Endangered Animal Web Quest

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Introducti on Evaluation Task Conclusion Process Who is Who is REALLY REALLY in “danger”? in “danger”? The Endangered Animal Crisis Designed by Ms. Mac 7th Grade Science Fall 2007

description

WebQuest for 7th grade science students studying evolution:As a scientist, you are worried about the mass extinction going on. You decide that you need to do something about it. You develop a plan. First, you will pick one endangered animal species that you will study in detail. You will fill out “Field Notes,” then research the evolution of your species and create a “branching diagram”. You will write a 300-word essay about your species and create a visual displaying all of the information that you learned about your species (a poster, brochure, model, etc.). To communicate your findings to your colleagues, you will make a short presentation explaining everything you learned about your endangered animal species.

Transcript of Endangered Animal Web Quest

Page 1: Endangered Animal Web Quest

Introduction

Evaluation

Task Conclusion

Process

Who is Who is REALLY REALLY in “danger”? in “danger”?

The Endangered Animal Crisis

Designed by Ms. Mac7th Grade Science

Fall 2007

Page 2: Endangered Animal Web Quest

I n t r o d u c t i o n All the creatures on Earth are important in some All the creatures on Earth are important in some

way. way. From the beginning of time, extinction has moved at a From the beginning of time, extinction has moved at a pretty regular rate (it has stayed almost the same). Today the pretty regular rate (it has stayed almost the same). Today the rate is moving much faster! Scientists believe this is the sixth rate is moving much faster! Scientists believe this is the sixth mass extinctionmass extinction on Earth. on Earth.

HumansHumans weren’t here for any of the mass extinctions in weren’t here for any of the mass extinctions in the past, but this time we may not only witness it, we are the past, but this time we may not only witness it, we are probably the probably the cause of it allcause of it all. Human population has more . Human population has more than than doubleddoubled in just fifty years, and that is the biggest reason in just fifty years, and that is the biggest reason why there is less room for any other species. why there is less room for any other species.

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I n t r o d u c t i o nWe are taking We are taking

their living space their living space to grow our food; to grow our food; then taking their then taking their

food to feed food to feed ourselves. We ourselves. We

are are usingusing them, them, squeezingsqueezing them them

to the edge, then to the edge, then offoff, their , their habitats!habitats!

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I n t r o d u c t i o nToday, more than 12,000 species face an extinction risk. If you Today, more than 12,000 species face an extinction risk. If you

don’t care about animals and plants, how could their extinction still don’t care about animals and plants, how could their extinction still affect you? Many species keep us alive! They purify water, fix nitrogen, affect you? Many species keep us alive! They purify water, fix nitrogen, recycle nutrients and waste, make medicine for us, and pollinate crops. recycle nutrients and waste, make medicine for us, and pollinate crops. Plants and bacteria do photosynthesis, which makes the oxygen we Plants and bacteria do photosynthesis, which makes the oxygen we breathe. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas given breathe. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas given off by human activities. But not only are they helpful to people, they off by human activities. But not only are they helpful to people, they also make us money! US researchers calculated that animals and plants also make us money! US researchers calculated that animals and plants make over $34 trillion every year! make over $34 trillion every year! Helping other species keep their Helping other species keep their living space is not emotional. It is the only way we will survive.living space is not emotional. It is the only way we will survive.

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T a s k7th grade California Health Framework Standards

addressed in “Endangered Animal Crisis”

3a. Students know both genetic variation and 3a. Students know both genetic variation and environmental factors are causes of evolution and diversity.environmental factors are causes of evolution and diversity.

3d. Students know how to construct a simple branching diagram to 3d. Students know how to construct a simple branching diagram to classify living groups of organisms by shared derived characteristics classify living groups of organisms by shared derived characteristics

and how to expand the diagram to include fossil organisms.and how to expand the diagram to include fossil organisms.

3e. Students know that extinction of a species occurs when 3e. Students know that extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the adaptive characteristics the environment changes and the adaptive characteristics

of a species are insufficient for its survival. of a species are insufficient for its survival.

