Teacher

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Goals

Students will develop an awareness of the impact that recycling can have even in a small community (i.e., their high school environment). They will also work on developing a positive work ethic, and also the organizational and social skills necessary to successfully complete a multifaceted task.

Objectives

Students will be able to:

Work both on individual goals as well as collaborating in groups to achieve the goal of the quest.
Research and evaluate material relevant to the task.
Discuss knowledge obtained during the course of research.
Devise a feasible recycling plan and advertising campaign.
Justify their final product via the presentation.

Curriculum Standards

LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY:

STANDARD 3.3 (Speaking) All students will speak in clear, concise, organized language that varies in content and form for different audiences and purposes.

STANDARD 3.5 (Viewing and media literacy) All students will access, view, evaluate, and respond to print, nonprint, and electronic texts and resources.

SCIENCE:

STANDARD 5.4 (Nature and Process of Technology) All students will understand the interrelationships between science and technology and develop a conceptual understanding of the nature and process of technology.

STANDARD 5.10 (Environmental Studies) All students will develop an understanding of the environment as a system of interdependent components affected by human activity and natural phenomenon.

Outcome

Students will learn that there can be a positive relationship between nature and technology while simultaneously improving their teamwork and public speaking capabilities. They will have an experience communicating on many levels: first, with their team members; secondly, with their peers (i.e., survey); lastly, perhaps most importantly, with their superiors (i.e., principal). They will be expected to produce a professional presentation with accompanying graphics.

Bloom's Taxonomy


Comprehension	Students must be able to understand and explain the information that they have learned to others in the group and put it in the required format.
Application	Students will be able to apply their own prior knowledge along with newly acquired knowledge to devise several scenarios which might be applicable as a possible solution to recycling at the high school level.
Analysis	Students will be able to breakdown the cost both in money and in labor required to implement the plan. They should be able to examine various plans and determine which one is most feasible.
Synthesis	Students will compile all the data necessary in an appropriate format for presentation.
Evaluation	Students will summarize their findings, justify and defend their plan for recycling in the high school.

Gregorc Learning Styles

Abstract Random	This learner would love to create and interview people for the survey to determine what the students would be willing to do to create an effective recycling program at the high school.
Concrete Sequential	This learner would like following the directions. He/She would enjoy creating a timeline (because of its predictibility) and the individual worksheets.
Abstract Sequential	This learner would like to analyze and compare different recycling programs at various other high schools.
Concrete Random	This learner would like to work by his/herself collecting information from a variety of sources. They will like the competitive atmosphere of this quest.

Multiple Intelligences

Linguistic Intelligence	The actual presentation and the student survey would appeal to this learner.
Logical-mathematical Intelligence	The cost-benefit portion of this quest and its mathematical analysis of the data woud be appealing to this type of learner.
Spatial Intelligence	This learner would enjoy creating the timeline as well as designing the PowerPoint presentation.
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence	This learner would enjoy the process of looking and searching for the data and information.
Musical Intelligence	Perhaps the student survey will be completed with a musical background to appeal to the greater student body.
Interpersonal Intelligence	This learner would enjoy communicating with others, i.e. conducting the survey, working in a group.
Intrapersonal Intelligence	This learner would like reflecting upon the information obtained.
Naturalist Intelligence	This learner will enjoy making a direct impact on nature by cleaning up the environment.

Pedagogical Methods

Why is this project important for my students?

This project is multifaceted in a variety of ways. It is not strictly a science lesson. It also includes research, technology, art, marketing and business skills. In many ways, this project can be viewed as a simulation of the working world. The subject of recycling is a relevant one. Environmental issues are in the news and recycling plays a major role in the solution.
The students should be stimulated by the possibility of "winning" the grand prize. They should also be motivated by having the honor of their presentation being viewed by the principal. We hope that this will illcit an emotional response.
The students should be able to retain much of the material, because they will be discussing the information as well as the implementation of that information. Peer discussions are crucial to help students remember.
The students should be able to transfer the skills that they acquired during this lesson. They have acquired the basic organizational skills to problem solve using critical thinking. They have learned aspects of making a presentation to superiors