Project Details
What is urban ecology?
How can humans create sustainable and efficient modern urban ecosystems?
Students will begin with whole class activities to learn the basic concepts of ecosystems and urban ecology. Students in each class will be paired up to research and write their articles. Each pair will be given a different topic. Since there are two classes of 28 students each, each class will create its own magazine with 14 articles.
First, students will complete a Pre-Assessment about urban ecology so that teachers can see what they already know. Students will begin with an introductory Powerpoint presentation from the teacher, using their Intro to Urban Ecology Notetaking Guide to take notes on the vocabulary and ideas presented. They will then participate in a class activity to learn about ecosystems using the handout Classwork #1: Ecosystem Investigation. This will guide them through a class investigation of different “ecosystems” and allow them to practice developing questions, hypothesizing, experimenting, and recording observations. Students will then read a series of articles to help learn about various topics related to urban ecology; they will also analyze the content and format of the articles using the Article Analysis Guide. After spending 1-2 weeks gaining background knowledge through these activities, students will complete a Crossword Review and take Urban Ecology Quiz #1 to demonstrate their understanding of the content.
- What an ecosystem is
- What the abiotic things are in an ecosystem: LAWS=land, air, water, sunlight
- Science Vocabulary: biotic, abiotic, “green,” sustainable, efficient
- What urban ecology is
- What green building is
- What sustainability and efficiency are (related to green buiding)
- Alternative transportation options
- Magazine production vocabulary: hook, headline, subheadings, quote, pull quote, statistics, captions, body copy, drop cap, column
- Principles of green building: use of natural materials, efficiency, on-site generation of renewable energy, reduction on environmental and human health impact, reduction of waste
- Why green building methods are important
- How various green building techniques work and can be implemented. (Possible assigned topics include: solar power and solar thermal, passive solar design, green roofing, permeable surface use, grey water collection and recycling, compost toilets, straw bale, cob, cordwood, adobe, earthship, bamboo, biodiesel fuel, hybrid cars, electric cars, ethanol as fuel, hydrogen fuel cells, permaculture
- How to write an effective introduction, or “hook” for their article to capture readers’ attention
- The process authors go through to publish their work
- How to be part of a magazine production team
- Write a magazine article about their assigned topic
- Create and design artwork to accompany their article
- Use Adobe InDesign to design a basic magazine layout
- Build a model to demonstrate how their technology works
- Inform community members about their topics on Exhibition Night
- Write, revise, edit, and publish an article about the green building technique they researched
- Use feedback from peers and teachers to improve and revise their work
- Be a supportive, efficient, and contributing member of the magazine production staff
- Meet deadlines as needed
- Capturing Reader’s Attention
- Creating A Headline(with Powerpoint for lesson)
- Examining Introductory Paragraphs
- Brainstorming the Introduction
- Magazine Terms Activity (with Powerpoint for lesson)
Week #
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Project Tasks
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1
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· Pre-assessment
· Introduce Project Requirements
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2
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· What is Urban Ecology?
· Ecosystem Investigation
· Homework and Quiz #1
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3
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· Staff Meeting
· Mission Statement
· Assign partners and topics
· Begin Research
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4
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· Research: complete Research Guide
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5
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· Write Article Draft #1
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6
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· Peer Revision
· Draft #2
· Effective Magazine Artwork Lesson
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7
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· Continue revision and editing of articles
· Tutorials: formatting and InDesign
· Begin work on original art to accompany article
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8
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· Peer Critique of Artwork
· Create article layout using InDesign
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9
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· Final InDesign Layout DUE
· Plan and build models to display on Exhibition Night
· Prepare to speak to public about topic
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10
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· Publish Magazine!
· Exhibition Night: Display work for community
· Final Quiz and Reflection
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- Design blueprints for their own green dream home or building
- Research and help build the class human-powered bike generator
- Design the magazine cover, be student editors, write the magazine introduction

Students show off their finished magazine.
Students show off their article in the finished magazine.
Example of finished student article.
Example of student’s original artwork for the class magazine.
Example of student’s original artwork for the class magazine.
Example of student’s original artwork for the class magazine.
Example of student’s original artwork for the class magazine.
Example of student’s original artwork for the class magazine.
Article Draft Template
This handout can gives students a template to follow to write their first drafts of articles.
Article Planning Guide
This handout will help students plan topics and organize information prior to writing their first draft of their articles.
Project Description for Students
This handout introduces students to the project and describes the tasks they will complete.
Useful Websites List
This handout lists websites students can use for research.
Urban Ecology In Depth Reflection
This article by Bobby and Nicole offers detailed reflections and insights into the project. (excerpt from book, “Learning by Design: Projects and Practices at High Tech Middle.”
Project Logo
This is the project logo.
Rubric for Final Magazine Article
This rubric can be used to evaluate students’ magazine articles.
Rubric for Models and Exhibition Night
This rubric is for evaluating the students’ models and their presentations on Exhibition Night.