JASON Foundation for Education

JASON PROJECT BELIZE EXPEDITION

CURRICULUM - OUTLINE

Unit 1. Where are We Going and Why?
       (Geography and Introduction)

1.1 What is Belize and Where is it?
     Activity One - Relative Location of Belize
     Activity Two - What is Belize Like?
     Activity Three - Who lives in Belize?
     Activity Four - Whose Land is it Anyway?

Masters
1.1a North America and the North Atlantic
1.1b The Caribbean and Central America
1.1c Rain forests, Mangroves and Reefs in Central
     America
1.1d Physical Map of Belize, including the Reef
     Area
1.1e Answer Sheet-Geography
1.1f Rainfall Distribution and Hurricane Paths in
     Belize
1.1g Preserves, Ruins and Roads
1.1h National Symbols of Belize
1.1i Belizean Currency
1.1j Possible Trade Routes in the Classic-Post
     Classic Maya Era
1.1k Ethnic Backgrounds of Belizeans
1.1l The Coming of the Road?
1.1m World Map
1.1n Currently Known Maya Archaeology Sites
1.2 What Research are We Going to be Doing
    There?
     Activity One - Meet the JASON Project Team,
     Voyage V
     Activity Two - Leaves and Herbivory
     Activity Three - Coral Bleaching
     Activity Four - Archaeological Information and
     Interpretation
     Activity Five - Cave Formation

Masters
1.2a The JASON Project Chief Researchers
1.2b Student Answer Sheet-Researchers
1.2c Student Worksheet-Leaf Eater
1.2d Building a Penetrometer
1.2e Data Collection for a Penetrometer
1.2f Coral Polyps and Zooxanthellae
1.2g Data Table for SPF Experiment
1.2h Dr. Wellington's and Colleagues Original Data
1.2i The Electromagnetic Spectrum
1.2j Formation of Cave
1.2k Testing Mineral
1.2l Limestone-Shale Comparison and Answers
1.2m                Acidity test on Limestone
1.2n                Objects Found in the Middens of Xunantunich
1.3                 How do We Use Remote Sensing as a Tool?
                    Activity One - How do Sensors View the
                    Earth?
Masters
1.3a                Data Collection Sheet - Satellites
1.3b                Graph for Data Analysis - Satellites
1.3c                Teacher Background Sheet - Satellite
1.4                 What Special Equipment are the
                    Researchers Bringing?
                    Activity One - Building the Walkway
                    Activity Two - Diving Systems and
                    Technology

Masters
1.4a                Student Walkway Problem Sheet
1.4b                Blue Creek Preserve Walkway
1.4c                Aqua-Lung
1.4d                Two Underwater Communication Systems
1.4e                You make the Call
1.5                 What Are We Going to Be Doing During the
                    Broadcast
                    Activity One - Broadcast Biodiveristy Study
                    Activity Two - Pre-Broadcast Terrestrial
                                        Biodiversity Study
Masters
1.5a               "Bugs"
1.5b                Coral Reef Organisms
1.5c                Key to Plants of the Rain Forest
1.5d                Key to Arthropoda
1.5e                Building Insect Traps
1.5f                Table for Terrestrial Biodiversity Study
1.5g                Sling Psychrometer

UNIT 2: Tropical Communities
2.1                 Life Processes and Relationships
                    Activity One - Ecology, How Communities
                    Are Connected
                    Activity Two - Energy, Creatures and Their Gases

Masters
2.1a                Mangrove Plants and Animals
2.1b                Chemical Reactions
2.2                 Formation and Structure of Rain Forests,
                    Coral Reefs and Subterranean Caves
                    Activity One - Contribution of Geological
                    Events
                    Activity Two - Anatomy of a Rain Forest
                    Activity Three - How are Coral Reefs
                    Formed?
                    Activity Four - The Inside Picture
Masters
2.2a Continental Jigsaw
2.2b Animals in Blue Creek Preserve
2.2c Profiles of a Barrier Reef
2.2d Coral Polyp Instructions
2.2e Blue Creek Cave and Legend
2.3  Can We Give a Value to Rain Forests and
     Coral Reefs?
     Activity One - The Giving Rain Forest and
     Reef
     Activity Two - Deforestation
     Activity Three - Conservation of Coral Reefs
     and Rain Forests

Masters
2.3a Disappearing Rain Forest Worksheet
2.3b A Few Biological Preserves of Belize
2.3c Butterfly Facts

UNIT 3: ARCHAEOLOGY
3.1  Analysis of Objects and System
     Activity One - Dig Into the Past, Find
     Attributes and You Find a People Waiting to
     Be Discovered
     Activity Two - Symbolism and Systems of the
     Ancient Maya

Masters
3.1a Maya Artifacts and Distribution at Copan,
     Honduras
3.1b Discovering An Artifact's Story
3.1c Milk Containers and Chronology
3.1d Maya Math
3.1e Hieroglyphs
3.1f Following the Sun
3.1g Maya Day Hieroglyphs
3.2  City Structure and Function
     Activity One - A Temple Within A Temple
     Within...
     Activity Two - Settlement Patterns and What
     They Tell Us
     Activity Three - Civilization in a Suitcase

Masters
3.2a Structure A at Copan
3.2b Structure B at Copan
3.2c Structure C at Copan
3.2d Castillo Frieze at Xunantunich
3.2e Xunantunich
3.2f Belmopan
3.2g Invent a Historic Profile of a Civilization
3.2h Clues To a Civilization - Inventor Team
3.2i Clues To a Civilization - Archaeology Team
3.2j Xunantunich descriptions

UNIT 4: SOCIAL STUDIES
4.1                 The People of Belize
                    Activity One - Belizean History
                    Activity Two - Traditions and Folklore

Masters
4.1a                Chronology of Belize
4.1b                Template for Time Spiral
4.1c                Traditional Stories and Characters
4.1d                Insert from "The House of Snakes"
4.1e                Hero Twin Stories.

JASON V Home Page

JASON Project homepage || Teachers' Guide || Students' Corner || Search

Gene Carl Feldman (gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov) (301) 286-9428
Todd Carlo Viola, JASON Foundation for Education (todd@jason.org)