Science project due on 1/14/2011

Dear Respected Parents:
I have decided to assign a Science Project to wrap up the unit on habitats and ecosystems. This project will take the place of the unit test so it will be a 50 point summative assessment. According to the State of Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations student must be able to do a research project on their own and present it to an audience. Students will need to do the following:

• Choose an ecosystem or a habitat. Examples are: pond, tree, forest, nest, under a rock, marsh, swamp, tropical rain forest etc. These are only examples, students may choose one that is not listed above.
• Remember an ecosystem is made up of consumers, producers, and decomposers that depend on each other to live.  If students decide to choose and ecosystem they must describe the living things that live there and how they depend on each other. One way to do this is to draw a food chain. 
• A habitat is a living things home. A habitat can be as small as a birds nest or as large as the ocean.
• Students can use a poster board and draw or make a collage. 
• Students can also use a shoe box and create a diorama of their habitat or ecosystem.
• Students can also use a coat hanger to make a mobile of their habitat or ecosystem.

Students will also be required to write an informational piece on their habitat or ecosystem.

The informational piece should include the following:

• A description of the habitat or ecosystem in detail.
• Name and describe at least 3 plants and 3 animals that live their.
• According to Islamic teachings, what is our responsibility towards living things in our community (You can incorporate hadith and Quran in this part of your informational piece.

The grading ruberic for this project will be based on the following:

Presentation: (posterboard, shoebox, mobile etc.): 15 points

Informational Piece: 20 points

Presentation in front of the class: 15 points

I will not assign any extra homework assignments for this whole week in order to allow students enough time to gather information and do the best job they can on this project. All spelling and math will be done in class. There will still be a spelling test this Friday and I will send home a spelling list for practice however there will be no written homework for home.

Parents: I want this project to be done by students independently, you and I will serve as guides and references to offer advice and show them how to research and where they can gather information from. All writing, and presentations should be done mostly by the student alone.  If your child is having trouble with any aspect of this project I will stay after school on Wednesday until 5 to help. Also, they can bring their questions or concerns to me during class at any time and I will help them.

Class presentations will take place, this Friday morning starting at 9:00. Parents are invited to come and watch the students give their oral presentations to the class.

Thank you so much for always being supportive and helpful. Each and every one of you has truly enriched my teaching and have made it worthwhile. I can be reached at 313-740-0546 or at maha.mustafa1971@yahoo.com. 

Respectfully,

Sister Maha