Rainforest Exhibit

Introduction

    

 Exploring the Rainforest

 

        

The rainforest is a wet area habitated by various plants and animals.The rain forest is nearly self-watering. The plants in this habitat release water into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration. In the tropics, each canopy tree can release about 200 gallons of water each year. 

                                 

Now that you have learned a little about the rainforest. You have a job to do! Right now the River Banks Zoo has a small rainforest exhibit with few animals and plants. Columbia wants to built a bigger habitat with more animals and plants. They need you as a group to discover animals and plants that could go into this exhibit. As a team you will work together to find out as much as possible about the rainforest and what lives within it. 

 

Task

To help out with this project you need to:

1. Research information about 10 different animals and plants.

2. Create a presentation on your findings.

    -Make a powerpoint that you will show to the Behavioral Ecologist 

     who will be opening the new exhibit in Columbia.

                                                  

Things you need to find out:

1. Common and scientific name of the animal/plant.

2. What rainforest does the animal/plant live in?

3. Habitat and size of animal/plant.

4. What does the animal eat?

5. Is the animal endangered?

6. Does the animal have a way to protect itself?

*When researching plants you may have less information to provide compared to the animals. If you find something exciting or interesting feel free to include this in your research. 

Process

The Process: 

Visit these websites to learn about animals and plants in the rainforest. While searching for plants and animals in the different rainforests make sure to record information you will need to use in your groups powerpoint. 

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids/species-profiles

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_animal_page.htm

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/facts.html

These websites will give you everything you need to learn more about the rainforest and what lives in it. Take your time and learn how important and intertesting rainforests really are. 

Evaluation


    

          Exhibit Rubric        

 

1

2

3

Following Directions

I did not follow directions and   had a difficult time understanding what to do.

 

I followed directions, but had a   difficult time staying on task and had to be reminded at times.

 I followed   all directions and was always on task.

 

Working in Your Group

I was unable to   work well with my group.  I did not   help my group.

I had   difficulties with my group, but I helped my group somewhat.

I had no   problems working with my group.

 

Use of Resources

I did not use   the resources.

I used some   resources well.

I used all the   resources I had to finish my reports.

 

Power Point Content

The information   provided was insufficient.

The information   was okay, but was missing some important details.

The information   that was provided covered all the required material


 

 

Conclusion

Great job working together to help create a new exhibit!! 

Now that you've learned all about rainforest, animals, and plants. You are ready to present your findings to the Rainforest Ecologist. Your findings will eventually help the process of turning your ideas into an actual habitat for plants and animals.

Credits

If you would like to learn more about the rainforest you can check out these websites, each of them provide interesting information about the rainforest. 

http://www.mrsgebauer.com/rainforestweb/WebQuest.htm

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/rainforest-profile/

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/what.html Also make sure you check out these books that talk about the rainforest too:The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
The Rainforest Grew all Around by Susan Mitchell 

Teacher Page

The purpose of this Webquest is to engage the students in an exciting activity that will help the students learn about different characteristics of each organism.

The task provided in this WebQuest will facilitate research skills, as well as writing skills. The students will spend time researching their organism, and then they will write their answers in their own words.

Content Areas:

This WebQuest includes the following content areas: introducation, task, process, evaluation, conclusioin, and credits. It is directed towards 3rd- 4th grade students below the 3rd grade level, the students may need assistance while performing the tasks provided in this WebQuest.

Objective:

3.L.5A.1  Analyze and interpret data about the characteristics of environments (including salt and fresh water, deserts, grasslands, forests, rain forests, and polar lands) to describe how the environment supports a variety of organisms.

The students are to work in groups. The students would then research 10 different plants and animas that would live in the rainforest. Then the students will do the appropriate research to answer the questions that the task includes, and they will make a power point.

Special resources needed:

Computers with internet acces

Microsoft powerpoint

Notebook for research