Can This Habitat Be Saved?
A Webquest for Grade Three
Patricia M. Phalan
Introduction
You are a member of a team whose mission it is to help an endangered habitat survive. Although there are many areas on Earth in need of your help, your team will discover the one most deserving of a mock $10,000 Preservation Grant from the International Science Foundation. With this money and your team's ideas, this habitat or biome- desert, grassland, forest, or pond - and the plants, animals, and people who live there, will no longer be in danger. Your planet needs you. Let us begin.
The Task
Your team must convince all the third graders in our school to vote for your habitat to receive the $10,000 grant. You will succeed in this task if you work well with your group, research your habitat thoroughly, and prepare both a diorama and a convincing persuasive poster that shows your habitat and the dangers it faces.
The Process
1. First you will be assigned to a four person team. Each team will randomly choose one of four habitats, also called biomes - desert, grassland, forest, or pond.
2. All team members will be given Mission Folders in which you will keep your work. Be sure to write your name and role as well the names and roles of your team members on your Mission Folder.
3. Every team member will research on the Internet or at the library and find the names of five actual locations of their habitat. (Example: the Sahara Desert)
To find examples of your habitat, go to any of the following sites and type in the name of your habitat:
You may also go to www.enchantedlearning.com and scroll down to biomes to find your habitat and its characteristics.
4.
Every team member will investigate the five locations he/she found to see
if any of the five are in danger of being destroyed because of man or nature.
Add to Data Sheet 1
5. All teams will share their research results and choose one location among the group's to serve as their habitat in need of the grant. Add this to Data Sheet 1
6. All teams will investigate their chosen site while taking the following roles and assignments as determined by the teacher:
¨ the botanist - describe the habitat's plant life
¨ the zoologist - describe the habitat's animal life
¨ the sociologist - tell of any human life living there
¨ the environmentalist - describe any threats to the habitat's survival
¨ All members - describe the benefits to the rest of the Earth provided by the habitat, its plants, animals, and people.
7. Each group will organize and present its' findings in a PowerPoint presentation. See rubric for areas to be included: PowerPoint Rubric
8. Each group will brainstorm ways that $10,000 might be used to help their habitat survive. Print Data Sheet 3
9. Each group will create a 3D presentation of their habitat showing examples of the animal, plant, and human life that call it home. Threats to the habitat should also be included. These presentations shall be displayed in the library for review by all third graders for two weeks. See Rubric for Diorama
10. Using skills learned during English, each group will prepare a persuasive poster encouraging the third grade to select their habitat as most deserving of the $10,000 grant. These posters will be displayed on the walls near the third grade classrooms. See Rubric for Persuasive Poster
11. All third graders will be invited to vote on the habitat most deserving of the grant.
12. A "Presentation Ceremony" shall take place with the principal presenting the check to the winning group.
All products of this unit will be judged by the teacher as follows:
1 – Unacceptable 2 – Satisfactory 3 – Good 4 – Very Good
5 – Excellent/Complete
PowerPoint Presentation
Habitat presentation clearly shows:
· Name of habitat
· Global location
· Size
· Climate
· Defining characteristics
· Animals
· Plants
· People
· Threats to habitat’s well-being
· Suggestions for possible remedies to threats listed in detail
· Appropriate graphics are included
· Grammar, spelling, and punctuation edited
· A strong argument for receiving the grant is listed along with 3-5 facts and supporting details.
Persuasive Flyers
· Group opinion is clearly stated in opening paragraph.
· 3-5 facts regarding your opinion and supporting details are included.
· Group opinion is repeated at close of flyer.
· Graphics are colorful, attractive, and show the habitat.
· A request for support of your habitat receiving the grant is clearly stated.
· Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct.
3D Presentation
· Five animals common to the habitat are shown.
· Five plants common to the habitat are shown.
· Climate is clearly illustrated.
· Threat to habitat is clearly illustrated.
· Presentation is neat and colorful.
· Title to presentation is carefully stated.
Total Points
PowerPoint _____
Flyers _____
3D Presentation ______
Total / 125
Conclusion
When you have completed this project you will have worked well with your group, learned a lot about several habitats, and maybe earned a grant to save one of them. Congratulations!!!