Introduction
The earth's ecosystem is in a crisis. Human activities are threatening plant and wildlife at alarming rates. Scientists believe species are becoming extinct at the rate of 1 every 15 minutes...100 each day...4,000-6,000 each year. Some estimates indicate that as much as one fifth of all the species on earth today will have vanished by the end of the century.
After specializing your research on one endangered animal, you will give a PowerPoint presentation for the Endangered Animal Foundation to raise donations to help preserve endangered animals.
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Task
The Endangered Animal Foundation needs contributions to continue its efforts to save endangered animals around the world. As an Endangered Animal Specialist (EAS), you have been hired to give PowerPoint presentations as well as hand out pamphlets to encourage donations to the Endangered Animal Foundation.
As an Endangered Animal Specialist, you will research an endangered animal and present its description, habitat, food web, adaptations, reasons for endangerment, and other critical information to convince groups and individuals to do their part to preserve the unique animal species we have on the earth today.
Process
1. Begin with the background information:
The sites listed below will help you learn more about how an animal becomes endangered. They will also give you plenty of reasons to support your argument for donating money to your cause. You can refer back to these sites at any time during your research to aid in developing a strong persuasive point for saving your specie.
What causes animals to become endangered?
This will help with your research for your persuasive presentation.
2. With a partner select an endangered animal from the list:
Please choose an animal that you would like on which you would like to become an expert. Once you choose and animal, you will need to research the 6 areas necessary for your presentation. Please do not limit yourself to the internet. You may also use any library resource available to you!
Please visit United Streaming at some point to see if there are any multi-media clips for you to use in your power point!Please see me for a username and password!
African Elephant
Bats
Black-footed Ferret
Black Rhino
Black Tailed Prairie Dog
California Condor
Dwarf Crocodile
Giant Panda
Gorilla
Gray Wolf
Humpback Whale
Hyacinth Macaw
Indian Python
Komodo Dragon
Leatherback Turtle
Manatee
Numbat
Orangutan
Tiger
3. Partners will evenly divide the six topics listed and research information using the links below each animal.
The topics listed in your data folder are:
• description
• habitat
• foodweb
• adaptations
• reasons for endangerment
• other important information
4. Working together partners will record information gathered on their data sheets.
5. When all topics have been researched partners will prepare a PowerPoint presentation. In this presentation partners will give expert and persuasive information about their animal from the six topics researched.
The presentation shall consist of:
6-12 slides
4-8 pictures and/or multimedia clips
6. In addition to the PowerPoint Presentation, the six topics researched must be presented in a tri-fold pamphlet created in Publisher. A copy of each pamphlet will be given to each student in the class.
7. All group members will participate in the PowerPoint presentation given to the class.
RESOURCES
Begin with the following Internet resources and their links.
http://www.defenders.org/ http://www.nbs.gov/features/kidscorner/slide1.html. This is a great place to begin your research. It is an online slide show by the U.S. Geological Survey where you can view pictures of endangered animals and discover the difference between extinct, endangered, and threatened animals. What does the title of the site imply?
http://www.arkive.org/ Here you can explore photos and videos about endangered species.
Eight things kids can do to help protect endangered species and their habitats- http://www.nwf.org/endangered/kids/g7kidsdo.html. This site presents some ways students can help. Do you have some other ideas for helping? Which activities could you design for second graders to participate in?
Endangered Specie.com – http://EndangeredSpecie.com (accessed 7/5/00). What species are located in New York State? This site will tell you and help you find interesting facts about them. Also you can learn about current laws to protect species. How are these laws enforced locally?
Kids Page-http://www.worldwildlife.org/fun/kids.cfm. Find out the major cause of endangered species and why we need to protect animals.
Endangered species- http://eelink.net/EndSpp. This site is provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service. You will find images and a regional map of endangered species.
Dodo-http://www.amnh.org/Exhibition/Expedition/Treasures/Dodo/dodo.html. The dodo was first seen about 1600 on Mauritus Island. By 1681 the Dodo was Extinct. Learn what happened.
Other Resources are available in the school library including books and encyclopedia CD-Roms.
Evaluation
Students will be required to take a post project survey. This will help assess what the students have learned throughout the course of the web quest:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1p5wlsF8Z4VZTHu3Ry1Bf4xw0xjJ5Imdbs51C1PX0rtk/viewform?usp=send_form
The students will also be evaluated on their presentation, pamphlet, and ability to cooperate with their partner. Below is a rubric that will be used to evaluate each project.
Conclusion
GOOD LUCK BOYS AND GIRLS - MOST OF ALL, DO NOT FORGET TO HAVE FUN!!!!
:)