Introduction
Welcome, young scientists! Have you ever wondered why some things grow, move, and need food while others do not? In this Web Quest, you will discover the differences between living and nonliving things. You will explore what all living things need to survive and how they change over time. Our learning objectives connects to Bloom's Taxonomy by helping you understand, analyze, and apply what you learn about the world around you!
Guiding Questions:
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What makes something living or nonliving?
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What do all living things need to grow and survive?
Task
You will work in small groups to create a narrated PowerPoint presentation about living and nonliving things. Your group will research and explain the characteristics of living and nonliving things, provide examples, and showcase your findings with pictures and audio narration.. At the end of the project, you will present your PowerPoint to the class!
Process
You will be placed into groups of four. Each student will have a specific role:
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Researcher: Finds information about living and nonliving things.
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Illustrator: Finds or creates pictures to represent examples.
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Writer: Organizes and writes the content for slides.
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Narrator: Records the audio for the presentation.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
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Step 1: Visit these websites to gather information:
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Step 2: Discuss your findings with your group and decide how to present the information.
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Step 3: Work together to create a PowerPoint with at least five slides covering:
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Title Slide with your names
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Definition of living and nonliving things
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Characteristics of living things
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Examples of living and nonliving things
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Fun Fact Slide
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Step 4: Record narration for each slide.
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Step 5: Review your PowerPoint and make final edits.
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Step 6: Present your PowerPoint to the class!
Evaluation
Your project will be evaluated using the following rubric:
| Category | 4 (Excellent) | 3 (Good) | 2 (Fair) | 1 (Needs Improvement) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content Accuracy | Information is accurate and well-explained | Mostly accurate with minor errors | Some inaccuracies present | Multiple errors in content |
| Creativity | Presentation is engaging and visually appealing | Good visuals and effort | Some effort, but lacks creativity | Minimal effort shown |
| Teamwork | All group members contributed effectively | Most members contributed | Some members contributed | Little teamwork observed |
| Narration | Clear, engaging, and well-paced | Mostly clear, minor issues | Some difficulty in understanding | Hard to hear or unclear narration |
Conclusion
Great job, scientists! You have learned how to distinguish between living and nonliving things and what living things need to survive. Keep exploring the world around you and never stop asking questions!