Final Project

Island Earth Sustainability Projects

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Intro

You and your group are going to pick an issue related to environmental science for which you are going to make a difference. Your goal is to create a comprehensive campaign that promotes your cause and encourages others to take action. There are many ways that you can do this, but it is VERY important for you to pick a topic that your group is truly passionate about. However, do not choose overly done topics that could easily be completed by an elementary school student.

Once you have chosen a topic it is time to get to work on the basic requirements. You are responsible for researching your topic, creating a slogan or motto, designing a logo, producing a public service announcement, composing a research paper, designing a webpage, taking action to address your issue, and documenting your project. The project is worth 10% of your overall grade.

Sample Topics

Topics that need addressing in environmental science are wide ranging and can suit nearly anyone's interest. Since APES involved so many disciplines you can choose a topic related to anything from economics (cap and trade) to physics (energy) to biology (population dynamics) to chemistry (water pollution) to geology (global climate change) to mathematics (LD50). When choosing a topic it is key that you choose something that is of great interest to all group members. Other things worth your consideration are thinking about what you can do to help your cause and thinking about what data you can collect around the issue. Local issues tend to be more engaging and are more easily influenced.

This list can provide you with some examples of ideas and includes a few local and global issues, but is not exhaustive:

  • Reducing overpopulation of Homo Sapien Sapien
  • Revitalization of local rivers and/or streams
  • Reducing local overconsumption
  • Contributions from local power plants to global climate change
  • Conservation of habitat in migration corridors
  • Landscaping with native plants
  • Sustainable commuting to school
  • Reduction of paper usage at school
  • Plastic bag bans
  • Freshwater conservation
  • Expansion of local wilderness areas
  • Ewaste
  • Reducing indoor air pollution
  • Make up your own! (this is the best one)

Name, Slogan or Motto, and Mission

Your group needs to come up with a cool name for your group and a slogan or motto that provides a teaser on the goals of your project. This should be catchy and informative. After hearing it people should be curious to learn more about your group and your ideas. Acronyms are catchy and can be very creative. For example:

The mission your group comes up with should convey the goal of your project in one to three sentences. Examples are included below:

  • Natural Resource Defense Council
    • The Natural Resources Defense Council's purpose is to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.
  • Environmental Defense Fund
    • Environmental Defense Fund is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including future generations. Among these rights are access to clean air and water, healthy and nourishing food, and flourishing ecosystems.
  • NorthEast Trees
    • To restore nature’s services in resource challenged communities, through a collaborative resource development, implementation, and stewardship process.

Logo

Your group needs to come up with a logo that similarly conveys the goals of your project and provide an appealing image that people can associate with. You should create an original logo, although it can be a spin off or modification of an existing logo. Some examples are below

Public Service Announcement

Your public service announcement will be in the form of a video, poster, pamphlet, or flyer. Your goal is to get the word out, create a buzz, get people interested, and form a movement. Real world examples below range from posters to videos, historic to modern, and common sense to controversial.

Examples:


Ad Council Global Warming Video


 Warning-Explicit Language in the Song and Graphic Content-Harm to Animals

GreenPeace


Iron Eyes Cody Ad Council


Requirements:

  1. Catches peoples attention
  2. Informative and educational related to the problem, solution, data
  3. Clearly conveys your message

Research Paper

Your research paper needs to be 5+ pages and needs to include the following sections:

  1. Title Page
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Position
  4. History of the Problem
    1. How did it develop?
    2. How was it discovered?
    3. What have other parties done to help solve this issue?
    4. What are the relevant laws or treaties?
  5. Causes of the problem
  6. Consequences of the problem
    1. Present
    2. Future (5,10,25,50 years in the future)
  7. Proposed solution(s) to the problem
    1. Action Steps
  8. The position of those who oppose you
    1. Rebuttal to opposing position
  9. Tables, Charts, Graphs, Pictures, Diagrams, and Maps
  10. Works Cited Page

Requirements:

  1. 12 point font
  2. Normal 1" margins
  3. Double-spaced
  4. Quantitative data from outside source
  5. Quantitative data from research (your group)
  6. >Two graphs
  7. >One map
  8. >Two images/photos
  9. >15 Sources; No more that 10 Web Sources
  10. APA Style

Webpage

Your webpage serves as the centerpiece of your project. This is where everything is published, linked, and packaged. It also serves as a way to get the word out for your events, get people involved, and serves as a networking opportunity. It will also be the place where Mr. Stephens goes to evaluate your work. Google sites are recommended because it is free and requires no code.

Requirements

  1. GIS data using Google Maps or Google Earth. See example here.
  2. Slogan clearly posted.
  3. Logo clearly posted.
  4. Public service announcement posted.
  5. Research paper posted.
  6. Documentation of entire project with a focus on your action. Ex-photo journal 

Action

Your action is the centerpiece of this final project, but it is also the most difficult. The goal of your action is to move the world closer to a sustainable solution. Be creative, be inspired, be inspiring, and make a difference.

Sample ideas:

  • Create a lesson plan and teach students about the issue and its solutions
  • Create an online petition
  • Organize a demonstration or public rally
  • Protest using non-violent civil disobedience
  • Volunteer with an organization
  • Change your own behavior
  • Speak at a public comment hearing or city hall meeting
  • Organize a boycott
  • Plan an event
  • Organize a letter writing campaign
  • Pressure a producer to adopt sustainable practices

Grading

This assignment is worth 10% of your overall grade.

Criteria
A
B
C
Not Passing

Class Time

10%

 >90% of class time is used effectively. 80-89 of class time is used effectively 70-79 of class time is used effectively Insufficient Effort

Name/Slogan /Mission

10%

 Group creates a cool name, catchy slogan, and a clear creative mission that explains the project's goals. Group creates a name, slogan, and a clear mission that explains the project's goals. Group creates a name, and a slogan or mission. Insufficient Effort

Logo

10%

 Logo is creative, original, appealing to the eye, and related to the project's mission. Logo is original, appealing to the eye, and related to the project's mission. Logo is created and related to the project's mission. Insufficient Effort

Public Service Announcement

20%

 PSA meets all 3 criteria listed above. PSA meets 2 criteria listed above. PSA meets 1 criterion listed above. Insufficient Effort

Research Paper

20%

 Research paper is clearly written, contains <5 grammatical errors, includes sections 1-10, meets 9+ of the requirements listed above. Research paper is clearly written, contains <10 grammatical errors, includes all but 1 section, meets 8+ of the requirements listed above. Research paper is written, contains <20 grammatical errors, includes all but 3 sections, meets 7+ of the requirements listed above. Insufficient Effort

Webpage

10%

 Webpage includes all 6 requirements listed above with a creative design, clear and easily navigable layout, and has no dead links. Webpage includes 5 requirements listed above with a clear and easily navigable layout, and may have 1 dead link. Webpage includes 4 requirements listed above with a clear and easily navigable layout, and may have 2 dead links. Insufficient Effort

Action

20%

 The creative action moves the world closer to sustainability, makes a measurable difference, is documented through pictures, and involves 10+ people outside of the school. The creative action moves the world closer to sustainability, makes a measurable difference, is documented, and involves 10+ people outside of the group. The action moves the world closer to sustainability, makes a difference, and is documented. Insufficient Effort