Driving Question: How can a space station biome allow organisms to exist interdependently and provide a habitat for humans that will sustain them indefinitely? A Project-Based Learning Experience

Collaborative Groups: Size 5 groups of 3 students for each biome: Deciduous forest Desert Grassland Taiga (evergreen forest) Tropical rainforest Tundra

Collaborative Groups:Homerooms Homerooms which share a common science class time will be merged to form groups. Both homerooms must be represented in each group. Kasprowicz and Susa Klink and Schiellack

Science Class Schedule Mondays and Wednesdays: FOSS Science labs and Concept or Skills Seminars Tuesdays and Thursdays: Space Station biome work time. The last 15 minutes of each work day will be team meeting time. Team members work on their own the rest of the time. Fridays: FOSS or Space Station biome work time as needed.

Collaborative Groups: Getting Started Students form their own groups by January 10th. Group Contract and roles sheet is due at the end of group work time on January 10th.

Collaborative Groups: Tasks Answer the Driving Question Conceptual / Physical model of their biome design (just their biome) Conceptual / Physical model of their Space Station design (the entire station) Complete a group passport to give evidence of proficiency in assessment targets Multimedia Presentation for the Space Station Review Board Live presentation to the Space Station Review Board

Concept Seminars: Sample topics Food chains and food webs of ecosystems Symbiotic relationships of organisms What is your carbon footprint? Range of tolerance Predators and prey Animal endangerment and extinction Closed ecosystems

Skills Seminars: Sample Topics Forming a collaborative group Decision-making within a collaborative group Conflict resolution within a collaborative group Task and time management Video editing and production Multimedia tools as needed

Space Station Review Board (SSRB) Consists of Merton 8th graders, Mr. Rheineck, engineers and other staff member(s) SSRB will watch/review each group's multimedia presentation SSRB will select one group's design in each biome to be included in the final Merton Intermediate Space Station entry for NASA. SSRB will select the best design for the entire space station design for the final Merton Intermediate entry for NASA.

Assessment Targets: Science Standards Science Connections: Develop an understanding of science connections using models Life and Environmental Science: Develop an understanding of how life is affected by the environment Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for 6th Grade Language Arts - Informational Reading and Literacy

Assessment Targets: CCSS Writing: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. Reading for Key Details (Information): Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Assessment Targets: CCSS Reading for Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Integrate information presented in different media or formats as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic.

Assessment Targets: The 4 C's Collaboration - Rubric Creativity - CCSS Writing Critical Thinking - CCSS Reading & Writing - See slide 11 Communication - CCSS Literacy Produce a clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.

Assessment: Standards Passport Prior to the first biome presentation the week of January 28th, each group must complete a Biomes Standard Passport. The left column names the standard. Group members complete the middle column together to list everything the group has done to prove proficiency in each standard Group members should rate themselves and circle the proficiency level they have attained together

Assessment: Grades The following items will earn points toward each student's science grade. The group will earn one score for each item, however, individual performance within the group can decrease or increase a student's grade. When the group evaluations are submitted each science teacher may adjust individual grades according to group evaluations as well as teacher and SSRB observations and feedback. Conceptual / Physical Model Multimedia Presentation Script for live presentation

Timeline for Phase 1 January 8: Kick Off Event Week 1: January 8 - 11 Groups Work on their biome proposals Week 2: January 14 - 18 Week 3: January 21 - 25 Groups Work on their biome proposals Week 4: January 28 - February 1 Groups present their first draft of biome proposals Week 5: February 4 - 8 Groups revise their biome proposals Week 6: February 11 - 15 Groups revise their biome proposals and present their final designs to the Space Station Review Board (8th graders and Merton staff) Winners Announced February 18th

Timeline for Phase 2 Collaboration with 8th Graders Week 7: February 18 - 22 6th and 8th Graders collaborate on final space station design for NASA contest. Week 8: February 25 - March 1 6th and 8th Graders collaborate on final space station design for NASA contest March 4th: Merton Intermediate Space Station design and document is due for NASA contest.

FOSS Science Labs and Test Remaining FOSS Labs in our Environment unit: Water Tolerance Aquatic Environments Brine Shrimp Hatching Salt of the Earth FOSS review and test: By the end of third quarter