The 2013 Cicada Invasion
Amy L. Mathis – Ditmas IS 62
INTRODUCTION:
Do you remember 1996? Chances are, you weren’t born yet. That was
the last time that the cicada invaded. Beginning very
soon, a 900-mile
stretch from Georgia to upstate New York will be covered in them.
John Cooley for the University of Connecticut told
NBC News, "It's fair to say it's starting, but it's
still in the very early stages. It certainly isn't going all crazy ... When it
really happens; it's not going to be like this. It's going to be shovel loads
of cicadas." The Brood II cicada is the species that will be emerging this
year. It spends 17 years feeding underground.
The young emerge from the ground to shed their outer skins and then
climb up trees, buildings or whatever else is available to climb on. You are going to investigate how
the cicada will invade your area!
TASK
You are part of a local investigating reporting group
following the Cicada Invasion that is about to occur in New York City,
including our school. It is your job
to gather all the facts to share on how our school can deal with these little
critters. You are well-informed on using
the Public Policy Analyst to analyze a problem.
Your task is to analyze the problems that these cicadas may create and
to develop policies through which your school can assist the larger
neighborhood surrounding Ditmas IS 62 to deal with the cicada invasion.
PROCESS
1. Create an investigative reporter
group of 3 students. This reporting
group will be working together on your PPA and creating your neighborhood
information poster. Each group will
create 2 posters and create a verbal message to your community about the 2013
Cicada Invasion.
2. You will follow the steps of the PPA to analyze the problem and research
solutions of how people will deal with the cicadas. Worksheets and resource links will be
provided. All worksheets must contain
each reporters name and will be collected.
a. Describe what types of problems the cicadas will cause WS #1.docx
b. Gather evidence that the cicadas will be arriving in your area and what
type of problems that they will cause WS #2.doc
c. Identify the causes of the cicada invasion WS #3.doc
d. Evaluate several solutions that will help your community live with the
cicadas. WS #4.doc
e. Decide on possible solutions to
help your neighbors who will suffer from the invasion WS #5.doc
f.
Choose 2 of the best ways to deal with the
cicadas WS #6.doc
3. Use all of the information that you investigated. Take a look at your worksheets and use the
information to create a 30 second public service announcement that will inform
your community about Cicadas.
4. Create 2 posters (mode of your choice) that will be on display
throughout your community that suggest ways to deal with the cicada invasion.
5. Be ready to share your PSA and posters in an auditorium assembly for the
Ditmas JHS community. After all, the
cicadas will be arriving here too!
6. Have fun researching and learning about this – as it will not happen
again for another 17 years! Where will
you be then?
RESOURCES
Cicadas 2013: Here Comes Brood II
Are cicadas safe to eat? - Cicada Mania
Some tips on dealing with cicadas
EVALUATION
The following rubric will be used to score your work.
CONCLUSION
Congratulations! At
this point you have learned all about the cicada, why they emerge after 17
years, what problems they can cause in a community and developed solutions to
help your community deal with the invasion.
Kudos to you and your fabulous investigative reporting!
STANDARDS
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1 Demonstrate command of the
conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.2 Demonstrate command of the
conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when
writing.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.3 Use knowledge of language and
its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.6 Acquire and use accurately
grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases;
gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to
comprehension or expression.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.10 By the end of the year, read and
comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 6–8 text
complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.7 Evaluate the advantages and
disadvantages of using different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video,
multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea.
