Goals:

1.  The students will demonstrate proficient writing skills by writing a letter to a local congressman.

2.  The students will exhibit an understanding of the current issues and concerns pertaining to coral reefs in their writing.

Materials:

Paper

Pencils

Address of a local congressman (see http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/)

Envelopes

Postage

Time:

Approximately one hour, thirty minutes

Procedure:

1.  The students will select a congressman in their area that they wish to write to. All congressmen have regular or email addresses that can be accessed using the Internet address above.

2.  The students will write a business letter using the appropriate structure.

3.  The letter will contain three paragraphs consisting of the following information:
 

Paragraph one - A description of the request. The students should use adjectives to describe the current situation with coral reefs and briefly explain what exactly needs to be protected.  If there is a bill that is being considered, the students should explain why they want the congressman to vote for/against it. (Current information on legislation and other actions to protect coral reefs is available at http://www.blacktop.com/coralforest)

Paragraph two - The students should explain what is important about what they want protected. What is special or unique about it?Ý What is its function to humans and/or other species?

Paragraph three - The students should describe what is threatening it. They should also provide suggestions about how to protect it.
 

4.  After the students have written their letters, they will exchange letters with another student. The students will then edit the classmates' letter.

5.  The students will then write or type a final copy of their letters and properly address a stamped envelope.

6.  The teacher will collect the envelopes and make sure that they are mailed.

Assessment:

1.  The students' letters are well-written and include all of the above mentioned parts (Criteria for success = see Writing Rubric).

2.  The students demonstrate an understanding of the issues affecting coral reefs (Criteria for success = At least one particular aspect of coral reefs, an explanation of why that aspect is important, and a suggested solution for protecting it).

Curricular Strands and Major Concepts:

1.  Language Arts - Letter writing skills

2.  Current Events - An understanding of the issues and concerns pertaining to coral reefs

3.  Social Studies - Locating a congressman in the local area

Possible Extensions:

1.  The students will monitor the newspaper and television news for one month for information and news regarding the oceans and coral reefs.

2.  The students will simulate the process of creating a law by holding a mock congress session. The students would be able to create a bill and designate certain members of the class to represent congressmen that would debate and discuss the bill.

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Coral Reefs - developed by Kristen Treadway, Jenny Mavis, T.J. Beck & Jim O'Keefe

This page submitted by St. Norbert College Ocean Voyager Program

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