Student Reflections
Students will reflect on how they individually feel regarding the effects of the 7 billion populations on animal wildlife. A written reflective essay is an extremely important part of a project. There are no “wrong” answers when reflecting on your experience.
This essay should be a narrative written in the first person. The reflective paper should show what the student learned about the problem as you worked through the project. This essay should include personal and educational experiences to discuss student’s concerns on the four topics listed below regarding changes in ecosystems and how it affects wildlife:
• Changing Landscape
• Pollution
• Ecosystems Under Attack
• Impact on Humans
Students should also discuss how the topics above can be directly related to WCTA, Las Vegas and surrounding regions (examples include Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, Lee Canyon, etc.). The following discussion points should also be considered for reflection regarding our city:
• Depending on how long you have lived in Las Vegas, what, if any, evidence has you observed in Las Vegas in regards to changes in potential wildlife and ecosystems based on the topics.
• Provide suggestions on how we can reduce the consequences of the increased population.
• What obstacles do you feel we would encounter to help overcome these challenges?
• How do you feel the changes have affected you in your life and how will it affect your future?
Below are excerpts from some student reflections:
This essay should be a narrative written in the first person. The reflective paper should show what the student learned about the problem as you worked through the project. This essay should include personal and educational experiences to discuss student’s concerns on the four topics listed below regarding changes in ecosystems and how it affects wildlife:
• Changing Landscape
• Pollution
• Ecosystems Under Attack
• Impact on Humans
Students should also discuss how the topics above can be directly related to WCTA, Las Vegas and surrounding regions (examples include Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, Lee Canyon, etc.). The following discussion points should also be considered for reflection regarding our city:
• Depending on how long you have lived in Las Vegas, what, if any, evidence has you observed in Las Vegas in regards to changes in potential wildlife and ecosystems based on the topics.
• Provide suggestions on how we can reduce the consequences of the increased population.
• What obstacles do you feel we would encounter to help overcome these challenges?
• How do you feel the changes have affected you in your life and how will it affect your future?
Below are excerpts from some student reflections:
A. Artiga
"As the years go by, I have realized that just in Las Vegas and its surroundings, the wildlife is being expended. The population continues to grow in Vegas and more houses are needed to be built. We have expanded so far that we are almost building land next to Red Rock Canyon, a national reservation area. For instance, West Career and Technical Academy is about three miles from the canyon. A few years ago, there were no houses or any communities in that area. Because land has expanded to that area not too long ago, we still see wildlife in the area. Bobcats, wild dogs, and other animals are found roaming the area. Animals are looking for food, are they used to find food in the area that is expanded on. They are confused and we are affecting their ecosystems.
There are many things that people can do to reduce the effects that we are having towards the earth. We can try to use less resources such as saving water, walking or riding bikes places, and reusing things. We can recycle glass, paper, and plastic, so that we don’t produce more pollution and take trees from the wildlife. We can also use less electricity by unplugging applicants. This will reduce the amount of pollution created from energy enormously."
There are many things that people can do to reduce the effects that we are having towards the earth. We can try to use less resources such as saving water, walking or riding bikes places, and reusing things. We can recycle glass, paper, and plastic, so that we don’t produce more pollution and take trees from the wildlife. We can also use less electricity by unplugging applicants. This will reduce the amount of pollution created from energy enormously."
F. Eaton
"Humans are the cause of most pollution and bad things in the universe. People do not care or realize their actions and how harmful they can be to both animals and humans. Their actions can also move mountains with a little bit of persistence and determination if they had a desire to help. Humans get many diseases that are air-bourn, in water, or even in food. If people were even a tiny bit conscious about their actions, many spreading diseases could be stopped and cured.
Hopefully there is a way to publicize and announce the importance of our actions consequences on animals, humans, and the world around us. Living and going to school in Red Rock Canyon, all I hear about is protecting wildlife and staying on designated trails. Places like that are perfect to start with getting people aware. Pollution and attacked ecosystems have changed many things around Las Vegas including the construction, smog pollution from cars, and destruction of ecosystems. I am trying to do my part to protect animals, humans, and our home on earth, and I learned how to start through watching the public service announcements. I have a few good ideas to get started with. Will you help?"
Hopefully there is a way to publicize and announce the importance of our actions consequences on animals, humans, and the world around us. Living and going to school in Red Rock Canyon, all I hear about is protecting wildlife and staying on designated trails. Places like that are perfect to start with getting people aware. Pollution and attacked ecosystems have changed many things around Las Vegas including the construction, smog pollution from cars, and destruction of ecosystems. I am trying to do my part to protect animals, humans, and our home on earth, and I learned how to start through watching the public service announcements. I have a few good ideas to get started with. Will you help?"
