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Hurricane Aftermath: Wetlands and Wildlife

Louisiana's barrier islands and coastal wetlands are the first line of storm defense for Louisiana. Miles of marsh land buffer the mainland from both the wind and storm surges associated with hurricanes. Loss of human life and damage to residential and commercial property due to strong wind and flood waters are greatly minimized. But what is the cost to Louisiana's wetlands and wildlife? It is important for Louisianians to understand the massive destruction that hurricanes may cause to our state's coastal environment in order to make well-informed decisions that affect Louisiana's resources.

As members of the Hurricane Aftermath: Wetlands and Wildlife, your job will be to research the effects of hurricanes on Louisiana's coastline and to create a multimedia presentation that will communicate your findings to others in an interesting, engaging, and informative manner. 

You will be using PowerPoint as your primary application software.  You may want to consider an interactive approach and/or the use of video in your presentation.  The presentation should help the public understand the impact of large hurricanes on Louisiana's threatened coastal wetlands and the organisms that depend on them. In doing so, consider the members of your audience and what information will enhance their understanding of hurricanes in order to help residents make informed decisions when preparing for future hurricanes.

Team member roles are as follows:

Think about how you might conduct your research. Since your topic is specific to Louisiana, you might consider using key word search strategies. You can use some of the questions below as guides, however you do not have to answer them all and you are not limited to only these questions.

• How does Louisiana's coastal wetlands provide protection to residential and commercial property?
• What is the impact of storm surges and hurricane winds on coastal wetlands and how does this affect us?
• What is the impact of hurricanes on coastal plants and how does this affect us?
• What is the impact of hurricanes on coastal animals and how does this affect us?
• Is the loss of coastal wetlands and the organisms that inhabit them worth the protection to residential and commercial property? Support your answer.

Do some research and come to group consensus before you begin creating your presentation.

Things to know:

• The Red Cross board will visit us next week.  You will have 4 days (90 minute periods) to work on this project.  Make sure you reserve time to practice presenting before the day of presentations.

• Under the section titled Resources, you will find the following:
  
  • Websites - You may search on your own or you may use the list of web sources provided under this section.
    
  • Project Checklist – Gives the requirements for a successful project and will help guide you through the project
    
  • PPT Quick Tips  - For help with Power Point
    
  • PPT Etiquette – Rules for creating a professional looking presentation
    
  • Citations Format – Format for websites, graphics, video clips
    
  • Assessing Website Credibility – To aid in assessing website credibility
• The criteria for your research and presentation are given in the rubric in the Evaluation section.  Make sure you review the rubric before you begin your project. 

It is strongly suggested that you read through the above resources before you begin on your project.