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T a s k As a scientist, you are worried about the mass As a scientist, you are worried about the mass

extinction going on. You decide that you need to do extinction going on. You decide that you need to do something about it! You develop a plan. First, you something about it! You develop a plan. First, you pick one endangered animal species that you will pick one endangered animal species that you will study in detail. study in detail.

Next, you will fill out “Field Notes,” then research Next, you will fill out “Field Notes,” then research the evolution of your species, and create a “branching the evolution of your species, and create a “branching diagram”. You will write a 300-word essay about your diagram”. You will write a 300-word essay about your species and create a “visual” displaying all of the species and create a “visual” displaying all of the information that you learned about your species (a information that you learned about your species (a poster, brochure, model, etc.). poster, brochure, model, etc.).

To communicate your findings to your colleagues, To communicate your findings to your colleagues, you will make a presentation explaining everything you will make a presentation explaining everything you learned about your endangered animal species.you learned about your endangered animal species.

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P r o c e s s After you have looked through the lists I’ve After you have looked through the lists I’ve

provided, books, and websites about provided, books, and websites about endangered animals and picked one species to endangered animals and picked one species to

study, you are ready to begin!study, you are ready to begin! Get a “Field Notes” paper from your teacher or Get a “Field Notes” paper from your teacher or

print it out so that you can organize the print it out so that you can organize the information that you find.information that you find.

Start researching! Use ONLY these websites at Start researching! Use ONLY these websites at school to find out the answers to your “Field school to find out the answers to your “Field Notes” questions and to gather pictures and Notes” questions and to gather pictures and

interesting facts about your animal.interesting facts about your animal.

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WEB SITE RESOURCES

epa.gov/espp/posterepa.gov/espp/posterwww.iucnredlist.org/www.iucnredlist.org/www.fws.gov/educators/S_birds.htmlwww.fws.gov/educators/S_birds.htmlwww.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.htmlwww.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.htmlen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page encarta.msn.com/media_461562982_761557586_-1_1/Snow_Leopard.htmlencarta.msn.com/media_461562982_761557586_-1_1/Snow_Leopard.htmlwww.worldwildlife.org/elephants/www.worldwildlife.org/elephants/www.worldwildlife.org/gorillas/www.worldwildlife.org/gorillas/www.worldwildlife.org/rhinos/www.worldwildlife.org/rhinos/www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/antelope/Antelopecoloring.shtmlwww.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/antelope/Antelopecoloring.shtmlwww.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/elephant/Asiancoloring.shtmlwww.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/elephant/Asiancoloring.shtmlwww.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/hyena/Hyena.shtmlwww.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/hyena/Hyena.shtmlwww.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/monkey/Mandrillprintout.shtmlwww.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/monkey/Mandrillprintout.shtmlwww.worldwildlife.org/tigers/www.worldwildlife.org/tigers/www.nwf.org/wildlife/www.nwf.org/wildlife/www.lpzoo.org/animals/mammal_list.html www.lpzoo.org/animals/mammal_list.html www.buffalozoo.org/mammals.html www.buffalozoo.org/mammals.html www.cincyzoo.org/Exhibits/AnimalExhibits/animalexhibits.html www.cincyzoo.org/Exhibits/AnimalExhibits/animalexhibits.html www.clemetzoo.com/animals/www.clemetzoo.com/animals/www.oaklandzoo.orgwww.oaklandzoo.orgwww.okczoo.orgwww.okczoo.orgwww.philadelphiazoo.org/index.php?id=3_1_1www.philadelphiazoo.org/index.php?id=3_1_1www.scz.org/mammals.html www.scz.org/mammals.html www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/mammals/www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/mammals/

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P r o c e s sOpen a new “notes” word document to copy and paste facts, write notes, Open a new “notes” word document to copy and paste facts, write notes,

and compile important pictures.and compile important pictures.

