Food and Agriculture
Issues in Ecology
Fall 2011
Project Guidelines and Requirements
Presentation Sections
*The only words that may appear on slides or visuals are to be in the
titles.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What is food?
How does Mother Nature make food (in other words, how do
ecosystems work)?
How do human societies make food?
Book Review(s)
Identify an issue with the modern food and fiber system and offer
suggestions to remedy that problem.
What is health?
Other*
*Other is not required
Requirements and Expectations
Defining food. Each group, at some point in the
presentation, will offer a definition of ‘food’
that captures the broad meaning necessary in
an ecological perspective.
Requirements and Expectations
How do ecosystems work? I will provide two
slides to be inserted into your presentation
that model ecosystem structure. Groups are
responsible for explaining every aspect of
these models accurately at the GSHS Biology 1
level of understanding. Follow-up questions
on any portion of these slides are fair game
and will impact overall project grade.
Cell Physiology & The Six Kingdoms
PSN, CR and Food Chains
CR
CR
CR
PSN
CR
Requirements and Expectations
How do human societies make food? The spirit of
the project is to compare the way we do things to
the way nature does things. I will provide you
with a structural model ( a flowchart) that depicts
the linear production of our food and fiber
system. You must use this model in your
presentation. Additional resources for discussing
this aspect of the presentation include science
texts, films we watch in class, additional research
and activities, guest speakers (if you arrange for
them), etc.
Requirements and Expectations
Book Reviews. Each student in the class is expected to read a trade
book in its entirety. This includes members of groups who are
reading the same book reading circle-style. Each group member
will participate in the discussion of the book equally. There will be
an independent image in the presentation for each chapter of each
book. Each student will submit a completed reading journal on the
day of their group’s presentation that includes a written summary
of each chapter of the book. No two people think exactly alike, and
no two people bring the same background knowledge to or take the
same thing away from a reading. Your chapter reflections should be
as different as you are—even if you’re reading the same book. I will
not accept submissions that appear to have been done together.
The spirit of this part of the assignment is that each student read
and reflect on an entire book.
Requirements and Expectations
Issues and Suggestions: We are operating under the
assumption that modern industrial agriculture is not
sustainable. Because the vast majority of most people’s
food comes from this system it is an incomplete
presentation that does not discuss it at an informed level of
knowledge. (This includes the fiber aspect of modern
agriculture, as well.) The issues are tremendous, huge.
And because we all play a role in the system and because
we are all presently (or are becoming) informed on the
issues, we are all obliged to try to change it to the best of
our abilities. Suggestions must be practical for the average
citizen to understand and implement, and compelling
enough to want to implement into her or his life
immediately.
Requirements and Expectations
Defining health. Each group, at some point in
the presentation, will offer a definition of
‘health’ that captures the broad meaning
necessary in an ecological perspective.
Not required, but maybe expected
• Other