Arizona STEM
Acceleration Project
A Digital Comic Skit for Keystone Species
A Digital Comic Skit for Keystone Species
A 9th Grade STEM Lesson
Mitzi Noreen A. Cantillep
06/01/2024
Notes for Teachers
List of Materials:
HS.L2U3.18: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate about the positive and negative ethical, social, economic, and political implications of human activity on the biodiversity of an ecosystem.
HS+B.L4U1.2 Engage in argument from evidence that changes in environmental conditions or human interventions may change species diversity in an ecosystem.
9-10. W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
9-10 W4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade‐ specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
9-10 W6. Use technology, including the internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.
Standard 3. Knowledge Constructor - Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct
knowledge, produce creative artifacts, and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.
Standard 6. Creative Communicator - Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.
Standard 7. Global Collaborator - Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally.
Day 1 Objectives:
Today we will explore graphic design applications especially Canva as a tool for creating a digital comic skit about keystone species.
Today we will understand the features found in Canva and other graphic design applications.
Today we will demonstrate ability to create a digital comic skit through Canva and other graphic design applications preferred.
Day 2 Objectives:
Today we will explain the importance of keystone species in the ecosystem.
Today we will collaborate and communicate effectively with our peers to create a digital comic skit.
Today we will create a digital comic skit about keystone species through a graphic design application.
Agenda
Day 1
(5 mins)
(5 mins)
(10 mins)
Creation Time
(30 mins)
Day 2
(30 mins)
(10 mins)
(10 mins)
Day 1 Agenda (50 minutes)
(5 mins)
(5 mins)
(30 mins)
Day 2 Agenda (50 minutes)
(30 mins)
(10 mins)
(10 mins)
Intro/Driving Question/Opening
How can we use technology to investigate and communicate information about keystone species creatively?
What is digital graphic design and tools that we can use?
Digital graphic design is the art and practice of creating visual content using digital tools and technology.
What basic tools can we use in creating digital designs?
Canva
GIMP
Inkscape
Pixlr
Gravit
Gravit
Designer
Vectr
Snappa
Desygner
What is a Keystone Species?
A keystone species is an organism that helps hold the ecosystem together and without them, the ecosystem may not survive.
Instructions
With your partner,
design a digital comic skit of actual keystone species in their specific ecosystems. Skit should show the importance and the effects of losing the keystone species in their specific environment.
Instructions
With your partner,
design a digital comic skit of actual keystone species in their specific ecosystems. Skit should show the importance and the effects of losing the keystone species in their specific environment.
Constraints:
How do we assess our work?
Differentiation
One way to differentiate in this lesson is to show the Canva video again about creating a Comic Skit if the students are having trouble in making the skit.
Another option is to elicit student ideas on example keystone species that they can easily have in their skits. Have students search more information about them.
Remediation
Extension
Students who are successful right away can plan and improve their skit, the dialogues most especially. Let them review the rubric and see if the elements in their skit are aligned to it.