Saving The Wetlands Grade 5 Webquest

Saving The Wetlands

A WebQuest for 5th Grade Science

Designed by Alan Matisz, Robert Dumanowski, Laura Hoffman

Assisted by Ray Hoger

You and your friend have a favourite marshy place where you enjoy playing and watching the creatures. You have read in the newspaper that Mr. Bill Dozer has applied to city hall for a permit to clear the marsh for new parking lot. You are horrified to learn about this as it means the loss of your favourite place to hang out, explore and observe your favourite creature. Fortunately, you heard on the radio that appeals regarding this development will be accepted by city hall for the next two months. You and your buddy have decided to launch an appeal and take action to try to save this special wetland area.

The Task Return To Top

You are going to put together a multi-media presentation to persuade city hall to put a halt to the proposed development. In order for your presentation to be successful, you will need to gather and organize information on the wetland area and your specific creature. You will then assemble it in a HyperStudio or PowerPoint format and present it to the appeal board.

The Process Return To Top

1. What is a wetland?

2. Why are wetlands important?

3. What kinds of creatures would be affected if the wetlands are destroyed?

To accomplish your task, you will need to select one creature from the list provided:

Dragonfly Nymp	Dragonfly Stickelbacks	Backswimmer Diving Beetle	Fresh Water Shrimp	Mosquito Larvae
Water Boatman	Leeches	Mayfly	Snails	Giant Water Bug
Water Strider	Water Flea	Water Mite	Copepods	The Midge
Predaceous Diving Beetle		Water Scavenger Beetle	Whirligig Beetle

In your research, you must answer the following questions specific to your creature:

a) Name

b) Description

c) Lifecycle

d) Habitat

e) How it moves

f) What are its predators?

g) Food

h) Adaptations (defenses)

i) Other facts

Click here to see a web of the Creatures in your search.

Resources Return To Top

Giant Water Bug	Dragonfly Nymph	Diving Beetle Backswimmer
Freshwater Shrimp	Mosquito Larvae	Water Boatman
Water Boatman 2	Stickelbacks	Leeches
Mayfly	Snails	Whirligig Beetle
Wetland Strider	Water Flea	Water Flea 2
Water Mite	Copepods	Midges
Predaceous Diving Beetle	Water Scavenger Beetle	Water Scavenger Beetle 2
General Wetland Resource Sites
Wetlands	Wetland 2	Wetlands 3
Wetlands 4	Wetlands 5

Evaluation Return To Top

Your mark will be calculated using the following rubric.

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Wetland Information (+ creature)	Few areas well covered, facts incomplete.	Some areas well covered, facts are somewhat weak.	Most areas well covered using factual information.	All areas are well covered using factual information
Mechanics	Includes more than 5 grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors, etc.	Includes 3-4 grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors, etc.	Includes 2-3 grammatical errors, misspellings, punctuation errors, etc.	Grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization are correct. No errors in the text.
Effects	Do not work well to enhance the presentation.	Works reasonably well to enhance the presentation, and are somewhat context based.	Generally work well, to enhance the presentation and are generally context based.	Transitions, sounds, animations, buttons all work well to greatly enhance the presentation, and are context based.
Cooperative Group Work	Cannot work with others in most situations. Cannot share decisions or responsibilities	Works with others, but has difficulty sharing decisions and responsibilities	Works well with others. Takes part in most decisions and contributes fair share to group.	Works well with others. Assumes a clear role and related responsibilities. Motivates others to do their best.
Presentation Skills	Great difficulty communicating ideas. Poor voice projection. Little preparation or incomplete work.	Some difficulty communicating ideas, due to voice projection, lack of preparation, or incomplete work	Communicates ideas with proper voice projection. Adequate preparation and delivery.	Communicates ideas with enthusiasm, proper voice projection, appropriate language, and clear delivery.
				Total

Conclusion Return To Top

Congratulations, your appeal to halt the development of Mr. Bill Dozer's parking lot has been received by city hall and is being carefully considered by the powers that be. You and your friend must now patiently wait until the wheels of justice begin to turn. Good luck.

Teachers Page Return To Top

ICT Outcomes

ICT Outcomes:

C.1 Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies. (2.1, 2.2)

C.3 Students will critically assess information accessed through the use of a variety of technologies. (2.2)

C.5 Students will use technology to aid collaboration during inquiry. (2.1)

C.6 Students will use technology to investigate and/or solve problems. (2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 2.6)

C.7 Students will use electronic research techniques to construct personal knowledge and meaning. (2.1, 2.2,)

F.1 Students will demonstrate an understanding of the nature of technology. (2.1,2.2,2.4)

F.3 Students will demonstrate a moral and ethical approach to the use of technology. (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 2.5 ,2.6, 2.7)

F.4 Students will become discerning consumers of mass media and electronic information. (2.1)

F.5 Students will practice the concepts of ergonomics and safety when using technology. (2.1, 2.2)

F.6 Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the operating skills required in a variety of technologies. (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4)

P.1 Students will compose, revise and edit text. (2.1, 2.2, 2.3)

P.3 Students will communicate through multimedia. (2.1, 2.2)

P.4 Students will integrate various applications. (2.2)

P.5 Students will navigate and create hyperlinked resources. (2.2, 2.3)

P.6 Students will use communication technology to interact with others. (2.1)

Credits & References Return To Top

Last updated on December 9, 2002. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page