Island Survival Project

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ISLAND SURVIVAL PROJECT (All of the following information was distributed to the students in class on Monday, September 24, 2007) ISLANDS ARE DUE ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2007!
Core Classes Handout
Pre-AP Classes Handout

OBJECTIVES:
Students will create an imaginary island using map features, resources and geographic features to identify the following:

bulletthe location of your island
bulletwhat makes your island unique (terrain & resources)
bulletwhy your island is best suited for survival

TEKS: 6.3A, 6.3B, 6.3C, 6.4B, 6.4D, 6.5A, 6.5B, 6.6A, 6.6B, 6.6C, 6.7A, 6.7B, 6.21B, 6.21C, 6.21F, 6.22A, 6.23A (please see the Scope and Sequence)

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
textbooks
world atlas
white poster board (student provided)
colored pencils or markers
ruler
GeoJournal
library books on human and physical geography

PROCEDURES:

bulletStudents are to plan and to draw an imaginary island. This should be a map of the island. Each island should feature at least eight (Pre-AP ten) landforms (see rubric). Along with geographic terms, include eight (Pre-AP ten) natural resources found on your island (no man-made features—again see rubric). Also state the absolute and relative location of your island.
bulletLabel all landforms on the island with fictitious names related to one theme. Add other map features: a compass rose, scale, lines of latitude and longitude, and a key or legend. Use your classroom resources for help. We will spend one day in the library to look at resources, and one day in the computer lab to gather resources.
bulletAfter all students have completed a final draft of their island, each student will write a paragraph to convince the class that their island is best suited for survival. Survival includes: food, water, shelter, and clothing.  

GRADING:
The survival paragraph will be counted as two daily grades.
The combined final product and supporting information will be worth two test grades:
1. Product: the map of your island
2. Presentation: present all of the information to the entire class.

 

ISLAND SURVIVAL PROJECT: Outline
See handout (as a Word document) for Core Classes and Pre-AP Classes

I. Location
II. Terrain and Resources
III. Survival
IV. Map Features

Your Planning Outline should use this format:

I. The location of your island.
        A. Absolute Location (coordinates)
        B. Relative Location

II. Terrain features and resources.
        A. Choose any 8 (Pre-AP-10) of the following landforms or water features, and include them on your island.
                1. bay
                2. canyon
                3. cape
                4. fjord
                5. delta
                6. gulf
                7. hill
                8. lake
                9. mountain
                10. plateau
                11. river
                12. plain
                13. valley
                14. peninsula
                15. strait
                16. tributary
                17. isthmus
                18. archipelago
                19. mouth
                20. coast
        B. Include 8 (Pre-AP-10) of the following resources, and label the locations where they can be found on your island. Explain how each one will be used.
                1. timber
                2. grain
                3. herd animals
                4. fisheries
                5. fruits & vegetables
                6. rookeries (nesting birds)
                7. sugar
                8. cotton
                9. flowing water
                10. rubber
                11. coffee
                12. tea
                13. coal
                14. iron ore
                15. oil & pitch (tar)
                16. gold
                17. diamonds
                18. stone (flint)
                19. fertilizer
                20. tin

III. Why your island is best suited for survival.
        A. Survival: explain in a paragraph how you are going to get the basics for survival listed below.
                1. food
                2. clothing
                3. shelter
                4. tools

IV. Other map features and common theme checklist.
        A. Map features
                1. Compass rose
                2. Scale
                3. Latitude and Longitude grid
                4. Key or legend
        B. Title (at the top of the map) and Common Theme

 

GRADING RUBRIC: also available as an Excel spreadsheet for Core Classes and Pre-AP Classes

Island Survival Project Rubric for Core Classes
CATEGORY 10 points 7 points 5 points 1 point
Title Title tells the purpose/content of the map, is clearly distinguishable as the title, and is printed at the top of the map. Title tells the purpose/content of the map, but is not located at the top of the map. Title tells the purpose/content of the map, but is not clearly distinguishable.  Purpose/content of the map is not clear from the title.
Common Theme  The theme of the project is unique, easily understood, and readily apparent. All features of the map, including the title, are consistent with the overall theme of the project. The theme is easily understood and readily apparent, and the map features have some commonality. The theme is easily understood and the map features have some commonality. The theme exists but is not easily apparent or understood.
Compass Rose Compass rose is clearly distinguishable, 100 percent correct and easy to find.   Compass rose is present but not completely labeled nor is it easy to find.     Compass rose is present but is labeled incorrectly.  Compass rose is missing.
Map Legend/Key Legend is easy-to-find and contains a complete set of symbols used on the island.  Legend contains an almost complete set of symbols used on the island.  Legend is hard to find, and is incomplete.  Legend is absent or lacks most symbols.
Scale All features on map are drawn to scale and the scale used is clearly indicated on the map. Most features on map are drawn to scale and the scale used is indicated on the map. Many features of the map are NOT drawn to scale even though a scale is indicated on the map. Many features of the map are NOT drawn to scale AND/OR there is no scale marker on the map.
Latitude and Longitude Grid Latitude and Longitude grid is present and measurements are accurate.  Latitude and Longitude measurements are present and partially correct.  Coordinate measurements are present but are labeled incorrectly.   Latitude and Longitude grid is missing.
Location The student has explained the island's relative and absolute location. Coordinates are listed.  The student has mentioned relative location but has not given absolute location. The student has mentioned absolute location but has not given relative location. The student has not mentioned absolute or relative locations.
Landforms The student has creatively tied together 8 of the landforms listed.  The student has included 6 landforms. The student has included 4 landforms.  There are 2 or less of the required landforms.  
Resources The student has creatively tied together 8 of the resources listed.  The student has included 6 resources.  The student has included 4 resources  There are 2 or less of the required resources.   
Creativity The student has creatively tied together 8 of the landforms listed, 8 of the resources listed, and has used critical thinking to produce a creative island.  The student has tied together 6 of the landforms listed, 6 of the resources listed, and has produced a creative island.  The student has tied together 4 of the landforms listed, 4 of the resources listed, and has produced an island.  The student has tied together 2 or less of the landforms listed, 2 or less of the resources listed, and has produced part of an island. 

