S&S+Webquest

A WebQuest for 9th Grade Biology Designed by Scott Tsuda Shannon Baird
 * Heartbreak in the Gulf**

 **Introduction** In case you have not heard, there is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana which is the largest ever in history. As a team of three choose a focus group: open ocean, beach, or marshland. You will set out to the scene of the oil spill, assess the damages to your ecosystem and come up with a plan to help restore the environment.

 **The Task** Students will create a report on the oil spill from one of three different focuses and propose a clean-up plan for a specific ecosystem affected by the spill.

 **The Process** 1) You will watch introduction videos and read articles on this current event to be in the know about what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico. On one piece of paper for your group, answer the questions below each video and article: [|Link to Article on Facts of Oil in Gulf] [|Link to Cause of Oil Spill Video] Link to 2 Weeks After the Oil Spill Video (You just need to watch the first 5 minutes) 2) After watching the video, as a team of three you will choose one of the three ecosystems to research and report on. After you have decided which ecosystem, put your group name on the board to "claim" your ecosystem. Go through the links to search for the best solutions to restoring your ecosystem and answering questions that you will report on in your evaluation. Beach Resources Open Ocean Resources Wetlands Resources Resources for all groups:
 * How did the rig explode?
 * How far beneath the surface is the well?
 * How much oil is being leaked from the damaged pipe each day?
 * What was the first method BP tried to stop the oil spill?
 * What are proposed plans to help clean up the oil spill?
 * After seeing the turtle, brainstorm the effects the oil spill is having on wildlife.
 * Health Effects of Oil
 * Beach Clean-up Efforts
 * Pelican Clean-up
 * Effects on Fisheries
 * Oil Spill Impacts on Coastal Wetlands
 * Gulf of Mexico Ecosystems
 * link to the effects of oil on wildlife
 * [|link to Exxon-Valdez for research]
 * [|link to article on oil spills affect on tourism]
 * link to clean-up efforts

 **Evaluation**

 In being evaluated for this project, your group will decide on first how you want to present your report on the Gulf to the class. You can choose to do a posterboard, power point or written report. The presentation or report must contain the following and will be graded according to the following requirements and rubric:
 *  List the effects the oil spill has had on your ecosystem. More specifically the animals, plants and other wild life.


 * What are ways in which you can you clean up the oil on the animals and the environment in your ecosystem?


 * List ideas of how to restore the environment, ie) animal populations, plant populations, or surrounding environment


 * What are the effects the oil spill has on humans? Look at the effects it has on the economy as well as the cost for the oil spill (use past resources on Exxon-Valdez spill for information and scale up for the Gulf oil spill HINT: Use math!)

RUBRIC
more than two sections of answers. ||< No clear understanding of what you accomplished. ||< Little or no group work. ||
 * <  ||= **Categories** ||<   ||<   ||
 * < Score ||= Completeness ||= Presentation ||= Group Work ||
 * < 4 ||< All questioned are answered in all sections. ||< Your presentation is clear and understandable to your classmates. You present a comprehensive plan and expert understanding of your ecosystems. ||< Group worked well together and did not argue. Everyone contributed equally to the presentation. ||
 * < 3 ||< Missing one section of answers. ||< Some of your information is unclear, but your main point is understandable. You show a general understanding of your ecosystem. ||< One or two people did more work than others, but everyone contributed. ||
 * < 2 ||< Missing more than one section of answers. ||< Your presentation has some clear parts, but overall is difficult to understand. It does not appear that you understand your ecosystem. ||< One person did not contribute and as a result you were not able to present a complete project. ||
 * < 1 ||< All sections are missing answers and/or missing

 **Conclusion** The end goal for this project is for students to be up to date on the current environmental disaster affecting the Gulf of Mexico. More specifically, students know the effect the oil spill has had on different ecosystems in the Gulf: the Open Ocean, Beaches and the Wetlands. Our hope is students will understand the biological implications the oil spill has on the environment as well as the effects this disaster will have on the economy. From there, we hope students will be able to think in positive ways what will be necessary to help restore their respective ecosystem as well as to see how they are all connected.

 **Credits & References** Image above retrieved from: http://borderland.northernattitude.org/wp-content/posts_images/oil_spill.jpg June 24, 2010.