1. Arabia Mountain High School Ninth Grade Investigation
(First Nine Weeks)

2. Ninth Grade Investigation Project
You will investigate plants and herbs that are native to the Arabia Mountain community and determine their sustainability as affected by:
A. Weather Conditions
B. Population Growth/Decay
C. Animal Wildlife
D. Human Intervention

3. Planning Choose plant/herb History and Information of Plant/Herb
Determine a question (sustainability)
Come up with hypothesis

4. Research Plants/herbs connection to Arabia Mountain
Discuss sustainability (population growth/decay)
Weather Conditions
Animal Wildlife
Human Intervention
Actions to increase, decrease, or maintain population

5. Presentation Each group is going to make a scrapbook page
Your page will include:
Math: charts, graphs, data analysis
ELA: writing
Art: creativity, artwork, overall aesthetics
Science: scientific method, cladogram (natural system)
Social Studies: timeline (social system)
You can access the grading rubric for the scrapbook on our Arabia Mountain Website

6. Rubric CATEGORY Exemplary (4) Accomplished (3) Developing (2)
Beginning (1)
Presentation
Uses rich, varied, and appropriate vocabulary and grammar. Captivates the audience with effective verbal cues and body language and maintains excellent eye contact. Clearly defines the topic. Presents ideas and information with logical sequencing and smooth transitions. Uses well-crafted A/V supports.
Selects words appropriate to the audience uses appropriate grammar. Engages the audience with appropriate verbal cues, eye contact, and body language. Clearly defines the topic. Presents logical transitions. Uses A/V supports.
Selects many words appropriate for the audience and mostly appropriate grammar. Engages the audience with some appropriate verbal cues, eye contact, and body language. Defines the topic. Presents some logical transitions. Ineffective use of A/V supports.
Uses inappropriate or simplistic vocabulary and makes consistent grammar errors. Engages in numerous distractions and does not make effective use of verbal cues, eye contact, and body language. Does not clearly define the topic. Exhibits lack of planning and organization resulting in a confusing presentation. Lacks A/V supports.
Writing
Thesis is insightful and clearly stated. All ideas are fully developed and support thesis. Varied sentence structure with smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs. No grammar or spelling errors.
Thesis is clearly stated. All ideas are developed and support thesis. Correct sentence structure with transitions between sentences and paragraphs. No more than 3 grammar or spelling errors.
Thesis is stated. Some ideas are developed and support thesis. Correct sentence structure, but transitions between sentences and paragraphs are missing. No more than 7 grammar or spelling errors.
Thesis is not stated. Ideas are not developed and/or do not support thesis. Incorrect sentence structure with limited or no transitions. More than 7 grammar or spelling errors.

7. Rubric continued… Graphs / Tables / Data Analysis
2+ forms of data correctly displayed with correct data analysis.
2+ forms of data correctly displayed with no data analysis; or one form of data correctly displayed with correct data analysis.
One form of data correctly displayed with no data analysis.
No tables, graphs, or other data displayed (or incorrect data displayed). No data analysis included.
Timeline / Phylogenetic Tree
A timeline or phylogenetic tree is included with at least 6 dates (timeline) or branches (phylogenetic tree).
A timeline or phylogenetic tree is included with 4-5 dates (timeline) or branches (phylogenetic tree).
A timeline or phylogenetic tree is included with 1-3 dates (timeline) or branches (phylogenetic tree).
No timeline or phylogenetic tree is included.
Scientific Method
All 6 steps (state the question, gather information, create hypothesis, design and conduct an experiment, display data/tables/results, and draw a conclusion) of the scientific method are included and displayed.
4-5 steps of the scientific method are included and displayed.
2-3 steps of the scientific method are included and displayed.
0-1 step(s) of the scientific method are included and displayed.
Aesthetics
One page front-and-back (or 2 pages) that can be included in a scrapbook with other work. Title shown on both sides/pages. Display is fun/creative and includes 3+ pieces of artwork relating to the project.
One page front-and-back (or 2 pages) that can be included in a scrapbook with other work. Title on at least one side/page. Display is fun/creative and includes 1-2 pieces of artwork relating to the project.
One page that can be included in a scrapbook with other work or two pages that cannot be included in a scrapbook with other work. Title is included on at least one page. Display has no artwork relating to the project.
One page that cannot be included in a scrapbook with other work.

8. KEY DATES Week of September 16th
Field trip to Arabia Mountain itself!
Speakers from the community 
   coming to your advisement class to 
   offer insight on the Arabia Mountain community!
Projected date for group presentations:
December 2, 2019!!! 
** During the field trip and presentations, keep your specific project in mind!  Learn all you can from the subject matter experts in the community!**

9. Guiding Questions
How have the natural systems in the Arabia Mountain community changed over time?
Why are these plants and herbs important?
How can these plants/herbs be used?
* natural systems are the interaction of plants and * animals with their environment

10. Video
A Forest Garden With 500 Edible Plants Could Lead to a Sustainable Future
 Think about this guiding question as you watch the video:
How have the natural and social systems in the Arabia Mountain community changed over time?

11. Things to Remember Hypothesis
Create a hypothesis based on research and observations about your chosen factor.
Remember: “A tentative statement for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.”

12. Things to Remember Prediction
This is an “If, then” statement relevant to your hypothesis
What do you expect to find?
Ex. If I study hard and turn in all of my work, then I will make a great grade.

13. TBD Problem-solving plan
You will be performing some sort of experiment to prove or disprove your hypothesis/prediction.
Design an experiment, and write the steps for your experiment in this column.

14. Questions???

15. TASKS FOR TODAY Create a Group 1-3 people
Create a shared folder on Google
EIC Project: Plant/Herb – Last Names
Look up vegetation at Arabia Mountain
Choose a Plant (2 groups to 1 plant)
Pick a more common one if possible