Grassroots
Environmental Science's Online Magazine

Sanborn Regional High School's online magazine, Grassroots, is a compilation of stories about our environment.  Some stories tell about people who are doing interesting environmentally friendly activities.  Some stories are about important environmental topics.  Stories can be drawn form these ideas:

  • Organic gardening
  • Efficiently insulated home construction
  • Solar homes
  • Electric cars
  • Wooden boat building
  • "Green" household products
  • Efficient water use
  • Explorations of the wilderness
  • Fresh water
    		•
  • "Old fashioned" ways
  • Alternative energy use
  • Cheney's water power sawmill
  • Wind generators
  • Alternative forms of transportation
  • Protecting wildlife
  • Vegetarian life style
  • Endangered species
  • Population
    		•

    Expectations: (Pick A or B:)

    A.  To write an article about a person:
  • Find someone who is involved with one of the evnironmentally sound activities listed above.
  • Create an essential question and focus questions.
  • Interview them in person (best idea), over the phone, or via email.
  • Use a tape recorder (or video camera).
  • Have your questions ready.  Ask these type of questions:
  • What - what are the important facts?
  • So What - why are these facts important or worthy or the reader's time?
  • Now What - what can be done in the future about this issue?
  • Take pictures using a camera, digital camera, video camera.
  • Perform additional research in the topic (at least two other sources)
  • Write a two page article using Microsoft Word 6.0. 
  • Include graphics.
  • Reference all sources.
  • Have a critical friend proof read the article.
  • Save as Hypertext Markup Language document (Use this form for title - xxxxxxxx.html)
    • How to do a good interview and write informational articles.    		 B.  To write an article about a topic:
  • Create an essential question and focus questions.
  • Find at least three up to date materials for your information.
  • Outline the article answering these questions:
  • What - what are the important facts?
  • So What - why are these facts important or worthy or the reader's time?
  • Now What - what can be done in the future about this issue?
  • Write a two page article using Microsoft Word 6.0. 
  • Include graphics.
  • Reference all sources.
  • Have a critical friend proof read the article.
  • Save as Hypertext Markup Language document (Use this form for title - xxxxxxxx.html)
    		•
    Important Note:  Rules for graphics
    Copyright laws prohibit us from publishing any unoriginal pictures online.  In order to place graphics onto your webpage one of the following conditions must be met:
  • The picture must have been created by a student: (Take pictures with a camera; Draw, paint, sketch your own (or have someone else do it))
  • Download a picture from a royalty free site
  • Find a picture on the internet and gain permission through email.


    • Links that might help:

    Organic Gardening  Originating from Hobart, in Southern Tasmania, this is the grassroots e-source for information about the basics of backyard organic gardening.

    The Organic Kitchen - The motherload of links about organic gardening

    Toxins in the Home

    Healthy Homes

    "Green" household products

    Wooden Boat building

    Water use in the USA

    Water saving tips

    Alternative Energy Institute

    Wind Energy

    101 reasons to be a vegetarian