Human Activity and Watersheds

Integrated with the Human Activity and Watersheds Slam Dunk Research Model

Your school has shown an interest in becoming more involved in restoring and preserving the Chesapeake Bay’s rivers and streams. You will identify the specific watershed in which you live and then gather some information about it. Then you will compare the human actions you learned about and pick one that seems to have the strongest impact on the watershed.

Create a public service announcement (PSA) that educates your community about their impact on the watershed. In your video, be sure to describe:

• the human action
• effect of the action on the watershed
• two suggestions to fix the problem in the short term and long term

Curricuculum Connections/Outcomes

MD VSC

Goal: 6.0 Environmental Science: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the interactions of environmental factors (living and nonliving) and analyze their impact from a local to a global perspective.

Environmental Issues, Indicator: 1. Recognize and explain how human activities can accelerate or magnify many naturally occurring changes

b. Identify and describe how human activities produce changes in natural processes, such as climate change (acquisition, use, and distribution of energy resources), development (erosion, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and deforestation), extinction (habitat destruction and introduction of nonnative species), and cycling of matter (waster disposal practices).

MSDE MTLSS: 1, 2, 3, 4 (5 if Internet research is used)

ISTE NETS: 1a, 2b, 3b, 4b

• Research
• Script Writing
• Storyboarding
• Public Speaking
• Camera Techniques
• Computer Editing

1. Complete research component
2. Show sample PSA of human impact on the environment. This sample does not meet the criteria for this project, but does demonstrate PSA format.
3. Gather B-roll and stills (The Chesapeake Bay Program has educational use watershed images that can be used)
   • of the Chesapeake Bay and your specifc watershed
   • of actions people are taking to help preserve their watershed
4. Write script and storyboard
   • show script sample
   • show storyboard sample
5. Plan production
   • think about where and when to film
   • who is perfoming? Who is running the equipment? WHO'S IN CHARGE?
6. Rehearse
7. Shoot and compile
• remember to use good videography techniques
8. Edit final product
   • Use MovieMaker (or other software)
   • Import the video from camera and/ or other sources
   • Arrange video / pictures
   • Add transitions and titles
   • Edit audio
   • Finalize and save
9. Present/ share

• Assign production roles appropriate to student needs and/or abilities
• Extended time

• Submit to a contest
• Peer critique and/or gallery walk
• Submit to BCPS Education Channel
• Upload to Safari or SchoolTube
• Embed in a PowerPoint presentation
• Add to electronic portfolio
• Broadcast school wide