Challenge

Our class has received an $500.00 donation from Amgen. We will use this money to study marine life by setting up and maintaining a saltwater aquarium. In groups of four investigate the type of fish that live in a salt water environment. Develop a persuasive multimedia presentation describing your group's proposal for which fish we should purchase for our aquarium tank.

Situation

Students will work in groups on the classroom computers in the computer lab and will present their multimedia presentation on the one computer in the classroom.

Interactions

The students will work in pairs to conduct the research and to create the database. They will work in small groups while creating the spreadsheet and the slide show.

Tools

Students will use computers in the lab, the one computer in the classroom and ClarisWorks to create a database, spreadsheet and slide show presentation. They will use the Internet, CD ROM's Encyclopedias, magazines and books to conduct research on saltwater fish.

Standards

This unit will address the standards in the following areas:

SCIENCE

• Understands how species depend on one another and on the environment for survival

MATHEMATICS

• Uses basic and advanced procedures while performing the process of computation

LANGUAGE ARTS

WRITING

• Gathers and uses information for research purposes
• Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions
• Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies for the writing process

READING

• Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies for reading a variety of informational text

SPEAKING and LISTENING

• Demonstrates competence in speaking and listening as tools for learning

Technology

• Demonstrates an understanding of social, ethical, and human issues related to technology
• Use technology to increase productivity
• Uses technology to increase communications tools
• Uses technology to conduct research
• Uses technology to solve problems and make decision

Technical Skills

Students will learn the following technology skills:

• Locate resources on the Internet.
• Create a database to store and organize information.
• Create a spreadsheet budget to calculate costs.
• Develop a multimedia presentation.

Assessment

Students will be assessed using rubrics in two areas: content and presentation. The content will be assessed for accuracy and depth of information, and their persuasive argument in favor of their proposal . The presentation will be assessed for the clarity and appearance of presentation.