STAKE YOUR CLAIM

(Task 1 of 4)

Instructions:

1. Choose a region that interests you and a partner and select one of the topics listed below that you would both like to explore (N.B., You may opt to work alone, in which case, requirements are reduced). There is a limit of twelve residents per region. The five regions to choose from include:

a. Atlantic Canada

b. Central Canada (Quebec)

c. Central Canada (Ontario)

d. Western Canada (Pacific Rim)

e. Arctic Canada

You can “stake your claim” by planting your own information board (6 m width x 4 m height x .1 thickness). Attached to the board will be a texture you created in Photoshop (12cm width x 8 cm height x 72 dpi) that lists you and your partner’s usernames, your region of interest, and your topic.

NOTE: EACH TOPIC MAY NOT BE SELECTED MORE THAN TWICE FOR A GIVEN REGION. SO IT IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVED.

TOPICS

Natural landmarks / Environment (Great lakes, Rocky Mountains /glaciers, St. Lawrence, Arctic ice shelf, etc) Wildlife and Their Ecosystems (Fauna)

Agriculture (major industries, quality controls of food, genetically modified organism, crops, livestock) Industry (service or manufacturing. E.g., auto, hydro, etc.) Energy (sources for domestic vs transport, evolving alternatives, environmental effects, etc)

Culture: History & Current (ethnicity, languages, arts, music, food, etc) Cities: Urban Growth / Sprawl (e.g., infrastructure: sewage, transportation, air quality, etc.) Society (e.g., education, health, distribution of wealth/poverty, etc).

2. Prepare a synopsis on your topic (200-250 words for teams of 2 / OR 150 words if working individually) in French and English. If working in teams, identify which sections each partner wrote listing their username at the end of their paragraph. Your write- up should include:

a. a general introduction (written by both partners)

b. a short paragraph on some of the challenges being faced within your chosen topic and the local / global implications. (Written by first partner)

c. actions or lack thereof being researched or implemented (efforts by governments, individuals or industry to introduce solutions (written by second partner)

PRESENT YOUR FINDINGS

(Task 2 of 4)

Instructions:

1. Update the texture on your information board so that it looks somewhat like a PowerPoint slide. You may increase the size of your slide if you need more space. Your slide should be saved as a ‘PNG’ file and include:

a. 1 or 2 high impact photos (cite sources)

b. If you are a team of 2, prepare 6 bullets highlighting key points on your region (i.e., summation of key points from your synopsis). If working alone, include 3-4 bullets.

c. One side of your texture will be in french, while the other side will be in English. Each partner is responsible for one side.

d. Provide a link to an on-line video that is pertinent to your topic

e. Include your Teen Second Life user names on each side.

f. Create a small simulation appropriately located within your SL region and embed your information card within it. Such a context should comprise no more than 25 prims per individual (e.g., if your topic was Hydro electricity from James Bay, you may want to build the Dams and a few power lines back to major cities).

“BUILDING”

(Task 3 of 4)

Building yesterday’s home

The purpose of this exercise is to have each individual build their “dream home” according to the blueprints they drew in their French class. There are no environmental rules or restrictions. Your only limit is your imagination.

YOU MUST NOT BUILD ON THE CANADIAN SIM. USE A SANDBOX TO BUILD. Remember to go to “ToolsàTake” to save a copy to your inventory. Immediately go to your inventory, hit the “recent objects” tab, and right-click on the objectà”rename” your saved home from “object” to “home_username_date”.

Instructions:

1. Use Photoshop to develop textures (i.e., detailed building blocks) that can be used to achieve a realistic version of what you envisioned for the exterior design of your home. Use alpha layers and the concept of “repeats” in your design.

2. Use Photoshop to enhance the internal décor of your home (.e.,g carpet textures, wallpaper, paintings, etc.)

3. Link all of the components of your home (walls, roof, etc.)

4. Acquire furniture AND produce at least one piece of furniture for your home.

5. Using Second Life templates, and Photoshop, build your wardrobe by designing a pair of pants and a shirt.

“BUILDING” SUSTAINABLE COMMMUNITIES

(Task 4 of 4)

Team Project: Building a Sustainable Community of the Future.

Each region is to hold an election. Residents are welcome to present themselves or nominate others to run for Premier of their region. Once a leader is selected, your team will collectively review all of their projects, assess some of the major issues facing their territory, and working with their constituents (residents), draft legislation that will clean up the environment in a realistic manner (i.e., maintaining a balance between environmental laws, economic growth, human needs, etc.). As a team, you will collectively build a small sustainable community of the future that preserves the environment. Based upon your discussions, Your regional leader will list a number of features that need to be built and will delegate such duties (e.g., one member may be asked to build a green house for personal food growth powered by solar panels, while 3 others may be charged with designing specific parts of a home, etc.). All of your builds must include information cards explaining their purpose and explain why such a feature addresses environmental concerns.

1. Elect a leader.

2. Review environmental issues that your team already identified and based upon this, develop a plans for a sustainable community

3. Assign roles

4. Explain “green” nature of designs

5. Present communities to the “nation”

6. All residents will vote for the “top” environmental community in the country (residents may not vote for their own community)

7. All residents will vote for top 3 “components” from within any build (e.g., a solar powered greenhouse, etc).