribution and engagement.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles with collaboration, contributing few ideas or solutions to group efforts.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

Reflect on your experience as an Eco-Detective. How has this project changed your understanding of the impact of human activities on local ecosystems and the importance of sustainable solutions?

Text

Required

Question 2

How confident do you feel in your ability to design sustainable solutions for environmental challenges based on what you've learned in this project?

Scale

Required

Question 3

Choose the aspect of the project you found most impactful and explain why. Was it the investigation, symposium discussions, visual analysis, or solution design?

Multiple choice

Required

Options

Eco-Clue Investigation

Scientist Symposium

Visual Impact Analysis

Solution Design Lab

Question 4

In what ways did collaborating with peers enhance your learning and problem-solving abilities during this project?

Text

Optional

Question 5

To what extent do you believe individual actions can contribute to mitigating human impact on ecosystems?

Scale

Required