Scenario

You have just finished reading, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. You learned that Karana struggled to survive for many years on the island of San Nicholas. Being alone on the island forced her to alter her view about a woman's role in her tribe, and her relationships with nature within her environment. The decisions that Karana made affected the natural relationships on and around the island.

A famous manufacturing company is coming to Baltimore. The company will construct a new factory near the harbor. The local neighborhood residents are protesting the new factory. They feel that a new factory will have a major impact on the natural relationships in the Chesapeake Bay. The factory's defenders suggest that only "one" new factory will not have any effect on the Chesapeake Bay.

Task and Product

Imagine that Scott O'Dell will be the key speaker at a neighborhood information rally about the new factory. He needs to gather information about natural relationships in the Chesapeake Bay in order to prepare his speech. On your own or with your assigned group, you will assist Scott O'Dell in preparing his speech. You need to research the natural relationships in the Chesapeake Bay, in order to determine the effects of "one" on those relationships. Some topics to consider are:

• bay grasses
• wetlands
• trees
• fish
• aquatic insects
• bottom dwellers
• oysters

Create a PowerPoint Presentation, an oral presentation, or a video for Scott O'Dell that informs the audience about the natural relationships of the Chesapeake Bay and explains how his book, Island of the Blue Dolphins, helped you understand how only "one" factory will affect the natural relationships in the Chesapeake Bay.

Assessments

PowerPoint Presentation

Oral Presentation

Video

Question

Essential Question: How can the power of "one" affect the natural relationships in the Chesapeake Bay?

Subsidiary questions:

• What types of organisms exist in the Chesapeake Bay?
• What types of relationships exist between these organisms?
• How would the extinction of bay grasses affect the relationships in the Bay?
• How does "one" organism, the oyster, affect the balance of the Bay?
• What changes are caused in the Bay by human actions?
  

Gather and Sort

Gather information about from a variety of sources.

Sort your research findings using a planning sheet or note cards. Be sure to avoid plagiarism and keep track of your resources with a bibliography.

Organize

Analyze the information you have gathered using this scoring tool.

Synthesize:

Use the information you have gathered on your planning sheet to create your PowerPoint presentation.

Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task.

• Have you gathered sufficient details about the natural relationships in the Chesapeake Bay in order to create your presentation?
• Is your research reflected in the presentation?

Conclusion

Reflection and/or Extension Activities:

Write a speech for Scott O'Dell that argues for or against the factory being built near the harbor.

Imagine you woke up one morning and everyone in your town was gone. You found yourself all alone. Write a journal explaining what you would do and how you think your actions would affect your neighborhood.