 

Pre-AP Island Survival Project Rubric
CATEGORY 10 points 7 points 5 points 1 point
Title Title tells the purpose/content of the map, is clearly distinguishable as the title, and is printed at the top of the map. Title tells the purpose/content of the map, but is not located at the top of the map. Title tells the purpose/content of the map, but is not clearly distinguishable.  Purpose/content of the map is not clear from the title.
Common Theme  The theme of the project is unique, easily understood, and readily apparent. All features of the map, including the title, are consistent with the overall theme of the project. The theme is easily understood and readily apparent, and the map features have some commonality. The theme is easily understood and the map features have some commonality. The theme exists but is not easily apparent or understood.
Compass Rose Compass rose is clearly distinguishable, 100 percent correct and easy to find.   Compass rose is present but not completely labeled nor is it easy to find.     Compass rose is present but is labeled incorrectly.  Compass rose is missing.
Map Legend/Key Legend is easy-to-find and contains a complete set of symbols used on the island.  Legend contains an almost complete set of symbols used on the island.  Legend is hard to find, and is incomplete.  Legend is absent or lacks most symbols.
Scale All features on map are drawn to scale and the scale used is clearly indicated on the map. Most features on map are drawn to scale and the scale used is indicated on the map. Many features of the map are NOT drawn to scale even though a scale is indicated on the map. Many features of the map are NOT drawn to scale AND/OR there is no scale marker on the map.
Latitude and Longitude Grid Latitude and Longitude grid is present and measurements are accurate. Latitude and Longitude measurements are present and partially correct.  Coordinate measurements are present but are labeled incorrectly. Latitude and Longitude grid is missing.
Location The student has explained the island's relative and absolute location. Coordinates are listed.  The student has mentioned relative location but has not given absolute location. The student has mentioned absolute location but has not given relative location. The student has not mentioned absolute or relative locations.
Landforms The student has creatively tied together 10 of the landforms listed.  The student has included 8 landforms. The student has included 6 landforms.  There are 4 or less of the required landforms.  
Resources The student has creatively tied together 10 of the resources listed.  The student has included 8 resources.  The student has included 6 resources  There are 4 or less of the required resources.   
Creativity The student has creatively tied together 10 of the landforms listed, 10 of the resources listed, and has used critical thinking to produce a creative island.  The student has tied together 8 of the landforms listed, 8 of the resources listed, and has produced a creative island.  The student has tied together 6 of the landforms listed, 6 of the resources listed, and has produced an island.  The student has tied together 4 or less of the landforms listed, 4 or less of the resources listed, and has produced part of an island. 


Resources:

Holt, Rinehart, Winston  People, Places, and Change (red textbook found in classroom)
        "Earth", "Solar Energy and Latitude", and "The Seasons" Pages: 19-21
        "Water on Earth" Pages: 23-25
        "Winds and Ocean Currents" Pages: 37-41
        "Earth's Climate and Vegetation" Pages: 44-50
 

Maps that Will Help:

Images used by permission, National Maritime Museum, London


To log onto Mrs. Krenek's websites that she showed us in the Library, please follow these directions:

bulletGo to the Destiny library website: http://library.georgetownisd.org (no www.)
bulletClick on Forbes Middle School Library
bulletClick on the Catalog tab
bulletClick on Resource Lists on the left side
bulletClick on the Public Lists tab
bulletClick on the View button next to “Island Project”
bulletClick on the Online Resources tab to see websites
bulletClick on the title line or on the blue http link to open the website in a new window (Destiny will remain open in a separate window).
bulletYou will see a list of websites chosen to help you with your project. It says Greenberg, but we use it in Mrs. Jaubert Smith's class as well.
 

Other Good Websites to visit:
Factors Affecting Climate
Earth's Climate

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Last Updated:  06/10/08 02:21 PM