Project Learning Tree
“Loving it Too Much”
Standards-Based Questions
(6th-8th Grades)
Note: Designed to be used with the “Loving it Too Much” activity in the Project Learning Tree Activity Guide, pages 108-113. To find out about attending a PLT workshop to receive this Activity Guide, contact the PLT State Coordinator at 352-846-0848.
1) Reading
2) Writing
3) Math
4) Answer Page
Designed at the 2001 LEEF Conference
(League of Environmental Educators in FL)
by Nancy Deyrup, Archbold Biological Station, Denise R. Tomlinson (Florida Bat Center), Mike Malinka (Meadowlawn Middle), Rommel Sanchez (Learning Gate Community School), Dolly Cummings (Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center, Kris Whipple (Walt Disney World Animal Programs), and the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve (JEA & FPL)
For more Standards-Based activities, check out the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve’s Website at Http://pelotes.jea.com,
or call (904) 665-8856Project Learning Tree “Loving It Too Much”
Standards-Based Reading Questions
Based on the article “Problems in Paradise” on page 112
1. It is estimated that in the next 15 years the number of people who visit national parks will double. Which of the following is a positive affect of this increased visitation?
a) A large number of hikers using the parks’ trails.
b) An increase in the number of people camping in campers and tents.
c) A greater number of school groups picnicking at national parks.
d) More people will learn the value of nature.
2. Which of the following statements in NOT mentioned in the article as an argument for trying to protect our national parks?
a) The natural resources in parks belong to future generations.
b) People need places to go on family vacations.
c) National parks protect many historic homes and forts.
d) Parks contain important natural habitats for wildlife.
3. An increase in the number of park visitors is the main problem facing many national parks. What are some activities outside of the parks' boundaries that are also negatively affecting the parks? Use details and information from the article to support your answer.
Project Learning Tree “Loving It Too Much”
Standards-Based Reading Questions, continued
4. The title of this article is “Problems in Paradise.” Write to explain how the title represents the main idea of the article. Use details and information from the article to support your answer.
Project Learning Tree “Loving It Too Much”
Standards-Based Writing Prompts
1. Some people want to limit the access of cars, campers, motorcycles, and snowmobiles in our national parks. Think about other ways that large numbers of visitors could enter and move throughout the parks without these vehicles. Write to explain a type of transportation other than cars, campers, motorcycles, or snowmobiles that could be used by people visiting national parks.
2. During gas shortages and gasoline price hikes, many family vacations are either shortened or canceled. Think about some places near your home that you would like to visit. Write to explain some local places that your family could go for vacation instead of driving somewhere far away.
3. A visit to a park can mean different things to different people. Think about a time that you visited a national, state, or local park or other natural area. Write to explain your visit including things you did or saw while you were there.
4. A new park is being planned for your city. Think about the things you would or would not like to have at the new park including trails, thick forested areas, nature centers, picnic areas, baseball fields, boat ramps, etc. Write to persuade the city council to either keep the new park natural without any manmade structures or to include manmade structures in the new park.
5. Manmade structures like bridges, piers, roads, boardwalks, restaurants, and houses are often built in or near natural areas. Think about the last time you visited a natural area that had many manmade structures. Write to explain how the manmade structures positively or negatively affected your visit to the area.
Project Learning Tree “Loving It Too Much”
Standards-Based Math Questions
Use the information provided in the charts on page 110 to answer the following questions.
1. Acres and hectares are two units used to measure land. How many more hectares of land did the National Park Service hold on 1991 than in 1950?
(1 acre = 0.4047 hectares) Round your answer to the nearest whole number. Show your work.
2. Which set of years had the greatest increase in recreational visitors at National Park Service areas?
a) 1955 - 1960
b) 1965 - 1970
c) 1975 - 1980
d) 1985 - 1990
3. Which of the following inequalities best describes the number of visitors at national park areas in 1975, 1980, and 1985?
a) 1975 > 1980 < 1985
b) 1975 < 1980 < 1985
c) 1975 > 1980 > 1985
d) 1975 < 1980 > 1985
Project Learning Tree “Loving It Too Much”
Standards-Based Math Questions, continued
4. About 49% of National Park Service lands have been set aside as natural wilderness areas. In 1991, the Park Service held 80,275 acres of land. What is the total number of acres preserved as wilderness areas in 1991? Round your answer to the nearest whole number.
a) 3,933 acres
b) 39,335 acres
c) 40,000 acres
d) 393,348 acres
5. What is the approximate mean number of recreational visitors at all National Park Service areas from 1980 – 1990? Round your answer to the nearest tenth. Show your work.
Project Learning Tree “Loving It Too Much” – Answers
Writing
For All – Use the rubric for Florida Writes! – 6 points
1. LA.B.1.3.3, LA.B.2.3.1, LA.B.2.3.3
2. LA.B.1.3.3, LA.B.2.3.1, LA.B.2.3.3
3. LA.B.1.3.3, LA.B.2.3.1, LA.B.2.3.3
4. LA.B.1.3.3, LA.B.2.3.1, LA.B.2.3.3, SC.G.2.3.4, SS.C.2.3.5
5. LA.B.1.3.3, LA.B.2.3.1, LA.B.2.3.3
Math
1. Use the rubric for Short Response Math Questions – 2 points
MA.B.3.3.1
Example of a Top-Score Response
The correct answer is 22,521 hectares. Subtract the amount of land owned in 1950 from the amount of land owned in 1991 to get the difference, then convert acres to hectares.
80,275 – 24,598 = 55,677
55,677 x 0.4045 = 22,521 hectares
2. c) MA.A.3.3.3
3. d) MA.D.2.3.2
4. b) MA.A.3.3.3
5. Use the rubric for Short Response Math Questions – 2 points
MA.E.1.3.2
Example of a Top-Score Response
The mean number of visitors from 1980 – 1990 was 274.1 million. Add the attendance data for 1980, 1985, and 1990 and divide by 3 to get the mean. 300.3 + 263.4 + 258.7 = 822.4
822.4 ¸3 = 274.1
Project Learning Tree “Loving It Too Much”
Answers, continued
Reading
1. d) LA.A.1.3.1, Bloom’s Taxonomy Level one
2. b) LA.A.2.3.1, Bloom’s Taxonomy Level two
3. Use the rubric for Short Response Reading Questions – 2 points
LA.A.1.3.1, Bloom’s Taxonomy Level one
Example of a Top-Score Response
Some other problems in the national parks include wildlife being limited to the boundaries of the parks because of loss of habitat outside of the parks as well as pollutants from outside of the parks are entering the park area.
4. Use the rubric for Short Response Reading Questions – 2 points
LA.A.2.3.1, Bloom’s Taxonomy Level two
Example of a Top-Score Response
The title of the article is “Problems in Paradise” because many national parks provide a paradise-like protective environment for many plant and animal species and historical sites. Also, it’s like paradise because many people visit parks for relaxation and recreation. However, the national parks are beginning to have “problems” with too many visitors and other threats. This is a good title for the article because the main idea of the article is that these “problems” need to be solved so that national parks can remain like “paradise”.
Provided by the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve, JEA & FPL