Introduction
Our beloved Assata is an Eastern painted turtle.
We know she's friendly, curious, and that she loves turtle pellets and brine shrimp. There are, however many things we don't know about her. Does her habitat have everything she needs to stay healthy and happy? Is she really a she, or is she a he? Where do painted turtles come from? What would Assata do if she were a wild turtle? What role do painted turtles play in their ecosystem?
You're mission is to find the answers to these questions so that we can give Assata the best life possible and educate our school community about painted turtles.
Task
Your team will work on one of four tasks. You may complete more than one task, and you may complete the tasks in any order, but you MUST complete the task you are working on before moving on to the next task.
Task 1--Keeping Assata healthy and happy
You will do research to discover what Assata needs to be as healthy and happy as possible. If you discover that she needs a different kind of care, you will propose a new kind of care to your teaching team and them present your proposal to your class. If Assata needs additions to her habitat, you will come up with a proposal to procure these additions, and then carry out your plan.
Task 2--Learn more about Assata and about painted turtles
You will do research to answer the following questions:
Does her environment have everything she needs to stay healthy and happy? Is she really a she, or is she a he (how can you tell)? Where to painted turtles come from? What would Assata do if she was a wild turtle? What role do painted turtles play in their ecosystem?
Task 3--Teach Pioneer Springs about Painted Turtles
Make a poster, a video, a song... to teach the 5th grade, and others, about painted turtles
Task 4--You Tell Me
What did I forget? What do you want to know/ learn/ do about Assata or painted Turtles? How will you learn and/or do that? Write up a proposal and talk to Ms. Heidi about it
Process
Your team will work on one of four tasks. You may complete more than one task, and you may complete the tasks in any order, but you MUST complete the task you are working on before moving on to the next task.
Task 1--Keeping Assata healthy and happy
You will do research to discover what Assata needs to be as healthy and happy as possible. If you discover that she needs a different kind of care, you will propose a new kind of care to your teaching team and them present your proposal to your class. If Assata needs additions to her habitat, you will come up with a proposal to procure these additions, and then carry out your plan.
Step 1--Research
You may visit the following websites to research what Assata needs. Be sure to take written notes so that you can write an accurate plan and proposal.
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Turtles-Tortoises/Painted-Turtle/
http://www.theturtlesource.com/caresheet_painted_turtle.asp
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-eastern_painted.htm
http://amphibiancare.com/2005/06/12/baby-turtles/
https://tortoise.org/archives/chrysemy.html
The tortoise.org website has lots of great information about painted turtles. HINT--You may want to skim until you get to the section about turtle care.
Step 2--Plan
Think about how we care for Assata right now. Take a look at her habitat, at her food, and at her. Based on your research, make a list of the things we do well and the things we need to change.
Step 3--Propose
What do we need to change, and how can we do that? Using your list, write a proposal for:
A) things we need to change about how we care for Assata
B) things we need to add to/ remove from her habitat
1)Where would we get these things?
2) Who will pay for them?
3) How will we communicate about what Assata needs and why?
Once your proposal is complete, present it to Ms. Heidi. Remember, she will want to see a written proposal, she will want you to give her evidence to support your plan, and she will ask you difficult questions to make sure your plan is a good one.
Step 4--Act
After your proposal has been approved by Ms. Heidi, you will make it a reality!
Task 2--Learn more about Assata and about painted turtles
You will do research to answer the following questions:
Does her environment have everything she needs to stay healthy and happy? Is she really a she, or is she a he (how can you tell)? Where to painted turtles come from? What would Assata do if she was a wild turtle? What role do painted turtles play in their ecosystem?
Step 1--Research
You may visit the following websites to research what Assata needs. Be sure to take written notes so that you can create an accurate final product.
http://www2.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_painted_turtle.htm
http://srelherp.uga.edu/turtles/chrpic.htm
https://tortoise.org/archives/chrysemy.html
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Turtle-Tortoise-Species/Eastern-Painted-Turtle/
https://www.warnernaturecenter.org/animals/paintedturtle
Step 2--Plan
How can you share what you learned with your community? Think of an idea, write a proposal and share it with Ms. Heidi
Step 3--Act (see task 3)
Task 3--Teach Pioneer Springs about Painted Turtles
Now that you know more about painted turtles, what would you like to share with the Pioneer Springs community? What would be the most effective way to share that information?
Step 1--Research
You completed this in task 2.
Step 2--Plan
What would you like to share? Why? How would you like to share it?
Write a proposal for what you would like to share, why that information is important, and how would you like to share the information (with a poster? a presentation? a song? some other format?). Be sure to justify why the format you chose will be effective! Show your written proposal to Ms. Heidi. Be prepared to show her your research notes, and to answer difficult questions about your ideas.
Step 3--Propose
Present your proposal to Ms. Heidi
Step 4--Act
Create your presentation!
Task 4--You Tell Me
What did I forget? What do you want to know/ learn/ do about Assata or painted Turtles? How will you learn and/or do that? Write up a proposal and talk to Ms. Heidi about it
Credits
photo from:
https://www.warnernaturecenter.org/animals/paintedturtle
How Assata got her name:
She is named for Assata Shakur.
Assata - In her own words:
"My name is Assata ("she who struggles") Olugbala ( "for the people" ) Shakur ("the thankful one”).
I have been a political activist most of my life, and I have been living in exile in Cuba since 1984.
In the 1960s, I participated in various struggles: the black liberation movement, the student rights movement, and the movement to end the war in Vietnam."