Abstract:
Natural structures consisting of living and non-living elements living in a certain area and constantly interacting with each other are called ecosystems. The ecosystem consists of two elements. These are living things and non-living things. The living elements that concern us are producers, consumers, and decomposers. The richness of the creatures living in a region in terms of variety and number is called biodiversity.
Biodiversity is an important part of the ecosystem. In short, all living species living in a region constitute the biological diversity of that region.
During the pandemic period, our students stayed at their homes and their technology addiction increased. I aimed for our students to go out of their homes to get rid of their technology addiction and to stay away from crowded environments and pay attention to the diversity of life in their natural environment. In our project assignment, students will go out of their homes and take pictures of plants and animals in their gardens, neighborhoods or villages, and present examples of biodiversity.
We were inspired by the LS named “Plants and animals in the seasons” in Scietix resources.
I adapted the LS according to ourselves and the pandemic rules and gave my students a project assignment.
Students should be motivated to take pictures creatively. It should also present a biological phenomenon in a way that other students can gain new insights. The captured photographs will serve as a tool for discovering biological variation and should consist not only of beautiful images, but images that meet the biological content well. At the end of the project, students will make a presentation with the pictures they have taken on ecosystem and biodiversity.
Students’ age: 12 (Grade 6)
Duration: 15.03.2021 – 15.04.2021 (1 month)
Teaching materials
Offline:
Any camera technology can be used to take pictures. Use what is available. Cameras from mobile phones and tablets are the most available and have good quality. The lens is fixed but normally a digital zoom can be used. Old style compact cameras are very good because they normally come with a zoom lens which help to explore different framings more easily.
Assessment Scale:
| Title selection, sources of speech | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Developing and planning the content in accordance with the purpose | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Using clear, understandable language – Choosing words that fit the context | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Using connecting sentences in parts of speech and slide transitions | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Compliance with Powerpoint Presentation Preparation Rules-‘General Principles’ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Summing up the subject at the end of the narration | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Eye communication and use of body language – Ensuring the participation of the listeners | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Compliance with the time allocated for speaking | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
The restrictions came again due to the pandemic. Schools are closed again. Students could not make their presentations. Assessment will be made after presentations.