1.1. Open a Open a MicrosoftMicrosoft WordWord document. document. 2.2. Go to Go to ViewView, then to , then to Toolbars Toolbars at the topat the top.. Make sure that the “Standard” Make sure that the “Standard”

and “Formatting” toolbars are checked (if they are not, click on each and “Formatting” toolbars are checked (if they are not, click on each one and make sure that they pop up on the screen).one and make sure that they pop up on the screen).

3.3. Type your Type your headingheading at the top of the page: Name, Date, Period, and the at the top of the page: Name, Date, Period, and the name of the endangered animal you’re studying. name of the endangered animal you’re studying.

4.4. Save your document: Save your document: Go to “File” then click on “Save As” and type Go to “File” then click on “Save As” and type your first name, last name, animal’s name, and “notes”, then click your first name, last name, animal’s name, and “notes”, then click “Save” (for example: Ali MacDonald Koala Bears notes).“Save” (for example: Ali MacDonald Koala Bears notes).

5.5. When you find useful information: highlight, copy (ctrl C), and paste When you find useful information: highlight, copy (ctrl C), and paste (ctrl P) the useful information into a (ctrl P) the useful information into a WordWord document. document.

6.6. After After EVERYEVERY  copy and paste, go back to the SAME web site and follow   copy and paste, go back to the SAME web site and follow all the steps in #6 above for the URL (web address which begins with all the steps in #6 above for the URL (web address which begins with ""http://http://"). ").

7.7. Save Save your document every time you add something! your document every time you add something!

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P r o c e s sNow, use the information from your word document Now, use the information from your word document

“notes” and your “Field Notes” paper to write a “notes” and your “Field Notes” paper to write a 300-word (or more) essay about your species.300-word (or more) essay about your species.

Open a new document in Mircrosoft Word. Open a new document in Mircrosoft Word. ““Save AsSave As” your first name, last name, animal ” your first name, last name, animal

name, and “essay”. name, and “essay”. Organize the information that you have gathered Organize the information that you have gathered

into paragraphs, starting with an introduction into paragraphs, starting with an introduction and ending with a conclusion. and ending with a conclusion.

Do a final Do a final SaveSave. . Get approval from your teacher before you print.Get approval from your teacher before you print.

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P r o c e s s After you have finished gathering information and After you have finished gathering information and

writing your essay, it is time to communicate what writing your essay, it is time to communicate what you’ve learned with as many people as you can.you’ve learned with as many people as you can.

To show the evolution of your species, you will create a To show the evolution of your species, you will create a “branching diagram”. This will help you describe your “branching diagram”. This will help you describe your species and why it is important.species and why it is important.

Next, create a visual displaying all of the information Next, create a visual displaying all of the information that you learned about your species (a poster, brochure, that you learned about your species (a poster, brochure, or model). You will use this in the next step.or model). You will use this in the next step.

Finally, you will make a presentation explaining Finally, you will make a presentation explaining everything you learned about your endangered animal everything you learned about your endangered animal species using the branching diagram and the visual species using the branching diagram and the visual that you created.that you created.

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E v a l u a t i o nChecklist: Items to be Turned InChecklist: Items to be Turned In

1.1. Completed “Field Notes” SheetCompleted “Field Notes” Sheet

2.2. 300-(or more)-word Essay 300-(or more)-word Essay

3.3. Branching DiagramBranching Diagram

4.4. Visual (poster, brochure, or model)Visual (poster, brochure, or model)

Endangered Animal Project Endangered Animal Project RubricRubric

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C o n c l u s i o nCongratulations! Not only have you learned a lot about Congratulations! Not only have you learned a lot about evolutionevolution through your research, you have also through your research, you have also learned about the learned about the importanceimportance of all different kinds of of all different kinds of species in the world. species in the world.

Now, it’s time to Now, it’s time to shareshare your research and your research and understanding with others! Have you told your family? understanding with others! Have you told your family? Your friends? Your other teachers at school? Who else Your friends? Your other teachers at school? Who else could you help to understand? What else could you do could you help to understand? What else could you do to help? to help?

Your species does not have much time left. If you don’t Your species does not have much time left. If you don’t do something about it now…what might happen?do something about it now…what might happen?