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Flora and Fauna of Lake Danao: A WebQuest for Second Year High School
(Science & English)
Authored by N. Denden, A. Bendanillo, and P. Arinto
Introduction
With the presence of the Philippine National Oil Company, National Power
Corporation, CAL Energy, and Leyte Agri Corporation, Ormoc City has become one
of the more developed cities in Region VIII. But development comes with a price.
In this case, the price is the threat of degradation of Ormoc’s natural
environment.
Of particular concern is Lake Danao, which has drawn Ormocanons and tourists
alike with its natural beauty and biodiversity. As concerned Ormocanons, it is
our duty to preserve this haven!
The Task
The Tourism Director and the DENR Director are calling on concerned Ormocanons
to help preserve Lake Danao. Crucial to preservation is getting as many people
as possible to appreciate the beauty and ecological richness of Lake Danao. For
this reason, the Tourism Director and the DENR Director are thinking of
publishing an online magazine on Lake Danao.
They are asking volunteer organizations and groups like yours to provide the
contents of the online magazine. Specifically, they are asking you to
contribute:
1. a short editorial containing basic information on the physical
characteristics of Lake Danao (e.g., location, size, depth, ecological
condition) and the threats to its survival, and a call for the preservation of
Lake Danao
2. a feature report on the types of plants and animals found in Lake Danao
3. a feature report on the different ecological relationships in the Lake Danao
environment
4. a feature report on what a lake is, the major lakes in the Philippines, and
the place of Lake Danao in the roster of local lakes
5. an interview with an environmental expert or organization about how to
preserve Lake Danao
6. a photo essay
7. a haiku inspired by Lake Danao
To facilitate the conceptualization of the online magazine, the local Department
of Tourism and Department of Environment and Natural Resources are sponsoring a
one-day field trip to Lake Danao.
Process
As one of the leading environmental advocacy groups in Ormoc, you are compelled
to participate in the design and development of the online magazine on Lake
Danao.
1. Your team of 8 includes two taxonomists, an ecologist, an expert on lakes, an
environmental activist, a poet, an editor, and a photographer. The job of each
team member is described in the table below. As a team, decide on who among you will
take on each job.
| Specialization |
Duties and Responsibilities |
Editor
|
1. Write the editorial.
2. Supervise the layout and production of the online magazine. |
| 2 Taxonomists |
Do research and write the feature article on the different
plants and animals in the Lake Danao area. |
| Ecologist |
Do research and write the feature report on the different
ecological relationships in the Lake Danao area. |
Lake Expert
|
Do research and write a feature report on what a lake is,
the major lakes in the Philippines, and the place of Lake Danao in the
roster of local lakes. |
| Environmental Activist |
Interview an environmental expert (for example, a DENR
official) or group about how to preserve Lake Danao.
|
| Poet |
1. Compose a haiku inspired by
Lake Danao.
2. Choose accompanying graphics for the haiku. |
| Photographer |
1. Take photos of flora and fauna in Lake Danao, and the
people interviewed by the writers.
2. Produce the photo essay. |
2. After you have chosen your roles, do some background research beginning
with the online resources given in this webquest (see Resources). Note that
there are other resources that may be available to each of you, such as articles
in scientific journals, newspaper and magazine articles, experts in various
environmental organizations, both government and nongovernment, and related
websites (for example, online magazines, websites of environmental groups).
You have one week to do the background research.
3. Join the field trip to Lake Danao. This is when you
will do your on-site research. Record all relevant information. The photographer
should take all necessary photographs.
4. After the field trip:
· The members of the team who are assigned something to write should write their
drafts.
· The photographer should download or print all photos taken, choose which ones
to include in the photo essay and other parts of the magazine,
crop/enlarge/enhance these as necessary, and compose the photo essay.
The team members have one week to complete this step in the process.
5. Then the group should meet to read/view and critique each other’s draft
write-ups and the photo essay. Each team member should take note of suggestions
for revision and then revise his/her work accordingly. The revised work should
be reviewed by all members. Be guided by the rubric for evaluating the group
output.
This step should be completed in one week.
