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A WebQuest Written by Ms. Shannon Dickson
Process and resource links open an additional
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Introduction |
Task | Process |
Resources |
Evaluation |
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Conclusion |
Reflection | Extended Opportunity |
| Notes
to Teacher | Home
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Introduction
In the USA, soil has recently been
eroded at about 17 times the rate at which it forms: about 90%
of US cropland is currently losing soil above the sustainable
rate. Soil erosion rates in Asia, Africa and South America are
estimated to be about twice as high as in the USA. The Federal
Agriculture Organization (FAO)
estimates that 140 million hectares of high quality soil, mostly in
Africa and Asia, will be degraded by 2010, unless better
methods of land management are adopted.
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Task
You will work in
teams as members of committees within the FAO to research the extent of this problem.
Millions of people could potentially be victims of erosion and
weathering in the next few years. You will work together to
determine the impact of this situation and the cost to
society. Once you have researched the problem, you will
discover effective solutions to solve this dilemma or
alleviate it. Your group will develop a PowerPoint
presentation to present to your superiors within the FAO. Your
goal is to determine how to solve this problem.
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Process
and Resource
1. Assign roles within your
committee. You must fill all of your positions so you will
be able to complete your goal.
Committee Leader - keeps the group motivated and
productive, deals with disputes or problems within the
group, keeps research and work directed toward final goal.
Information Organizer -
organizes and holds all information and files (electronic
and paper).
Technology Specialist -
assists committee members with online research, directs
committee use of software such as PowerPoint.
Presentation Editor - reviews
PowerPoint presentation for grammatical and informational
accuracy.
All group members will work
together as a team to research weathering and erosion and
determine feasible solutions.
2.
Begin your
research of the problem with these websites. Remember to
identify the credibility of the site before determining it
is a proper source.
 Weathering
Erosion
Pictures
of Different Types of Weathering
 Pictures of Weathering and Erosion
Causes
of Weathering and Erosion
Factors Controlling
the Rate of Erosion
USGS-
Difference Between Erosion & Weathering
Once you have compiled a
respectable body of information on your assigned weathering
or erosion issue, you must research possible dangers and or
solutions. Begin with the links below. You may branch off
within these links or search for more on the Internet.
Soil Erosion
Study of Historic
Hopi Buttes Area
Erosion
in the Southwest
Coastal
Erosion Prevention
Wind
Erosion Prevention
Beach
Erosion Prevention Study
Geologic Hazards: Landslides
Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Landslides and Mudflows
3. You should now have a
large amount of information about your type of weathering or
erosion issue and possible solutions or preventions. Your
next task is to create a presentation that you
will present to the organization you work for, the FAO. Your
bosses are fairly knowledgeable when it comes to the
problem, but they don't have the research they need on
solutions. Therefore, your presentation should include more
information and slides on solutions to this terrible
problem.
Create a presentation that is
professional but visually attractive. Your facts must be
accurate and must come from credible sources which you cite
within the presentation. Use the citation format acceptable
for research papers. Include a Works Cited page at the end
of the presentation that lists, in correct form, all sources
you have cited in your presentation.
Use Son of Citation Machine MLA style to make your Works Cited Page (in other words, bibliography).
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Evaluation
- Your group's efforts to complete
this project will be evaluated with the
Process
Rubric.
- View these rubrics so your
work will follow them.
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Conclusion
Your efforts to
solve this tragic dilemma facing everyone in the world will
not go unnoticed! Perhaps your organization will provide you
with promotions, maybe even your own offices. If not, don't
fret. Your information search has not been in vain. You have
discovered weathering and erosion is a threat to you and
everyone on this planet. Educate people on the facts, so they
might avoid this situation.
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Reflection
Please reflect on
the experience of this project. Describe your group experience
as well as your individual experience.
- Write half-page reflection
(typed and double-spaced) that describes the dynamics of
your group. How well did you work together? Did all members
stay on-task? Did members fill their positions effectively?
Would you work with this team in the future? Be honest and
appropriate with your judgments.
- Write a full-page reflection
(typed and double-spaced) describing your own work on this
WebQuest. Did you fulfill the obligations of your position?
What did you learn about weathering and erosion? Will this
information help you in the future? What environmental issues
exist that you could learn more about? Do you understand how
to research a problem and its solutions? How could you
complete a task like this on your own? Was the learning
structure effective? Did you enjoy the WebQuest experience?
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Extended
Opportunity
To extend this project gather
information from other groups in your class regarding the type
of weathering and erosion they researched and what possible
prevention they found. Create a brochure in Microsoft
Publisher that could educate the public about types of
weathering and erosion, prevention, and preservation of our
land.
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Notes to
Teacher
Before implementing this
lesson, teachers should view the notes section. Click here
to view this section.
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