Reducing the Human Footprint

Many countries are looking to make their environment more eco-friendly. In

science, you have been learning about ways to reduce the human footprint on
this Earth as a way to preserve the Earth. Several countries are developing
initiatives to combat the rise in air and water pollution, waste, use of natural
resources, and overall human impact on nature and the environment. What are
some ways in which countries all over the world are combating environmental
issues? Have they been successful in reducing the human impact? What kinds of
policy or initiatives have been successful or unsuccessful? Your group will be
researching a country of choice to determine how they are working towards
reducing the human footprint on Earth!

Learning Objectives:
I can research and identify one initiative that my country is implementing in hopes of
reducing the human footprint.
I can evaluate the initiative/solution to argue its effectiveness.
I can describe how the country of choice is a leader in the eco-friendly movement.
I can participate in the exchange of ideas (collaboration) through the use of digital
resources.
I can demonstrate digital citizenship and ethical use of information gathered and in
response to others.

Directions:
1. With your country group, research ways in which your country is working towards
reducing the human footprint. Pick ONE initiative to describe to the class to argue
that your country is the leader in the eco-friendly movement.

2. Post within Padlet (https://goo.gl/3KISFn) and be sure that the post includes the
following components:
a.) Includes a summary of one way your country is working towards reducing the human
footprint (Facts are well-chosen and interesting).
b.) Includes arguments of why you feel that this solution is innovative and necessary.
c.) Includes why you feel that this country is the leader in the eco-friendly movement.
d.) A visual (picture, video, or some other representation)
e.) Bibliography of two sources used.
f.) Anything else you feel is important for the class to know!

3. Then individually respond to another groups post about their country.

a.) State whether you agree or disagree with their assessment of their countrys initiative
and provide support as to why or why not.
b.) Ask a question for more information about the countrys efforts to reduce their human
footprint.
c.) Reply directly to the post using the comment section underneath the post.

4. Make sure to refer to the grading rubrics to ensure that your post and responses
meet all the requirements! Remember, I am evaluating how you collaborate with your
team as well as the content you are posting.

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 COLL ABORATION
Beginning
Takes I need to prepare for and join team
Responsibility discussions
I need reminders to do project work
My project work is not done on time
I need to learn how to use feedback
from others
Helps I need to cooperate with my team
the Team and help the team solve problems
I need to learn how to help make
discussions effective
I need to learn how to give useful
feedback to others
I need to learn to offer to help
others if they need it
Respects I am sometimes impolite or unkind
Others to teammates (may interrupt,
ignore others ideas, hurt feelings)
I need to learn how to listen to
other points of view and disagree
kindly
Responses to I do not respond to anyone on
others Padlet.
I do not offer timely or relevant
response to peers and is missing
several of the requirements:
c.) State whether you agree or
a.) State whether you agree or
disagree with their assessment of
their countrys initiative and
provide support as to why or why
not.
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RUBRIC
Approaching
I am usually prepared for and join
team discussions
I do some project work, but
sometimes need to be reminded
I complete most project work on
time
I sometimes use feedback from
others
I cooperate with the team but do
not help it solve problems
I usually help make discussions
effective, but do not always follow
the rules, ask enough questions, or
express ideas clearly
I give feedback to others, but it may I give helpful feedback to others
not always be helpful
I sometimes offer to help others if
they need it
I am usually polite and kind to
teammates
I usually listen to other points of
view and disagree kindly
I respond to one groups post.
My response is somewhat relevant My response is relevant to the
to the peers post but is missing one peers post and completely meets
of the requirements:
disagree with their assessment of
their countrys initiative and
provide support as to why or why
not.
Secure
I am prepared for work with the
team; I have studied required
material and use it to explore ideas
in discussions
I do project work without having to
be reminded
I complete project work on time
I use feedback from others to
improve my work
I help the team solve problems and
manage conflicts
I help make discussions effective by
following agreed-upon rules, asking
and answering questions, clearly
expressing ideas
I offer to help others do their work if
needed
I am polite and kind to teammates
I listen to other points of view and
disagree kindly
I respond to one groups post.
requirements:
e.) State whether you agree or
disagree with their assessment of
their countrys initiative and
provide support as to why or why
not.
2 0 1 3 B U C K IN S T I T U T E F O R E D U C ATI O N
 b.) Ask a question for more
information about the countrys
efforts to reduce their human
footprint.
PRODUCT
Organization My work is not organized, neat and
accurate.
Includes several errors in the
following that impede
understanding:
Spelling
Punctuation
Grammar
Project Is missing several of the project
Requirements requirements or information is not
thorough.
g.) Includes a summary of one way
your country is working towards
reducing the human footprint
(Facts are well-chosen and
interesting).
h.) Includes arguments of why you
feel that this solution is innovative
and necessary.
i.) Includes why you feel that this
country is the leader in the eco-
friendly movement.
j.) A visual (picture, video, or some
other representation)
k.) Bibliography of two sources used.
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d.) Ask a question for more
information about the countrys
efforts to reduce their human
footprint.
RUBRIC
My work is somewhat-organized,
neat and accurate.
Includes errors in the following that
occasionally impede understanding:
Spelling
Punctuation
Grammar
Is missing one of the project
requirements or information is not
thorough.
a.) Includes a summary of one way a.)
your country is working towards
reducing the human footprint
(Facts are well-chosen and
interesting).
b.) Includes arguments of why you
feel that this solution is innovative
and necessary.
c.) Includes why you feel that this
country is the leader in the eco-
friendly movement.
d.) A visual (picture, video, or some d.)
other representation)
e.) Bibliography of two sources used. e.)
2 0 1 3 B U C K IN S T I T U T E F O R E D U C ATI O N
f.) Ask a question for more
information about the countrys
efforts to reduce their human
footprint.
My work is well-organized, neat and
accurate.
Includes proper:
Spelling
Punctuation
Grammar
Completely meets project
requirements.
Includes:
Includes a summary of one way
your country is working towards
reducing the human footprint
(Facts are well-chosen and
interesting).
b.) Includes arguments of why you
feel that this solution is innovative
and necessary.
c.) Includes why you feel that this
country is the leader in the eco-
friendly movement.
A visual (picture, video, or some
other representation)
Bibliography of two sources used.
 References

3-5 Collaboration Rubric (CCSS Aligned) | Project Based Learning | BIE. (2017). Bie.org. Retrieved 17 April

2017, from https://www.bie.org/object/document/3_5

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