Wading Through The Wetlands
Wading Through The Wetlands
A Web Quest for 3rd Grade Social Studies
Designed by Ms. Hamilton
 |
Special Note to Students: While you are browsing the internet, continue to select the Back button until you reach Ms. Hamilton's Homepage. |
Introduction Task Process Resources Extension Fun Evaluation Credits
Are you ready to for an adventure that could possibly make you famous--a television celebrity or small town hero--and have the opportunity to change your town and even the world? If so, put on your wading boots and come along for an exciting ride. Be the Wetland Warrior your community has been waiting for! First, you will learn about the different types of wetlands, where they are located, and the value they have for their human and wildlife communities. After you have done some research and documented the highlights of your research, you will then choose a wetland creature and investigate it with the eyes of an investigator. You will then evaluate your research documentation and form an opinion to why it is important to save wetlands in order to save the life of your chosen creature. You will conclude this Web Quest with an original letter addressed to the National Wildlife Refuge and The United State's Congress that will include the information you discovered with your investigation skills. Lastly, you will design and create a "Save The Wetlands Because..." slogan to be used when you demonstrate your concern for protecting the habitat and wildlife of wetlands. This will be fun and challenging! This Web Quest will require you to be creative and persuasive. Do your best work and don't forget your waders gaters!
This is what you will do...
Using the internet research tools given in this Web Quest, you will document important information that you find about wetlands, using your Wetland Waterlog. Here are a few examples to get your wetlands juices flowing: wetlands provide a home for water fowl and migratory birds; wetlands help to protect the land from flooding and harmful causes of erosion; many animals such as buffalo, foxes, and endangered species use wetlands to find food and cool places to rest. Next, using the research tools provided, you will decide upon a wetland creature of your choice and investigate their facts and interesting features in your Wetland Waterlog. You will use your detective notes and documented information to write a letter to The National Wildlife Refuge and The United State's Congress, advocating (which means supporting an idea) your newly found appreciation of your wetland creature and why it is important to spend money to help protect wetland habitat and wildlife. Finally, your task will be done after you design a "Save The Wetlands Because..." slogan. Your slogan will then be typed onto this Web Quest page for anyone around the world to view. So do your best work and get ready to change the wetland world!
This is how you will do it...
1. You will choose one partner (I will help you find one if necessary) to be your Wetland Warrior. It is critical to the success of your project that you two work together as a team. This means you both must be in agreement on the wetland creature you choose, what information to include in your original and creative letter, and words to use for your slogan. If you cannot agree, you must compromise (use parts of both ideas); if you still cannot agree your responsibility is to let me know and together we will resolve any problems. And remember, use your creativity and good writing skills, because your wetland letter and slogan may change the world and save wetland lives!
2. To prepare you with the wetland background information you will need to complete this Web Quest, you will be required to review all ten of the internet resource tools given. You will need to visit all ten web sites, and as a team document what you learned and how you felt about what you learned for each web link. Your final wetland virtual adventure will be to watch The National Wildlife Refuge Endangered Species slide show. Your team will use the wetland reference tools to decide upon a creature to save, and visuals from the National Wildlife Refuge Endangered Species slide show to understand what other animals are endangered and that "Endangered Means There's Still Time". As a team, you will be required to take the quiz following the slideshow. The quiz will be worth 100 points, so put on your gator eyes and take notes like a real wetland investigator!
3. Take turns taking notes in your Wetland Waterlog for all writing activities, and investigate the following wetland research tools.
|
Hint: record information about where the wetland is found, what is looks like, what it provides for humans and ecosystems, what creatures live in or around it, etc. |
4. Visit these ten wetland research tools and record what you learned about each website. After viewing all websites, choose an animal you would like to support. In your original letter and slogan, you will use information found in this step to explain information about the creature and why it is important to help save it from extinction.