6. Submit the group output on the due date.
7. Accomplish the self-assessment form and peer evaluation form. Submit these on
the due date. Resources
Basic Concepts
Ecosystem
http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/ecosystem
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/ecosystem
Ecology
http://www.hyperdictionary.com/search.aspx?define=ecology
Ecological relationships
http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/biology20/unit2/UNIT2MODULE1LESSON7.htm
Biodiversity
http://www.defenders.org/bio-bi03.html
Definition of lake
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Lake
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthlakes.html
http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Wetlands/LakesPonds/LakesPonds.html
Lake ecosystems/ecology
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/F/Freshwater.html#Lakes_and_Ponds
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/lakes/index.htm
http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow/under/primer/page10.html
Why lakes and lake preservation
http://www.worldlakes.org/values.asp
http://www.mongabay.com/0608.htm
http://www.worldlakes.org/uploads/tagaytay_declaration_w_vision.pdf
Lakes at a glance
http://www.worldlakes.org/lakeprofiles.asp
Lakes of the Philippines
http://www.llda.gov.ph/inland_water_group.htm
http://www.psdn.org.ph/wetlands/philwetlands.htm
Tools
How to write a feature story
http://www.jteacher.com/ppt/features.ppt
http://www.wordweaving.com/articlefeb18_00.html
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~soules/CMC290/feature.htm
How to conduct an interview
http://www.talewins.com/interviews.htm
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/ROHO/rohotips.html
http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/students/expressionism/les2_4.htm
http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/students/expressionism/les2_5.htm
http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Wetlands/RiverOtter/ROExpertInterview.html
(sample interview with expert)
How to write a haiku
http://nyny.essortment.com/howtowritehai_rqau.htm
http://msms.essortment.com/writehaikupo_rmxm.htm
http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/litha/goodhaiku.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/7797/jimages.html (traditional Japanese
images)
Sample websites on lakes and wetlands
http://www.radnorlake.org/lake_map.asp
http://www.great-lakes.net/lakes/
http://www.llda.gov.ph/geographical_jurisdiction.htm
http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/Wetlands/Wetlands.html Evaluation
Your group output will be graded/scored using the following rubric:
| Item |
Very Good
(5 points)
|
Good
(3 points)
|
Needs Improvement
(1 point) |
| Photo Essay |
At least seven photos are included: one photo
each of two different plants, one photo each of two different animals, one
panoramic view of the lake, one human interest photo (for example, someone
gazing at the lake or some students examining flora around the lake), and
one photo of the expert/s or representative of the environmental
organization interviewed.
All photos in the photo gallery are clear, interesting, and relevant to the
theme of Lake Lanao’s biodiversity and beauty and the need to preserve it. |
There are only four-five photos in the gallery.
OR
There are seven photos but two are not clear, uninteresting, and/or
irrelevant to the theme of Lake Lanao’s biodiversity and beauty and the need
to preserve it. |
Only one or two photos are included.
OR
There is a sufficient number of photos but only one or two are clear,
interesting, and relevant to the theme
of Lake Lanao’s biodiversity and beauty and the need to preserve it. |
| Haiku |
The poem
has the structural elements of a haiku.
The haiku is original.
The haiku shows good word
choice and good
imagery |
The
poem does not
conform to the form/structure of a haiku.
The haiku is original.
The word
choice or imagery can be improved.
|
No poem
has been submitted.
OR
The haiku is not original.
OR
The poem is poorly written, with poor word
choice and
poor imagery. |
| Feature report on the different plants and
animals in Lake Danao |
At least 6 plant species and 6 animal species
are featured in the report.
Each of the 6 plant species and animal species is adequately described.
The feature report is written in such a way as to sustain the reader’s
interest and in complete, grammatical sentences. |
The total number of featured plant and animal
species is less than 12 but not less than 8.
Not all of the plant and animal species featured are adequately described.
The feature report is written in such a way as to sustain the reader’s
interest and in complete, grammatical sentences. |
The total number of featured plant and animal
species is less than 8 but not less than 4.
Only two of the plant and animal species featured are adequately described.
The feature report is written in complete, grammatical sentences. |
| Feature report on the different ecological
relationships found in the area. |
At least five ecological relationships are
described. The species involved are clearly identified.
(Note: It is not enough to say the relationship is symbiotic, for example.
The species involved must be identified and an explanation of how the
symbiosis is apparent must be given.)
The feature report is written in such a way as to sustain the reader’s
interest and in complete, grammatical sentences. |
Only three ecological relationships are
described. The species are clearly identified.
(Note: It is not enough to say the relationship is symbiotic, for example.
The species involved must be identified and an explanation of how the
symbiosis is apparent must be given.)
The feature report is written in such a way as to sustain the reader’s
interest and in complete, grammatical sentences. |
Only one relationship is described. The species
are clearly identified.
(Note: It is not enough to say the relationship is symbiotic, for example.
The species involved must be identified and an explanation of how the
symbiosis is apparent must be given.)
The feature report is written in complete, grammatical sentences. |
| Interview with an expert or a representative of
an environmental organization regarding the preservation of Lake Danao |
The person/s interviewed was/were in the best
position to provide information on the preservation of Lake Danao.
The interview questions were relevant, insightful, and comprehensive.
The interview results were presented well—that is, they were edited for
readability. |
One of the three criteria under “Very Good” for
this item was not met. |
Two of the three criteria under “Very Good” for
this item were not met. |
| Editorial |
The physical description of Lake Danao is
complete/comprehensive.
The environmental status of Lake Danao is given.
The case for the preservation of Lake Danao is well argued.
The editorial observes the rules of grammar. |
Only three of the four criteria given under
“Very Good” for this item are met. |
Only two of the four criteria given under “Very Good” for this item are met. |
The perfect score is 35.
Each item will be scored separately but it is the total score that will count
towards individual members’ scores. This means that you have to work together
to make sure that each component of your online magazine and the entire online
magazine score well.
Individual scores will be
computed from your scores for the group output and your scores for the
self-assessment and peer evaluation.
Conclusion
If you do this well and you work together as a
team, you will produce a magazine that will increase people’s awareness of the
beauty of this natural heritage in our community. You will also deepen their
appreciation of the need to preserve it.
In addition, the project
will help you develop many skills that will serve you well in other projects
that you will undertake later on. These skills include being observant, taking
down notes, doing background research, interviewing an expert, writing various
types of compositions, and documenting information. Plus, you will learn the
value of team work. Team work is important not only in coming up with a product
like an online magazine but also in saving the environment. We must all work
together to save Mother Earth!
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