Overuse of Natural Resources in NYS Class 4-404 Teacher: Kathleen Fitzgerald Email: KFitzgerald15@schools.nyc.gov
Introduction Natural resources play an important part in our daily lives. They are materials that are found in our natural environment. Some are essential for us to survive and others can help make our lives more pleasant and enjoyable. There are two types of resources - renewable and nonrenewable. Light, air, water, plants, animals, soil, stone, minerals, and fossil fuels are some common examples. We often take these things for granted and don’t think about how we use them, which can lead to abusing and overusing them. What would happen if we ran out of nonrenewable resources? What happens if we pollute our renewable resources? Use this WebQuest to find out!
	Task Due to your exemplary science background and critical thinking skills, you have been chosen to be on an Environmental Impact Task Force! You will be divided into teams of 4 members based on your unique skills to ensure your team’s success on this vital mission. You will spend the next few days becoming an expert on natural resources in New York, the harm of overusing these precious materials, and how to protect them. You will propose a solution that could help protect them to present in a format of your choosing - a slides presentation, formal letter, or poster board.
Process/Resources You will use the Public Policy Analysis to explore the problem and develop possible solutions. 1. Define the Problem 2. Gather Evidence 3. Identify the Cause 4. Evaluate the Existing Policy 5. Develop a Solution 6. Select the Best Option Day 1 - Build Background Knowledge Use the following resources to conduct your research to make sure you are able to give your expert opinions on the problem. StudyJams Science - Natural Resources Learn Bright - Natural Resources for Kids National Geographic Kids - New York Sciencing - List of Natural Resources in New York State Days 2&3 - Define the Problem and Gather Evidence The first step in solving a problem is recognizing that a problem exists! Use your new background knowledge to define a problem we will face if we overuse our natural resources. Reader's Digest - What Would Happen if World's Natural Resources Ran Out? New York State Conservationist for Kids Days 4&5 - Identify the Cause and Evaluate Existing Policy Now that we know the problem, we need to know what is causing the problem in order to fix it! Brainstorm some of the causes of the problem and look at the existing laws about natural resources in our state. Look for ideas to help solve the problem. Natural Resources Law - New York Day 6 - Develop a Solution and Select the Best Option There might be lots of ideas for how to solve this problem, but what is the best solution? Use your research and experience to decide what solution is most effective and most realistic. Days 7&8 Create Final Product Prepare your final product to display what you learned and how you used the PPA Process.
	Evaluation Your final product will be assessed using the rubric below. Use it to help make sure you include everything you need to do your best.
Conclusion You did it! I knew I picked the right Task Force to tackle such an important challenge. You should all be very proud of your hard work in completing your research and proposing a solution to help make New York State better for all of us.
	Standards Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) - NGSS Practices Practice 1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems Practice 6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions Practice 8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information