Animals of the Rainforest WebQuest

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Animals of the Rainforest
A WebQuest for 3rd Grade

Designed by

Maureen Mooney
Email me with your comments or questions.

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

Introduction

Welcome to the Rainforest. You are now being hired as a Rainforest Animal Expert. There are many people who want to get rid of the beautiful rainforest to make money from the land. Over half of all plant and animal species live in the rainforest. Save the Rainforest Project needs your help to tell these companies about so many of these wonderful creatures and why the rainforest is important to these animals. Your job over the next month will be to research and develop a written report, visual project, and be prepared for an oral presentation about an animal that lives in the rainforest. You will need to explain why your animal needs the rainforest to survive.

After choosing the animal in class with your teacher, you will need to follow the steps provided to make your journey a success. You will use non-fiction books, CD-ROMS, and the internet to gain valuable information about your animal. The class will be starting in the library to research and take notes. There are many books available in our school library as well as in your classroom that you will be able to borrow. You will also use the internet for current facts and pictures of your animal for your written report. Good Luck!

The Task

Now that you have choosen your Rainforest Animal, you are required to address several questions in your written report. The written report should include pictures or your own illustrations of your animal. You should write in complete sentences. The final report should be put together in an attractive way (mounting the pages, using a folder, etc.) If you include your information on your visual piece, you will still need to hand in another copy to your teacher. You are required to hand in on May 1, 2001 a written report that covers these questions:
1. What layer of the Rainforest does your animal live in?

2. Does it come out during the day or at night?

3. What does your animal like to eat?

4. Which animals like to eat your animal? (Who are its enemies?)

5. How does your animal protect itself?

6. Describe how your animal looks.

7. What makes your animal special? Write something you have learned about your animal that makes it unique.

8. Describe how your animal is in danger from people.

Each of you will need to have one or more visuals to show the class during your presentation. This is where you can really get creative! You may try one or more of the following ideas or clear a new project with your teacher:

an animal mask;

diorama of the animal and its habitat;

colorful poster;

paper mache animal;

power point slide show;

make and wear an animal costume;

a painting;

make a video;

or another creative way to get your animal to come to life.

After you have researched and written your report, you will be ready to tell your classmates about your animal. Rather than reading directly from your report, each of you will tell what you have learned and show your visual project. Make sure that you practice telling a family member or two what you learned about the wonderful animal you have spent time researching.

The Process
1. First you will pick an animal to begin to research. You will need to keep track of all the information you gather in your Social Studies notebook.
2. Once you have the name of your animal, you will begin to look for information in different sources. You will need to keep track of where you found your information by writing the author, title, and copyright date for each source of information.
3. You will need to find information from at least one book source, a CD-ROM, and a website. We will work in the Library Media Center for five class periods and will have class time too.
4. You will take notes on all the questions listed above in your Social Studies Notebook and any other information on your animal that you think is interesting.
5. Once you have finished gathering information, you will need to write a sloppy copy of your report that will be handed in to your teacher to edit.
6. Your teacher will go over the edited copy with you, then you will work on the final draft. This may be done at home or in the computer center.
7. At home you will work on the visual project of your choice that shows some detail about how your animal lives.
8. Practice your oral presentation with your family. You may use index cards to help you.
9. Bring in both written report and visual project on May 1st.
10. Each of you will be doing your oral presentations one day that week.
Research
Here are some Internet sites with information on your Animal:
Animals of the Rainforest --A wonderful place to find your animal by species (mammal, reptile, amphibian). This site has more links to research to find out more information.

Zoom School...Rainforest --Shows you some information on several rainforest animals. Includes pages to print off of rainforest animals.

Very Cool Bugs -- Describes many kinds of insects, spiders, and butterflies.

Kids' Action: Rainforest Animals-- A page with a few animals and reasons for protecting the rainforest.
ZOOM SCHOOL-- Lists a large number of animals and how they grow.
Rainforest Live KidZone--Many animals are mentioned with some facts. You can search their page for pictures and facts.
Rainforest Explorer--Good selection of animals with facts.
Seaworld..Animal Bytes -- Lots of good animal links!

Evaluation

You will be given an individual report card based on the rubric below that will tell how well you completed your task.

Not Yet

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score

Completes and hands in both a written report and visual assignment

Never hands in a project or report Is late with both assignments Hands in only one, not both Hands in both assignments on the date they are due

Hands in written report that is well-presented with a cover and has drawings or photographs

Has no cover or illustrations and the written report is not readable Has no cover or illustrations and the text is messy Has no cover or limited illustrations Has cover and well illustrated, neatly written or typed report

Presents an informative oral presentation to the class

Does not present material from written report Leaves out material from written report Covers all material from written report Covers all material from written report and adds many more details.

Spends time and creates and age-appropriate project on assigned animal

Project is not related to the rainforest. Project is incomplete. Project is finished. Project is creative and age-appropriate.

Learns more about the rainforest and has fun(Child circles one)
I didn't like learning about the rainforests. Project was sort of fun. I liked this project. This was the best project!

Conclusion

Once the month long project is completed, the students will have learned not only about their own Rainforest animal and also about many more animals that live in the rainforest. They will hopefully have a better appreciation for why Rainforests need to be saved and not destroyed since so many creatures rely on this tropical ecosystem.

KIDS! Have a little more fun on these sites and find out what you can do to help protect the rainforest.
Kids' Action
Toucan Sam's Rainforest Page
PBS Science In The Rainforest

Rainforest Workshop

References

If you would like to read more about Rainforests, please check out these books:

One Day in the Tropical Rainforest by Jean Craighead George

Tropical Rainforests by Jean Hamilton

A Walk in the Rainforest by Kristin Joy Pratt

or ask your librarian to help you!

Last updated on March 23, 2001. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page