Felicia+Smith

Summary: Your subject and grade level: 7th and 8th grade science The topic of the unit: Ecosystems The project idea- the real-world connections, role of the student, and a general idea of the overall project: I would like my students to be able to understand the workings of an ecosystem from niches to poplutions limits. Concerns, questions, and desired feedback: My concerns are my students seem to understand everything during the lecture and assignments but when we get to the end they can not bring it all together.

__Visual Ranking__ - Prompts will be used as steps for my students to help them determine how they will set up their wildlife park. What animals will they have? What limiting factors will effect their park? How will they determine limiting factors? What concerations is of the most importent when setting up their wildlife park's ecosystem?

__Seeing Reason__ - I am not sure if I am using this tool correctly. What I would like to use this tool for is helping students see what factors affect a given animal. When students have decided what animals they will be working with, they will use this tool to think of what factors will need to be concerned when forming their habitat for each animal. __Showing Evidence__ - I would like to use this tool for researching evidence to show if a wildlife park is closer to an animal's ecosystem then a zoo. Since the students are learning about relastionships and interactions of animals they should be able to gather data on what is a "better" enviornment for an animal. Students are also learning how animals compete in a community and develop into their niches. I think this tool will help them see a connection between artificial and nature habitats. Can a wildlife park or a zoo provide a better habitat for an animal? Since, students will be making a presentaion on their wildlife park they will have to be able to tell their audience why their park design is a better fit for their animal then other designs. So, the comparation between a zoo and wildlife park would be a good start.