Activity

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1. Your instructor will take you to visit the site in question.Ý On this first visit you will complete a rough scale drawing of the site.Ý Suggested steps are: 
   • Draw a map of the area on graph paper (size specified by teacher).Ý Use north as top of page.Ý 
   • Include boundaries (roads, parking lots, train tracks, etc.), structures (include electrical and telephone lines), and biological components (animals need only be indicated either were they were seen on your first visit or were evidence of a burrow or nest exists).Ý 
   • Remember that this is a sketch that you will improve on later.Ý Try to be as accurate as possible though so that you will not have to make many more trips to the park.Ý The form of measurement to use is the human pace.Ý One long stride is approximately three feet.Ý Use a measuring stick in class to measure each otherís strides and find someone with as close to three feet as possible.Ý Ask this person to help you pace off the distances.
2. You will draw to scale as dictated by size of paper and include a scale indicator in lower left corner.Ý Color code for component types, and create legend in lower right corner.ÝÝ
3. Your group will be assigned a specific cycle (water, energy, nitrogen, carbon, oxygen) to explore in your discovery period. You may need to take several trips to the site to observe and gather details.Ý Your teacher will arrange these as group trips, although you may have to spend some time after school. After learning about your cycle at www.epa.gov, make sure all the important components of your cycle are on the map.Ý Then create a graphic explanation (using presentation software if available such as PowerPoint or Hyperstudio)  of how your group thinks the cycle is working in the area in question.Ý Create front views from all angles necessary to show the cycle in action.
4. From a hypothesis regarding how the new construction will effect your cycle in this area and include this information in your presentation.
5. Explain and demonstrate to the class how the your cycle is working in this area and explain your conclusions as to the effect new construction will have on this cycle.

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