Save the Desert Wildlife

The class will be divided into 4 small groups.  The groups are as follows:
Portfolio Group One: Explaining the Problem
   This group is responsible for explaining the problem that the class has chosen to study.  The group also should explain why the problem is important and why that level of government or governmental agency should deal with it.
Portfolio Group Two: Examining alternative policies to deal with the problem
  This group is responsible for explaining present and/or alternative policies designed to solve the problem.
Portfolio Group Three: Proposing a public policy to deal with the problem
   This group is responsible for developing and justifying a specific public policy that the majority of the class agrees to support.
Portfolio Group Four: Developing an action plan
   This group is responsible for developing an action plan showing how citizens can influence their government to adopt the policy the class supports.
To complete the project you will need to…
Gather information: The class has decided on the problem that they want to study, you will need to gather and evaluate information about the problem from a variety of source.
*** For obtaining and documenting information you should, libraries, newspaper offices, professors at the local university, community organizations and interest groups in the area, legislative offices, and the internet.
Visit libraries and other places where information can be found, call sources on the phone, make appointments and interview people, writing, and requesting information.
Examine alternative policies: Next, you will examine public policies that now are being used by your government.  You also will examine policies being suggested by other people.
Propose and develop your own public policy: Next, you will develop a public policy that you think your government should adopt.
Develop an action plan: Finally, you will develop a plan of action to show how you might influence the appropriate government or governmental agency to adopt you proposed public policy. 
   The class will use the materials you have gathered and written as you accomplish these tasks to develop a class portfolio.  The portfolio is an organized collection of information that makes up your class plan related to a public policy issue that you and your class have decided to study.
   The class portfolio will contain such things as written statements, charts, graphs, photographs, and original artwork.  These materials will portray
1.       what you have learned about the problem you have selected;
2.       what you have learned about alternative solutions to the problem;
3.       what public policy you have selected or developed to deal with the problem;
4.       the plan of action you have developed to use in attempting to get your government to adopt your policy.
Here are some links that will help you with your research.
http://www.desertanimals.net/desert.html
This website talks about the different characteristics of the specific deserts.
http://www.desertusa.com/survive.html
This website discusses what the desert animals are searching for as far as food and water accessibility.  It also describes how the animals must adapt to their habitats in order to survive.
http://www.desertusa.com/animal.html
This website lists and talks about the specific animals in the deserts.
http://www.tortoise-tracks.org/
This website introduces you to a committee that is sponsored by the interest of desert wildlife.
http://www.endangeredspecie.com/states/nv.htm
A website that lists Nevada’s endangered plants and animals.
http://www.desertusa.com/mnp/mnp_map.html
Maps of the different parts of the Mojave Desert.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/moja/home.htm
The website for the The National Parks Service for the Mojave National Preserve
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4444/is_200610/ai_n21099572
This website discusses the Nevada Wildlife Action Plan
http://mojavedesert.net/description.html
This website discusses the different environments and characteristics of the Mojave Desert. 
Here are search engines to help you:
www.yahooligans.com
www.google.com
www.ask.com