Learning Goals
Students will be able to investigate how a chosen invasive species spreads through human activities and alters native habitats, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
Students will be able to design a safe observation and research method for documenting evidence of invasive species or habitat change using field notes, photographs, maps, and reliable sources.
Students will be able to analyze patterns in observations, distribution maps, and sources to construct and revise a claim about relationships among human choices, invasive species, and ecosystem change.
Students will be able to evaluate competing solutions for monitoring or reducing the effects of an invasive species on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Students will be able to communicate an evidence-based explanation and practical call to action about invasive species through a scientifically accurate PSA and CER.
Students will be able to reflect on and revise their investigation, conclusions, personal choices, and communication in response to weekly self-assessment and feedback from teachers, families, peers, and community experts.
Products
Invasive Species Investigation Portfolio and PSA
Each student submits a research notebook with a focused question, safe observation method, field or source evidence, pattern analysis, before-and-after CER, comparison of solutions, short PSA, and companion reflection. Weekly entries, a midway reflection, and documented feedback-based revisions demonstrate individual mastery and changes in thinking.
Native Habitat Digital Investigation Gallery and Virtual PSA Premiere
Students collaborate remotely to synthesize their individual findings into a digital gallery and virtual presentation that compares species, spread pathways, ecosystem effects, evidence quality, solution trade-offs, limitations, and community actions while preserving conflicting or anomalous findings. The team presents coordinated PSAs, responds to family and expert questions, documents shared decisions and individual contributions, and uses audience feedback to revise the exhibition.
No rubric has been generated yet.