The goal of this series is to examine the pressures on the Pascagoula River and the danger that Mississippi may lose a natural treasure before residents grasp its value and appreciate the potential for long-term benefit.

Plans are divided into three sections to correspond with the three parts of The Sun Herald "Pascagoula in Peril" Three part series:

Week 1 Plans - Water

Week 2 Plans - Forests, Minerals and Wildlife

Week 3 Plans - Safeguarding Resources

These plans also correspond to Chapter 2 "Mississippi's Resources" in the state history textbook, Discovering Mississippi, Walthall Publishing, Skates, Sansing, and Wells.

The following Social Studies Framework Competencies are covered: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 3b, 3c, 3f, 4a, 4b, and 5b. (These are noted at the end of each objective.)

Lesson Plan 1 - Water

Instructional goal: To examine the pressures on the Pascagoula River and the danger that Mississippi may lose a natural treasure before residents grasp its value and appreciate the potential for long-term benefit.

Student Objectives

• A. Using prior knowledge, the student will be able to locate the Pascagoula River and its tributaries on a map of Mississippi. (4a)

• B. Using prior knowledge, the student will be able to locate the Gulf Coast region on a map of Mississippi. (4a)

• C. Using copies of The Sun Herald stories, the student will be able to analyze specific article relating to one aspect of the Pascagoula River in a group setting. (1b, 1c, 1d, 3b, 3c, 3f, 4b)

• D. Using copies of The Sun Herald stories, the student will be able to create a story- board reflecting specific article analyzed. (4b)

• E. Using storyboard, the student will be able to present specific article's information to class.

Instructional Strategies

Begin section by showing the first 20 minutes of the Mississippi Public Broadcasting documentary, The Singing River: Rhythms of Nature. (For those of you who have access to the Skate's text, instruct students to read Chapter 2, Section 1, "Water.")

• A. Distribute a blank map of Mississippi's River Systems.

a. Ask students to label the Pascagoula River and its tributaries.

• B. Distribute a blank map of Mississippi's Geographic/Topographic regions.

a. Ask students to label the Gulf Coast region.

b. Students may want to color in region with marker or colored pencil.

• C. Separate students into 5-7 groups, depending on number of articles presented during week one. You may have to create more groups or assign more than one article to a group if necessary. Individual groups will become experts on the article they are assigned.

a. Distribute Sun Herald articles from Part 1, A Priceless Heritage, to expert groups. (Behold a natural river; Treasure, UFOs and a river that can sing; Everybody knows everybody; living the easy life in a houseboat; River has its ups, and downs; Walter Anderson and the power of water, etc.)

b. Instruct students to read the article they were assigned aloud in each group. After reading, students will assign specific tasks to group members. It is recommended that students divide article evenly and work individually on analyzing information to be presented.

• D. Distribute large sheets of paper or poster board to groups. Encourage students to use creativity when creating storyboards that reflect information gleaned from articles.

• E. Groups will present storyboards to class, explaining articles' information.

Assessments

• A. Teacher observation and questioning.

a. Use pull down map of Mississippi or state map of Mississippi to verify student labeling.

• B. Teacher observation and questioning.

a. Use pull down map of Mississippi or state map of Mississippi to verify student labeling

• C. Rubric for information from article.

• D. Rubric for illustration/storyboard.

• E. Oral presentation rubric.

*C, D, and E rubrics can be combined.

Materials

The Sun Herald series, Pascagoula in Peril, stories from Part 1: A priceless heritage, a clip from the Mississippi Public Broadcasting documentary, The Singing River: Rhythms of Nature , a map of Mississippi, blank river system maps for students, blank topographic/geographic regions maps for students, paper for storyboards, tv/vcr, textbook, paper, pens and pencils and art supplies for storyboards.

Lesson Plan 2 - Forests, Minerals, Wildlife

Instructional Goal: To examine the pressures on the Pascagoula River and the danger that Mississippi may lose a natural treasure before residents grasp its value and appreciate the potential for long-term benefit.

