2011 Extra Credit Opportunities

• A maximum of 10 points extra credit is available per student for the quarter.
• All work must by original. Use your own words - do not copy signs, etc.
• Extra Credit work can be turned in before or on the deadline.
• No extra credit is accepted after the deadline. Sorry, no exceptions.
• I will not accept extra credit from students who have more than 5 absences from class
  

For 5/10 Points

1. Join a docent-led hike at a Midpeninsula Open Space Preserve. For a list of hikes, see     http://www.openspace.org.  The hikes are free and open to the public.  Have the docent sign and date a note stating the name of the hike you went on and the preserve.   Show me a photo of yourself on the hike. 
2. Hikes I am leading for the Midpeninsula Open Space District:
   • Discovering Stevens Creek, Sat Oct 22, 10 am - 1 pm, Monte Bello Preserve
   • Autumn at Windy Hill, Sat Nov 12, 10 am - 1 pm, Windy Hill Preserve
3. For another 5 points, do a 1 page write-up describing two natural communities you visited on the hike.  List two common plants and animals found in each community and identify their trophic level: producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, or decomposer. What adaptations have plants made to survive in these communities?

For 10 points

Choose a format to answer any ONE of the items below: 4-5 page paper or powerpoint presentation (15 slides minimum).  Use YOUR OWN WORDS! 

• Visit the Cal Academy of Sciences in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.  Choose one of the following topics: a) What are green buildings? b) Biodiversity in the rain forest.                
  
  • a) Describe 5 features of the new Cal Academy building that make it "green". Take photos of these features; you should be in at least one of the photos. Describe each photo and give information about the eco-friendly feature. For each photo there should be at least 3 bullet points of information. What impressed you most about its "green" architecture?                    
  • b) Tropical rain forests are being destroyed at a rapid pace. Explain why we should care.  What are the abiotic characteristics of a rain forest?  Describe its layers (forest floor to canopy). What plants and animals live here? How do rain forests affect climate?  What are some consequences of deforestation? Include a picture of yourself in the rain forest exhibit.

• Go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Select 5 marine animals. Take a photo of each and describe their physical and behavioral characteristics. You should be in at least 1 of these photos.
  
  • Where is each animal found? 
  • What does it eat? Who eats it? What threatens it? 
  • Get all your info at the aquarium by reading the signs or speaking with the many docents that are there to provide visitors with information.
  • Complete your project by discussing 5 things you learned at the aquarium about living more sustainably and protecting the environment.

• Go to the San Francisco Zoo.  Describe 3 facts the zoo teaches about conservation. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of keeping wild animals in zoos. Take photos of 5 animal exhibits; you should be in at least one of the photos. For each animal you choose:
  • a) describe its native habitat
  • b) general characteristics of the animal
  • c) eating/ mating/ other behavioral characteristics
  • d) endangered? Threatened? What are its current numbers?
  • e) add other interesting facts

• Research genetically engineered foods or medicine. Focus on genetically engineered foods or medicines. Explain the process of altering the genetic make up of an organism.  What genes have been transferred into food products or developed as drugs? From which organisms? What foods/medicines are now sold commercially that have been genetically engineered? Do GMOs look or taste any different?  How have these foods/drugs been tested to ensure their safety? Discuss the pros/cons, legal issues, public support/concerns.

Please hand in a powerpoint presentation (15 slides minimum).  Use 3-4 references and cite the author, title, source and date of each reference. Remember to use your own words; paraphrase the references, don't copy them.

• What is HPV?  Describe this virus and how it spreads.  What are the symptoms of HPV infection?  Describe how the gardacil vaccine is made.  How does this vaccine prevent HPV infection? Describe some of the clinical trials that were done on this vaccine prior to its   approval by the FDA. What are some of the concerns about this vaccine?  Are all populations (ethnic groups, age categories, socioeconomic groups, etc)  of women in the US being vaccinated?  If not, why not?  Are men infected by HPV? The HPV vaccine is controversial–some feel it will promote promiscuous behavior. What is your opinion?  Would you get vaccinated?  

Please hand in a powerpoint presentation (15 slides minimum).  Use 3-4 references and cite the author, title, source and date of each reference. Remember to use your own words; paraphrase the references, don't copy them.