Assessment & Standards

Let's explore the specific content and skills that we will be tapping into over the next two weeks.

Science Standards

6^th Grade Science (Virginia Standards of Learning)

6.5 The student will investigate and understand the unique properties and characteristics of water and its roles in the natural and human-made environment. Key concepts include: c) the action of water in physical and chemical weathering;d) the ability of large bodies of water to store thermal energy and moderate climate;e) the importance of water for agriculture, power generation, and public health; andf) the importance of protecting and maintaining water resources.
How Will We Approach These Standards With Our Work?In relation to our specific goals identified earlier, you will have time to learn from your teachers, UVA professors, and the world around you about the role that water plays in this ecosystem. -You will see how water shapes the property, nourishes life within the space, and how the land is impacted by the presence of water (and sometimes the lack thereof). -We will take time to explore the CSA on site and speak with the undergraduate volunteers and researchers about how they make use of water sustainably to continue with their work with the community. -As you work with the people who already manage aspects of Morven, consider how they conserve and protect their resources, particularly water, as they operate. Note key practices that could be beneficial as you approach your own project. 6.9 The student will investigate and understand public policy decisions relating to the environment. Key concepts includea) management of renewable resources;b) management of nonrenewable resources;c) the mitigation of land-use and environmental hazards through preventive measures; andd) cost/benefit tradeoffs in conservation policies.
How Will We Approach These Standards With Our Work?In relation to our specific goals identified earlier, you will consider how the community and regulations surrounding public policy impact the natural resources at Morven and around the Charlottesville/Albemarle area.-You will learn about and consider how renewable energy sources, like solar and wind power, could potentially influence your project. You will also think about what nonrenewable energy sources power the buildings at Morven and how we can limit their use.-With consideration to the biodiversity of life at Morven, you will consider how your work influences the environment at large and how it can interact with the current plants and animals that inhabit the area.-As you consider your thoughts on this natural area, think about how reasonable your conservation efforts are in completing your project. Think about how members of the community will respond to your idea with regard to its impact on the climate.
Next Generation Science Standards (National Standards)MS-LS2-4: Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.MS-LS2-2: Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.MS-LS2-5: Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
MS-ESS3-3: Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
MS-ETS1-3: Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
How Will We Approach These Standards With Our Practice and Assessment Strategies?In your field guide, your main method of reflection and documentation for this project, we will look for how you tie your background knowledge and your recently acquired knowledge about this ecosystem to your work. Your project advisor will check for understanding through your written work and will meet with you daily at Morven to help structure your design. He or she will consider how your ideas impact the environment at Morven and how they can influence the overall biodiversity of the space.
Your advisors will use embedded assessment tools, such as Sparkle Sleuths, when you have "a ha!" moments or when your work is reflective of innovation or conservation. Use these moments to consider how those moments could be reflected in your final product.
Your overall project will be be considered in whole during the Potluck and Pitch night on the last evening. You need to effectively explain your idea, how it influences the environment and community surrounding Morven, and the overall human impact. You will be assessed for your understanding of the natural resources, the biological components of the area, your ingenuity, and overall aesthetics of your poster/trifold/etc.

Social Studies Standards

US History to 1865 (Virginia Standards of Learning)

USI.3 The student will apply social science skills to understand how early cultures developed in North America byb) locating where the American Indians lived, with emphasis on the Arctic (Inuit), Northwest (Kwakiutl), Plains (Lakota), Southwest (Pueblo), and Eastern Woodlands (Iroquois); andc) describing how the American Indians used the resources in their environment.
How Will We Approach These Standards With Our Work?In relation to our specific goals identified earlier, you will learn from experts both from Morven and the University of Virginia about the native cultures that once used this land.-You will consider the specific tribes that lived there and how their interactions shaped the culture and use of the space.-Using historical texts and research, you will find how these past civilizations used the resources of the area and what conservation practices worked. Think about how they harvested food, found water, and interacted with their environment.
USI.4 The student will apply social science skills to understand European exploration in North America and West Africa bya) describing the motivations for, obstacles to, and accomplishments of the Spanish, French, Portuguese, and English explorations;b) describing cultural and economic interactions between Europeans and American Indians that led to cooperation and conflict, with emphasis on the American Indian and European concept of land.
How Will We Approach These Standards With Our Work?In relation to our specific goals identified earlier, you will consider the impacts of early Europeans, as well as inhabitants of the area following colonization, impacted Native American cultures.-You will gather evidence about the early interactions between populations, based on historical accounts. Consider the emotions and impact that these encounters had on the native communities.-You will consider how the concept of space was defined by both the settlers and the indigenous people. Reflect on how the major shifts that took place as the demographics of the area changed and how that influenced the culture and land use.
US History Content Standards for Grades 5-12 (National Standards)Era 1: Three Worlds Meet (Beginnings to 1620):Standard 1: Comparative characteristics of societies in the Americas, Western Europe, and Western Africa that increasingly interacted after 1450.Standard 2: How early European exploration and colonization resulted in cultural and ecological interactions among previously unconnected peoples.
Era 2: Colonization and Settlement (1585-1763)Standard 1: Why the Americas attracted Europeans, why they brought enslaved Africans to their colonies, and how Europeans struggled for control of North America and the Caribbean.
How Will We Approach These Standards With Our Practice and Assessment Strategies?Along with the ecology of Morven, you will also use your field guide to consider the past civilizations that lived here. Your advisor will look for ways in which you apply your research and conversations to an overall view of this space as a dynamic and influential land. As you consider the past, you will need to think about how your knowledge of these past civilizations shape the area and how the community could be informed with your work. While your final piece might not directly reflect that, it should be evident as you gather thoughts and ideas.
You will have opportunities to speak with local experts and have informal discussions about the interaction of cultures at Morven and the surrounding area. As we frame these discussions, we want you to connect these stories with your own personal experiences and use past knowledge to guide your understanding of these events. Be reflective and think critically about how the influx of European cultures influenced history here.
Finally, in your final piece (your pitch), we are looking for you to take what you have learned about this space and apply it to your proposal. Show your understanding of the area's history and how you might consider it with the potential future of your concept for Morven. What attracted early settlers to this area in particular and how will you show that in your final piece? Think about the concept of community with regard to both past and present and share how this understanding drives your ideation.

Methods of Assessment, as Mentioned Above:

Ongoing throughout the next two weeks:

Reflective Journal

This will be with you from day one and will showcase your thoughts, ideas, and reflections in chronological order. Your teacher will read through this daily and work with you to help bridge concepts.

While there will be a structured format for entries, we encourage you to draw, plan, and troubleshoot in this space. We want to see how you took the concepts that you gathered and created a deeper understanding of Morven, its history, and its ecology.

Write down anything that comes to mind - you might be surprised with what you come up with here!

Your Final Product: Your Pitch

The Pitch

After you have researched, collaborated, and combined all of the factors that might impact your work, you will need to showcase your plan for Morven. In your poster or tri-fold, you should demonstrate:

What you have learned about the history and ecology of this space and how your idea embraces what you now understand.
How your concept can benefit Morven and create a lasting impact on the community.
Your thought process throughout the immersion experience and what factors influenced your thinking.
How your reflections on this experience have driven your work and influenced your design.

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