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Habitat Project Digital Science Journal

A habitat digital project is a great way to inform people about a habitat or an ecosystem. It can be used to share facts with other people. A digital presentation can be a plus in a making presentation regarding protecting a habitat, in illustrating a problem, in showing changes or in advocating for helping a species.

Examples: Watershed Documentary | SciVi Field Trips @EstuaryLive | Habitat journal process

Use a digital camera and/or a digital camcorder to make a photo science journal regarding a fields, meadow or fencerow habitat.

Include at least one "page" for each:
Habitat, Birds, Mammals, Insects/butterflies, Plants, Trees, Location of area on a map.

Then dig deeper into at least one of the topics.

Be sure to include scientific facts on each "page".

Answer this essential question: Explain why this habitat or an animal living in the habitat is a vital part of the ecosystems around your home, your school and your community. What would the loss of it mean to you?

Important Advice for Videographers.

Discover what you need to know to make a digital media project starts page 10

Plan ahead. Use a worksheet to organize your work. pdf version | doc version
Multimedia Project Planning Worksheet

Write a script.

Take/find the photos or shoot the video.

Adjust the script for unplanned, opportune additions.

Always be safe. Contrary to what you may see on TV, no cool or humorous shot is worth getting injured.

Here are the guidelines for the project

1. Use Microsoft Photo Story (free) or Apple's iMovie to create the show.

camera Read the tutorial: Tech learning's PhotoStory Tutorial or Photo Story tutorials by David Jakes.

camera Watch the iMovie tutorial | iMovie 08 tutorial | Create an iMovie Project | Support

camera iMovie tips and tutorials camera Using photos in iMovie tutorial

camera Begin with an idea and a storyboard | iMovie storyboard form | Storyboard 2

camera Movie rubrics - Rubric 2 | Rubric 3 | Video Project Rubric | MYO Rubric

2. Your project should begin with a title and an introduction.

It must contain at least 10 photos or images. The project should be no longer than 10 minutes.

3. If you use someone else's photos or images, an attribution slide must be included at the end of your project. Other people's photos must be licensed under Creative Commons or be public domain materials.

4. Take your photos. Read Tell the story in pictures.

  • If you plan to include people's faces, get their permission, first. Respecting each person's privacy is a vital human right. (Notice how the kids at Richie's school who made life 'round here projects, avoided clear shots of people's faces.)
  • What is your school's policy about taking photos of students in school? Find out.
  • Generally, photos of people taken out of school in public places may not require special permission.
  • It is always best to learn the laws and rules in your area or state BEFORE you take photos.

Always take a few more photos than you anticipate needing. It is much easier to delete an extra photo, than to need one at the last minute.

camera Here are great tips about taking photos.

5. Narrate the story.

6. Use the same transition throughout your whole project. I know it is hard to choose. But having several kinds of transitions can make your project look messy.

7. Music is not required. Only instrumental music may be used. Music is included in Photo Story. Other music must be licensed under Creative Commons or public domain. You must prove this by showing the download link or the cd.

What's with all these rules? You may want to publish your creation on the Internet or show it outside of your classroom. If you do that, it must abide by copyright laws. It is best to build your project within those rules from the start. Additionally, some people have religious or personal objections to having their picture taken. We should all respect that. Period.

8. Proof read your digital project. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets worck. smiling icon

 

Done Already? Excellent!

You get an additional mission. Make a photo essay of the class doing the project. Or make a how to using photos, text, sound and video for your classmates. Demonstrate the steps for making a digital photo slide show project. Include one totally terrific tip.

Resources:

The Center for Digital Storytelling

FlickrLilli

Educational rap music - the other three r's WOW!

Explore the Wired Science student online videos

YouthLearn Project resources

The Fundamentals of Digital Storytelling

Pics4Learning - copyright friendly for use in education projects

LearningElectric - on demand tutorials that build skills

Copyright friendly images - Wikimedia Commons

Public Domain images links

butterfly icon Fields, Meadows, and Fencerows : Habitat / Mammals / Birds / Insect - Butterflies / Trees & Plants - Milkweed & Monarchs

Populations Status in your state | Fields, Meadows & fencerows photos | Conclusions

Other Digital Learning Projects:

Winter Song Story Project Alphabet book about your state or community project
Best Treat of All - bird book online Sell your town - Why should someone move to your town?
GIS Map & Inventory the Trees in your community Look into your Community's Past project - problem based learning
Bluebirds Project Student Handbook Presentation
Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly Mania Web site Evaluation
Citizen Science Projects Fields, Meadows and Fencerows eGame - how to

Problem Based Learning / Civics / Internet Hunts / Nature / Computers / Pennsylvania Projects / Puzzles & Projects / Mrs O's House

developed by Cynthia J. O'Hora Posted 7/2008, Updated 3/2011, 11.2013
Released to public domain in honor of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak who have always challenged conventional thinking.
In doing that, they have changed our lives for the better.

The goal of this web project is to inform people through research while employing higher order thinking skills. This study unit encourages the use of free Internet information resources. Activities develop writing, information literacy, technology and mathematics skills. The resources posted here may be freely adapted or modified to meet each student's unique skills or interests.

Aligned with Pennsylvania Academic Standards: Reading, Writing, Science & Technology, Ecology & Environment, Mathematics, Geography, Career. Aligned with National Academic Standards: Technology, Science, Geography.