A. Rodriguez
"Because of our lack of willingness to do anything and our selfishness, we are also destroying ecosystems. The pollution that we create harms many ecosystems and we don’t even know it (just like many other things). As the website said, coral reefs, tropical rainforests, and arctic areas are being affects along with many types of animals. These can be easily solved as long as people are willing to give up some stuff or be smarter about things. If the demands for seafood are becoming greater, instead of destroying reefs and other marine life through trawling and explosives, why not make a plant that these fish can live in? Wouldn’t it be easier to get the certain types of fish needed and it would help preserve the ocean’s life? Also, clear cutting forests aren’t needed for all the paper and other products in the world. I’m 100% sure that with all the paper already created in the world, we are able to keep recycling it that way we don’t need new resources for paper. And I’m sure that rubber and materials for building can be recycled to create me, as well. If they can’t figure out how to do this with the technology that we posses, then something is seriously wrong with us for being the most “superior” beings on Earth. It’s not just the need for resources, but our pollution that is causing these destructive acts. The ice melting in the arctic causing ice to melt and harming the arctic species is because of all the pollution in our atmosphere creating a hole in the ozone layer. The climate is getting hotter everywhere and we have to face the consequences because of this. I can tell that it’s gradually getting hotter and hotter earlier and faster as years go by, and it’s only a matter of time until none of us will be able to live in it and we’ll all end up dying due to the heat levels.
Not only are the life of animals and the environment being affected, but also so are humans. A lot of people think it is just animals being affect, but humans are in just as much danger. Destroying the natural environment can mean less visitors to a country or region because there will be no attraction for eco-tourism in the area. This means less money from tourism to the area and this makes the economy suffer, which makes families and people suffer. Not only this, but with the cutting down of rainforests, we are limiting our supplies for medicine. Plants that we use for medicinal purposes are being cut down and this makes medication prices higher and to some people, this means no more medication because they can’t afford it. And with more construction and habitats being destroyed, animals have to find new places to live. This can mean more contact with humans and these animals can carry diseases we don’t know about or hard to treat. This then can go back to the medicine costing more money, and then there will be no ailment for the disease; thus, we are the destruction of our own kind. It is happening slowly, but gradually. We need to do something to help stop these acts from occurring or else we will all have to blame."
Not only are the life of animals and the environment being affected, but also so are humans. A lot of people think it is just animals being affect, but humans are in just as much danger. Destroying the natural environment can mean less visitors to a country or region because there will be no attraction for eco-tourism in the area. This means less money from tourism to the area and this makes the economy suffer, which makes families and people suffer. Not only this, but with the cutting down of rainforests, we are limiting our supplies for medicine. Plants that we use for medicinal purposes are being cut down and this makes medication prices higher and to some people, this means no more medication because they can’t afford it. And with more construction and habitats being destroyed, animals have to find new places to live. This can mean more contact with humans and these animals can carry diseases we don’t know about or hard to treat. This then can go back to the medicine costing more money, and then there will be no ailment for the disease; thus, we are the destruction of our own kind. It is happening slowly, but gradually. We need to do something to help stop these acts from occurring or else we will all have to blame."
K. Stimpfl
"Beauty is seen all throughout nature. As we continue to destroy the environment and the animals in it, we are destroying that beauty. Loudon Wainwright once states, “The magnificence of mountains, the serenity of nature – nothing is safe from the idiot marks of man’s passing.” Each ecosystem has its own beautiful traits, but humankind has been taking advantage of this and has destroyed it for their own benefits. The aesthetic value declines as a result to the human population growing.
This relates to all of the mountain regions around Las Vegas, such as Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston. I cannot imagine a place prettier than these regions, but I hate when I am admiring its beauty and I see a lodge or a bunch of houses. This ruins the true beauty of its nature. In Las Vegas, it used to be a beautiful desert region, however now all you see is the strip and houses. All around WCTA is beauty. I love staring up at the mountains when I walk around school. It is nice to be able to see the magnificence of the environment. I am worried that someone will come and destroy that piece of serenity. We can reduce the consequences of the increased population if we stop destroying the natural beauty found throughout the world. Instead of destroying environments, we should work around them. I know that most people will refuse to do this however. The destruction of the aesthetic value has caused me to miss out on the true beauty of the world. As I get older, I am going to see less and less natural exquisiteness."
This relates to all of the mountain regions around Las Vegas, such as Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston. I cannot imagine a place prettier than these regions, but I hate when I am admiring its beauty and I see a lodge or a bunch of houses. This ruins the true beauty of its nature. In Las Vegas, it used to be a beautiful desert region, however now all you see is the strip and houses. All around WCTA is beauty. I love staring up at the mountains when I walk around school. It is nice to be able to see the magnificence of the environment. I am worried that someone will come and destroy that piece of serenity. We can reduce the consequences of the increased population if we stop destroying the natural beauty found throughout the world. Instead of destroying environments, we should work around them. I know that most people will refuse to do this however. The destruction of the aesthetic value has caused me to miss out on the true beauty of the world. As I get older, I am going to see less and less natural exquisiteness."