Student Objectives

• A. Using the Mississippi Public Broadcasting documentary, The Singing River, The Singing River: Rhythms of Nature, the textbook, and The Sun Herald stories from Part 2, and, Discovering Mississippi, the student will be able to describe the ecosystem of the Pascagoula River Basin. (1a)

• B. Using the Mississippi Public Broadcasting documentary, The Singing River: Rhythms of Nature, The Sun Heralds', Paradise in Peril, Part 2: A river threatened, and the textbook, Discovering Mississippi, the student will be able to evaluate the Pascagoula River basin's ability to sustain a multitude of species. (3f)

• C. The student will be able to create a flowchart or pictogram to describe "A" and "B." (4b)

Instructional Strategies

• A & B. Begin by showing the second 20 minutes of Mississippi Public Broadcasting documentary, The Singing River: Rhythms of Nature.

a. Instruct students to read Chapter 2, Section 2, "Forests, Minerals, and Wildlife" in Discovering Mississippi.

b. Encourage students to take notes during film to be used in their description of the ecosystem and evaluation of the basin.

c. Briefly discuss the film clip and the section with students and begin to brainstorm about the ecosystem within the basin.

d. Distribute The Sun Herald stories from Part 2 to students. You will have to make copies of articles and make sure that students do not get duplicate articles in a "document pass." (For example, if there are 7 articles in week two, make 4 copies of each and alternate them throughout the room.)

e. Tell students they have 15-20 minutes to read the article and gather information for their description of the ecosystem and their evaluation of the River basin.

f. The article will then be passed and students will receive a different article. This will continue until each student has read and analyzed 4 of the seven articles.

• C. Instruct students to compile their data in a flowchart or pictogram.

Assessments

A. Teacher observation and questioning following film and reading.

B. Teacher observation and questioning following film and reading.

C. Rubric for flowchart and pictogram.

Materials

The Sun Herald series Pascagoula River Basin: A river threatened Part 2, (4 copies of each article), a clip from the Mississippi Public Broadcasting documentary, The Singing River: Rhythms of Nature , a map of Mississippi, tv/vcr, textbook, paper, pens and pencils.

Lesson Plan 3 - Safeguarding Resources

Instructional Goal: To examine the pressures on the Pascagoula River and the danger that Mississippi may lose a natural treasure before residents grasp its value and appreciate the potential for long-term benefit.

Student Objectives

Using the Mississippi Public Broadcasting documentary, The Singing River: Rhythms of Nature, and The Sun Herald, Paradise in Peril, Part 3: Preserving a treasure, Part III, and the textbook, Discovering Mississippi, the student will be able to design a "Student Action Plan" that gives specific plans for student involvement in this lifetime preservation effort. (1a, 1b, 1d, 3f, 5b)

Instructional Strategies

Begin by showing the last 20 minutes of the Mississippi Public Broadcasting documentary, The Singing River: Rhythms of Nature.

a. Instruct students to read Chapter 2, Section 3,"Safeguarding Mississippi's Resources" in Discovering Mississippi.

b. Encourage students to take notes during film to be used to develop their plan.

c. Briefly discuss the film clip and the section with students and begin to brainstorm about ideas on how they can play a role in the preservation effort.

d. Distribute The Sun Herald articles from Part 3 to students. You will have to make copies of articles for all students. You may want to read through the articles and select a couple to emphasize or possibly read to the entire class.

f. Instruct students to design a "Student Action Plan" that clearly outlines specific things they can do to participate in the preservation effort. Encourage students to think proactively.

Assessments

Student self-evaluation rubric & teacher observation and questioning.

Materials

The Sun Herald, series Paradise in Peril, Part 3: Preserving a treasure, a clip from the Mississippi Public Broadcasting documentary, The Singing River: Rhythms of Nature, tv/vcr, textbook, paper, pens and pencils and student imaginations.