Name: ______Due Date: ______

Making a Commitment to Help Sustain our Ecosystems Assignment

Final Assignment/Project for Science Unit: Interactions in the Environment

The last assignment of this unit! During this science unit we have learned how ecosystems work and the importance of biodiversity in maintaining healthy ecosystems, which in turn directly affect humans. We have also learned how humans can negatively affect our environment which can mean bad things for humans in the long run! We have looked at “ecological footprints” and learned that as Canadians, we would need several Earths to provide the resources to support our lifestyle! Your final assignment is to demonstrate knowledge about how YOU can PERSONALLY reduce the size of your ecological footprint.

Assignment:

  1. Research ways that YOU PERSONALLY can help reduce your ecological footprint. You may use the websites I have listed on the reverse side or other websites. List 10 things you can do. Use the graphic organizer on the back of this sheet.
  2. Choose ONLY 3 actions that you would like to take.
  3. Trace your foot on a piece of paper and cut out the shape. List your 3 actions that you will do to help reduce your ecological footprint. Decorate your footprint and include your name. These footprints will be going up on display.
  4. *** Now the important part.... You must attach a separate piece of paper explaining how the actions you have chosen will help protect the environment. Be as specific as possible (e.g. it is not enough to say I will recycle plastic bottles to reduce landfills. You must state what plastic if made of, how long it takes to disintegrate, other dangers it may have to the environment, etc. and how it can be re-used if you recycle). Really find out how the lifestyle we live affects our Earth!

You must submit together:

  1. This paper with graphic organizer showing your original research with 10 ideas of how YOU PERSONALLY can make changes to reduce your ecological footprint.
  2. Your cut-out footprint with your three ideas. Footprint must include name and attractively display your actions.
  3. An explanation of each of your actionsin paragraph form. (refer to #4 above).

This assignment is worth 10% of your final mark for this unit. It will be assessed using the Science assignment rubric.

Research ideas at the following websites:

(You are welcome to use other websites as well!)

List 10 things you can start doing to reduce your ecological footprint. Then pick 3 of these ideas to research and complete the assignment.