Go Fund My Phyla: Life Science Invertebrate Student-Led Research & Presentation

Engage Your Students with "Go Fund My Phyla" Assignment - A Dynamic Invertebrate Research Project

Transform your classroom into a hub of scientific inquiry with our captivating "Go Fund My Phyla" assignment, designed to empower students as they delve into the fascinating world of invertebrates. This student-led research project encourages critical thinking, research skills, and a hands-on approach to ecological problem-solving.

Project Overview: "Go Fund My Phyla" challenges students to select a specific invertebrate species and conduct in-depth research on its significance within local ecosystems. Whether exploring the positive impact of a native invertebrate or identifying the need to eradicate an invasive species, this assignment fosters a deeper understanding of ecological balance.

Guided Research Prompts: The assignment provides carefully crafted guided research prompts, steering students through comprehensive investigations. These prompts cover essential aspects, such as the invertebrate's role in the ecosystem, its habitat requirements, and the potential threats it faces. Students gain a solid foundation of knowledge, laying the groundwork for informed decision-making.

Solutions-Based Planning: Encourage your students to think beyond the research phase by challenging them to create solutions-based plans. Whether proposing conservation measures to protect a crucial invertebrate or developing strategies to eradicate an invasive species, students actively contribute to the preservation of local ecosystems.

The assignment is broken down into sections to help "chunk" this large research into more manageable pieces (Ideal for students with executive functioning needs). This also allows teachers to provide feedback throughout the assignment, making it more manageable for your teaching load. When I use this assignment, I am able to provide feedback and "grades" section by section, which helps students work to improve as they go through the assignment.

You can culminate this project with students "pitching" their plans to potential investors, which provides another opportunity for your students to demonstrate their ability to communicate these ideas clearly.

Each section is also conveniently connected to BC curriculum learning outcomes, making it very easy for you to report on these competencies.