(Picture of the view from Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Compliments from Boyce Thompson Arboretum)

		Introduction
Overview
					Task
			Student Roles
	Questions			Process

Presentation		Conclusion
	Evaluation

Overview

In conjunction with the Bryce Thompson Arboretum, students will discover the importance of an arboretum. Students will see how the benefits of a controlled environment help researchers learn more about specific animal and habitats needs.

Writing Strand 3, Concept 4

Persuasive writing is used for the purpose of influencing the reader. The author presents an issue and expresses an opinion in order to convince an audience to agree with the opinion or to take a particular action.

Science Strand 3, Concept 1

Describe the interactions between human populations, natural hazards, and the environment.

PO 2- Propose a solution, resource, or product that addresses a specific human, animal, or habitat need.

PO 3. Evaluate the possible strengths and weaknesses of a propose solution to a specific problem relevant to human, animal, or habitat needs.

Introduction

Boyce Thompson was a stock market tycoon who decided to settle down and enjoy life in Arizona. Boyce Thompson decided to create an arboretum to study the plants of desert countries and make it available to the public. His efforts have lead to more than 3,200 different desert plants from all over the world’s deserts. There are more than 230 bird species and 72 terrestrial species that occupy the arboretum as well. “The Mission of Boyce Thompson Arboretum is to instill in people an appreciation of plants through the fostering of educational, recreational, research, and conservation opportunities associated with arid-land plants." (Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 2006)(http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu)

Magma Ridge

Compliments of Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Compliments of Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Task

A group of you have just graduated College with a Masters in Biology. After visiting the Boyce Thompson Arboretum your group decides that they want to design an Arboretum for their neighborhood. Your group wants to design of an arboretum to help educate the local community on habitat and animal life. Unfortunately your group needs someone to give the project money so the idea can be completed. Your group needs to write a persuasive essay to a perspective benefactor so that the group is given money to construct your arboretum.

Questions

· What is the purpose of an arboretum? (I.e. benefits to the local habitats and animals)?

· What is the educational benefit of an arboretum to a community?

· What are the long term benefits of arboretums?

Student Roles/Titles

You will work in teams of three.

Person 1 : Researcher

Person 2: Designer

Person 3: Writer

Process

Research what an arboretum is, design how they look and find out how they are funded.

Directions:

Step One:

ü The Researcher with the help of its team need to answer the three questions above. Use the guides at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, books on Arboretums, and web sites about Arboretums.

Step Two:

ü The Designer with the help of its team need to design by drawing a rough copy of your arboretum. Make sure the plants and animals included are native to the habitat you choose.

Step Three:

ü The Writer with the help of its team need to write a persuasive essay to a perspective benefactor to help fund your arboretum.

o Be sure to include: Why an arboretum is needed in your community? How the arboretum will be helpful in your community? What are the long term goals of an arboretum in your community? Who will use the arboretums? Who will run the arboretum?

Plants at Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Compliments of Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Presentation

How to present your Persuasive Essay

ü As a group you will present the drawing of your group’s arboretum.

ü Then you will read your essay to the class.

Now the fun part:

Your classmates are the benefactors that you wrote your Persuasive Essay too. They decide if you wrote a convincing letter and decide if your project should be funded.

Gecko

Compliments of Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Resources

· http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu/

· www.azarboretum.org/

· Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Evaluation/Grading Criteria

Persuasive Essay

CATEGORY	Excellent 4	Good 3	Satisfactory 2	Needs Improvement 1
Understanding of Topic	The team clearly understood the topic in-depth and presented their information forcefully and convincingly.	The team clearly understood the topic in-depth and presented their information with ease.	The team seemed to understand the main points of the topic and presented those with ease.	The team did not show an adequate understanding of the topic.
Use of Facts/Statistics	Every major point was well supported with several relevant facts, statistics and/or examples.	Every major point was adequately supported with relevant facts, statistics and/or examples.	Every major point was supported with facts, statistics and/or examples, but the relevance of some was questionable.	Every point was not supported.
Presentation Style	Team consistently used gestures, eye contact, tone of voice and a level of enthusiasm in a way that kept the attention of the audience.	Team usually used gestures, eye contact, tone of voice and a level of enthusiasm in a way that kept the attention of the audience.	Team sometimes used gestures, eye contact, tone of voice and a level of enthusiasm in a way that kept the attention of the audience.	One or more members of the team had a presentation style that did not keep the attention of the audience.
Information	All information presented in the essay was clear, accurate and thorough.	Most information presented in the essay was clear, accurate and thorough.	Most information presented in the essay was clear and accurate, but was not usually thorough.	Information had several inaccuracies OR was usually not clear.
Organization	All arguments were clearly tied to an idea (premise) and organized in a tight, logical fashion.	Most arguments were clearly tied to an idea (premise) and organized in a tight, logical fashion.	All arguments were clearly tied to an idea (premise) but the organization was sometimes not clear or logical.	Arguments were not clearly tied to an idea (premise).

Compliments of http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

Conclusion

Answer the questions below to continue your quest.

Do you think arboretums have any disadvantages?

The members of your group were biologist, what other scientist could be useful to your project?

What type of people would you write to, in order to get your money?

Would you only make it an Arboretum or would you add additional features to your project?