TRECK USA - Spring 2007 Semester Project - Classroom Activities

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Spring 2007 Semester Project

Here you will find the four part semester project for the Spring 2007 semester.

American Discovery Trail Project

The purpose of this project is for you to relate what you have studied in class this semester to real life examples found across our nation. You should work with the other students in your class that are assigned the same state to complete the following:

Part 1. Outline a pretend hike you take along the American Discovery Trail in your state. Include in your outline specific examples of topics covered this semester, such as: landforms, topography, fossils and historical geologic features, erosion, rivers and watersheds, rock types, minerals, resources, coastal features (if any), weather events, … Illustrate the outline with accurate maps to locate your examples. The hike should be fiction, but the examples should be real and accurate.

Part 2. Prepare a presentation of seven to ten minutes to be given in class, using a computer aid such as powerpoint. You may use your outline from part 1 as a guide so that your audience develops an understanding of the earth science topics experienced in your state. At the conclusion of your presentation, the class will take a ten-question, multiple-choice quiz, that you construct, to test their retention of the key points of your presentation.

Part 3. Develop and construct a game (board game, card game, …) utilizing the information from parts 1 and 2 above. The game should have clear directions and enough materials for a group of four students to play for approximately ten minutes. Your game may be similar, but should not copy, a game you have played before. It should be constructed out of materials you will not need back at the end of the school year. Be creative.

Part 4. The final part of your project should be a properly organized notebook containing the information previously assigned during our Thursday trips to the computer lab. See the attached sheet for the order of materials.

***See back for grading***

Grading:

Each part of the project is worth 25 points. Parts 1, 3, and 4 should be completed and turned in no later than May 18^th. Part 2 will be given at some point during the last two weeks of school. Criteria for 25-point grades (everybody’s goal) are listed below:

Part 1: Typed fifteen to twenty specific, detailed examples presented in the order you would encounter them as you hike across the ADT in your state. Use of maps with legends to locate where the examples are found.

Part 2: Well-rehearsed, seven- to ten-minute presentation. Accurate information presented visually and orally so that your audience remembers the information you present. Use of computer technology that helps the audience understand, rather than distracting from, the information you are trying to convey. Fair but detailed quiz that tests students’ retention of the major points of your presentation.

Part 3: Creative (not an exact replica of an existing game). Accurate information specific to your state (should be clear to see what state the game is about). Fun to play. Attractive and neat. Enough materials for four people to play for ten minutes.

Part 4: All materials present. Correct order. Neatly organized.

American Discovery Trail Notebook

-Page 1 – United States map of the entire trail (southern route only).

-Page 2 – Table of Contents (easier to complete this page last).

-Remaining pages should contain information about each state in the following order:

Delaware

Maryland

West Virginia

Ohio

Indiana

Illinois

Missouri