Web Site Resources | The Process | Proposal
Maker
Return To Planet Earth
Introduction
So many environmental issues but so little time. This activity requires you to
connect with a single environmental issue, and develop a strategy to acquire support for
the problem within your community. You will learn a few facts about the issue, but
your main job will be to convince your classmates that they should be committed to helping
solve the problem.
Task
Select one of the issues below. Learn all you can about the topic, but most
importantly, identify the reason why people should really care about the environment.
Your job will be to develop a television, radio, newspaper or internet
public service announcement that will cause your classmates to make a personal commitment
to help the environment.
Remember, before you can ask others to make a commitment, you must make the commitment
yourself.
Web Site Resources
1. Garbage
by The Annenberg/CPB Project
This Web site attempts to answer the following question about recycling: "How
can we find ways to meet our current economic and social needs without compromising the
ability of our children, and our children's children, to do the same?"
Your job is to create a public service announcement that supports or rejects committing
public funds to recycling.
- Travel to each (solid waste, hazardous waste and sewage) link, and pick out one fact
from each that you find the most amazing.
- Follow the global efforts link, and play the Shrinking a Landfill game. (Click on the
trash can) Determine which type of recycling is the most cost effective.
- List one thing you can do each day to help your community reduce garbage?
After you have answered the questions, go to the proposal
maker to begin creating your public service announcement.
2. Year of the
Tiger by The World Wildlife Federation
Navigate the links in this site, and produce a tiger public service announcement.
Do not fill in your name anywhere on the site without your teacher's permission.
Here are a few questions you must answer.
- Visit the message wall and determine why other people care about the tigers.
- Why should a person in the United States be concerned with saving the tigers?
- List three interesting facts about tigers.
After you have answered the questions, go to the proposal
maker to begin creating your public service announcement.
3. Dumptown
Game by the Environmental Protection Agency (Requires Shockwave Plug in)
This is an really cool interactive game, but you will need to read the directions
carefully. The game will show you that it costs money to recycle. Your job is
to create a public service announcement that supports or rejects committing public funds
to recycling.
After playing the Dumptown game, here are the question you must answer.
- Which waste programs do not cost the city anything?
- Which waste program will cost the city the most money?
- Which waste program reduces the city's waste the most?
- Now the big question, what is the best combination of programs for Dumptown? The most
bang for the buck!
After you have answered the questions, go to the proposal
maker to begin creating your public service announcement.
4. Changing
Seas by the World Wildlife Federation
The United Nations has named 1998 the Year of the Ocean. Here are a few
questions you must answer before you create your announcement. Your job
is to create a public service announcement that convinces a person that they can help the
ocean even if they don't live near it.
- What is the biggest threat to life in the oceans?
- Why should people care about the ocean environment?
- List three pollution problems the ocean is currently experiencing.
After you have answered the questions, go to the proposal
maker to begin creating your public service announcement.
5. Habitat by National Geographic
Deep in the Monongahela National Forest of West Virginia the United States Forest
Service is studying the process by which a forest evolves. Your job is
to study old growth forests and create a public service announcement that supports or
rejects plans to stop cutting down old growth forests.
- Compare the 2 year old stand with the 86 year old stand. What are the differences?
- Why would anyone cut down an old growth forest?
- Play the Fantastic Forest game. Who lives in the old growth forest? What
happens to the wildlife after an old forest stand is cut down?
- Why should people care about the old growth forests?
After you have answered the questions, go to the proposal
maker to begin creating your public service announcement.
6. Everglades by
the National Parks System
"No other place combines a subtropical climate, a broad, shallow river, and a
stunning diversity of plants and animals into such a complex and fragile ecosystem."
Your job is to study about the Everglades and create a public service announcement
that supports saving the Everglades.
- What are the major threats to the Everglades?
- List three endangered species in the Everglades.
- Why should people care about the Everglades?
- Is the purpose of a national monument/park to preserve the environment or provide access
for people to enjoy the park?
After you have answered the questions, go to the proposal
maker to begin creating your public service announcement.
7.Yosemite Visual
Simulations by the National Parks System
In 1980, a plan was proposed to help restore the majestic Yosemite valley floor
to its natural condition. View the Visual
Simulations pages to get a feeling of what the park is trying to do. Your
job is to create a public service announcement either supporting or rejecting the
restoration plan.
- Why would people not want to restore the parks natural condition? What would they
have to give up?
- Why should people care about the Yosemite Valley?
- List three interesting facts about Yosemite.
- Is the purpose of a national monument/park to preserve the environment or provide access
for people to enjoy the park?
After you have answered the questions, go to the proposal
maker to begin creating your public service announcement.
The Process
Television Announcement
Get together with your group members and develop a skit that expresses why people
should support your cause. If you have access to a video camera, you might try taping your
skit. Remember, television is a visual medium, so pictures, graphs, props, and videos are
your best resources. Good Luck! The environment is counting on you.
Radio Announcement
Develop an announcement that vividly expresses your issue. If you have a tape recorder,
make a recording of your announcement. Remember people can't see you, so you will need to
find items that make the sounds you will need to convince someone that your topic is
important.
Editorial Announcement
Write a letter to the editor or create a cartoon that tells the story behind your
issue. You don't have the luxury of sound, so your words must be vivid. How about
turning it into your local paper.
Internet Web page
Use Filamentality to create a Web
page that supports your topic. Carefully follow the directions provided in
Filamentality, and you will successfully create your page. Include a link to the
Web site you used to gather your information.
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