|
Hint: record information such as what makes the creature unique, how it benefits the world or other animals, and what the world would be like without the creature if it became extinct, etc. |
thinkquest.library.catagories
thinkquest.library.search
thinkquest.endangered.world.animals
thinkquest.7.endangered.animals
5. You will now prepare an original letter and Wetland Warrior Slogan to mail to The National Wildlife Refuge and United State's Congress (I will provide the stamped and addressed envelopes when your team is finished with the Web Quest.) Remember to do your best--you may become famous for your contributions to saving wetlands! You will need to include the following information in your letter:
|
School, subject, grade, team names |
|
What you have enjoyed most while learning about wetlands |
|
Endangered creature of choice and why |
|
Why wetlands and your creature should be saved |
|
Wetland Warriors Slogan |
|
Team signatures at the bottom |
 |
Beginning On-Task
Performance Does not listen or follow directions 0-59% of the time.
|
Developing On-Task Performance Listens with constant reminders and has difficulty following directions 60-79% of the time.
|
Accomplished On-Task Performance
Listens most of the time and follows most directions 80-89% of the time.
|
Exemplary On-Task
Performance Listens well and follows directions 90-100% of the time.
|
Score
| ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 13.9 pts | 14 - 15.9 pts | 16 -17.9 pts | 18 - 20 pts |
X pts | |||
|
Little or no descriptions of a few characteristics; reflecting a beginning level of performance. | Fair descriptions of several characteristics; reflecting development and movement toward mastery performance. | Good descriptions of most characteristics; reflecting mastery of performance. | Excellent descriptions of all characteristics; reflecting the highest level of performance. | |||
|
Descriptions of three or fewer research tool websites; reflecting a beginning level of performance. | Descriptions of at least four to six research tool websites; reflecting a movement toward fair performance. | Descriptions of at least seven to nine research tool websites; reflecting good performance. | Descriptions of all ten research tool websites; reflecting the highest level of performance. | |||
|
Poor or no teamwork and the team was unable to compromise on choosing the wetland specie. Little or no specie descriptions; reflecting a beginning level of performance. | Fair teamwork and compromising was difficult, needed compromising suggestions, or suggestions on choosing the wetland specie. Specie descriptions are poor and the characteristics are hard to identify; reflecting a movement toward mastery performance. | Good teamwork, was able to compromise on choosing the wetland specie, and specie descriptions are good; reflecting mastery performance. | Great teamwork on the selection of the team's wetland specie, and specie descriptions are excellent and detailed; reflecting the highest level of performance. | |||
|
Poor writing in one or both letters and does not cover stated topics, and has many grammatical errors; reflecting a beginning level of performance. | Fair writing in at least one letter and covers at least two topics, with several grammatical errors; reflecting a movement toward mastery performance. | Good writing in both letters and covers at least two topics, with a few grammatical errors; reflecting mastery performance. | Excellent writing in both letters and covers all topics, with little or no grammatical errors; reflecting the highest level of performance. | |||
|
Poor web navigation skills, cannot complete the web tasks or the quiz with assistance or as a team; below average performance characteristics reflecting a beginning level of performance. | Fair web navigation skills, needs constant assistance with most all tasks, and has difficulty completing the quiz as a team; low performance characteristics reflecting a movement toward mastery performance. | Good web navigation skills, needs some assistance with various tasks, and completes most of the quiz as a team; average performance characteristics reflecting mastery performance. | Excellent web navigation skills, needs little assistance, and is able to complete the quiz as a team; high performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance. |
| ||
| Total
Score
X / 100 pts A = 90 - 100 pts B = 80 - 89 pts C = 70 - 79 pts D = 60 - 69 pts F = 50 or fewer pts |
Conclusion
Congratulations! Your team has treaded through some murky water--but your boots and your investigating skills got you through it. Discovering the different types of wetlands and their characteristics was an important first step. Your investigation and analysis of wetland habitats and endangered species was critical for the next step. Producing the original letter and Wetland Warrior Slogan sent to The National Wildlife Refuge and United State's Congress was the culminating experience to support wetland preservation. Perhaps your ideas will gain public attention and encourage others to become active participants in similar events! Great job!
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Website:
Environmental Quality Website:
Oracle ThinkQuest Website:
http://www.thinkquest.org/index.html
Virtual Zoo Website:
http://library.thinkquest.org/11922/index.htm
Endangered Means There's Still Time Slide Show and Quiz:
http://training.fws.gov/deo/endang/index.html
Videos by:
http://www.infochembio.ethz.ch/links/en/zool_voegel_reiher.html
Music by:
http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com/
Rubric Evaluation Design by: