Invertebrate Research Webquest

Introduction

Mrs. LaRose's Class

Welcome!  In this webquest, you will choose one specific species of invertebrate that really captivated you during our unit.  You will indendently use your research skills to create a slideshow presentation to present to the class about your chosen animal. 

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS:  

  • Students can identify common characteristics to classify animals.
  • Students can use multiple sources to understand and communicate about a topic.
  • Students can effectively present on a topic or text.
  • Students can use strategies to avoid plagiarism.
  • Students can use technology and multimedia to present an idea or topic.

RUBRIC

Slide Show (Grading Rubric)

Name: _____________________________________Date_______________________

 

STANDARDS

Exceeds

Meets

Partially Meets

Does Not Meet

5.RIT.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.

Slideshow contains information from the recommended websites.  The bibliography is complete and written in MLA format.

All information used is relevant, none is repeated.

All visuals have a caption giving credit to the source.

Slideshow contains information from the 5 recommended websites. The bibliography is complete, and the student attempts to use MLA format. All info is relevant.

Slideshow only includes 4 or less sources and/or the bibliography is not complete. The visuals do not have captions. Some irrelevant info.

Slideshow does not cite the sources used.

5.RIT.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.

Synthesize more than 12 facts on a topic using 3 or more sources in a writing or speaking project.

Synthesize 10-12 facts on a topic using 3 or more sources in a writing or speaking project.

 

Synthesize 4-9 facts on a topic using 1-3 sources in a writing or speaking project.

Synthesize less than 4 facts on a topic using 1-3 sources in a writing or speaking project.

5.W.7 Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

 

Demonstrates understanding of a topic using 3 or more sources and thoroughly examines more than 3 aspects of a topic.

 

Demonstrates understanding of a topic using 3 sources and 3 aspects of a topic.

 

Demonstrates limited understanding of a topic using 2 sources and 2 aspects of a topic.

 

Does not demonstrate a clear understanding of the topic OR uses only 1 source.

5.W.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.

Independently uses credible and accurate sources of information, avoids plagiarism, and provides a complete list of sources.

With guidance and support: uses credible and accurate sources of information, avoids plagiarism, and provides a complete list of sources.

Does 1 of the following: Uses sources that are not credible or accurate, plagiarizes, neglects to provide a list of sources.

Does 2-3 of the following: Uses sources that are not credible or accurate, plagiarizes, neglects to provide a list of sources.

5.SL.4 Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes: speak clearly at an understandable pace.

Report includes:

clear opinion/purpose/theme, logical sequence of ideas, accurate and convincing facts to describe the topic, speaks clearly and dynamically 

Report includes:

clear opinion/purpose/theme, logical sequence of ideas, accurate and sufficient facts to describe the topic, speaks clearly at an understandable pace

Report is missing 1-2:

clear opinion/purpose/theme, logical sequence of ideas, accurate and sufficient facts to describe the topic, speaks clearly at an understandable pace

Report is missing 3-4:

clear opinion/purpose/theme, logical sequence of ideas, accurate and sufficient facts to describe the topic, speaks clearly at an understandable pace

5.SL.5 Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.

Each slide has at least one visual.  The presentation includes one video.  All visuals directly relate to the info on the slide and compliment the presentation.

Each Slide has at least one visual that compliments the specific information on that slide..

Most slides have visuals, some are not directly related to the slide's topic.

More than one slide has no visual, or some visuals are irrelevant.

L.5.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

No errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization

Few errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization

Several errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization

Many errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization

 

 

Identifies characteristics to classify animals.

All information is accurate and detailed. Slide show fully covers the characteristics of the assigned class.

Slide show contains adequate information to cover the class.

Slide show is missing some key characteristics of the class.

Slide show is simplistic and does not contain enough info. to cover the species

 

 

Task

You will become an expert on a specific animal from our invertbrate unit.   You will present your information to the class in a short slideshow presentation.  

You will be teachers!

 

You will create your presentation using Google Drive.

This is an independent assignment to show the skills you have picked up regarding technology, research, writing, reading and speaking.

 

You will research your animal, and take notes, avoiding plagiarism.

You will create a slideshow of the animal's characteristics with multimedia graphics.

You will present the show to the class.

 

Process

STEP ONE: Optain a copy of the note taking chart from Mrs. LaRose.  Select an invertebrate.  Remember, you are not covering the whole phylum; just a specific species, for example, "clams" instead of mollusks.  Fill in the information at the top.

 

 

STEP TWO: Review this handout on plagiarism.  Remember the strategies you used to avoid it in your last project.  Remember to put your notes into your own words.  Do not copy and paste directly from the source websites!  Use the chart to help keep track of where you are getting your information.  Begin researching.  You must find at least 3 good, reliable sources.  NO BLOGs.  When you find your three sites, bookmark each of them.  You must copy the source information on your bibliography chart before proceeding.  

 

 

STEP THREE:  Go back to your first website.  Read it in its entirety.  Then, go back and begin putting facts in your own words on the notetaking chart.  Repeat with the remaining sources.  Fill in each section as best you can.  At the end, if you notice one section is weak, look up an additional source to fill in any gaps in information that you have.

 

 

STEP FOUR: Close all your websites.  DO NOT COPY AND PASTE ANYTHING FROM THEM.   Create the slideshow in Google Drive.  Share the file to me.  Remember to give credit for all images utilized in the slide show.  The last slide must be a list of resources in order to avoid plagiarism. Please site the websites carefully in MLA format.  Use www.easybib.com to help you generate the citation. Fill in the information from the chart you created in step 2.  Each section on the chart is a seperate slide.  

9 Slides:

Cover (include the name of the animal, its invertebrate class, and your name, grade, teacher

Adaptations/Description

Movement

Protection

Diet

Habitat

Reproduction

Other interesting facts that don't fit elsewhere

Sources

STEP FIVE: Check the rubric to make sure you have met all the requirements.   Practice your presentation. 

 

 

STEP SIX:  Present to the class!  Celebrate your learning!

 

Evaluation

The slideshow will have 9 slides completed independently. 

You must have:

Cover (include the name of the animal, its invertebrate class, and your name, grade, teacher)

  1. Adaptations/Description

    Movement

    Protection

    Diet

    Habitat

    Reproduction

    Other interesting facts that don't fit elsewhere

    Sources

     

  2. The last slide must be a list of resources in order to avoid plagiarism.  Please site the websites carefully in MLA format.  Use www.easybib.com to help you generate the citation. 

 

RUBRIC

Slide Show (Grading Rubric)

Name: _____________________________________Date_______________________

 

STANDARDS

Exceeds

Meets

Partially Meets

Does Not Meet

Student uses multiple sources to understand and communicate about a topic.

Slideshow contains information from the recommended websites PLUS one other source (print, Internet, etc). The bibliography is complete and written in MLA format.

All visuals have a caption giving credit to the source.

Slideshow contains information from the 4 recommended websites. The bibliography is complete, and the student attempts to use MLA format. Visuals have captions giving credit to the source.

Slideshow only includes 3 sources and/or the bibliography is not complete. The visuals do not have captions.

Slideshow does not cite the sources used.

Mechanics:Uses proper grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

No errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Few errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Several errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Many errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

 

 

Student effectively presents on a topic or text.

Visuals are eye catching, interesting, and compliment the information. Each slide contains more than one visual. Student presents using proper speaking techniques discussed in class. The presentation is dynamic and keeps our attention.

Visuals are eye catching, interesting, and compliment the invertebrate slide shows. Each slide contains at least one visual. Student presents using proper speaking techniques discussed in class.

Visuals seem random and are not connected to the facts. There are visuals missing from some slides. The presenter does not communicate the information clearly.

No visuals used. The presenter is unprepared.

Identifies characteristics to classify animals.

All information is accurate and detailed. Slide show fully covers the characteristics of the assigned class.

Slide show contains adequate information to cover the class.

Slide show is missing some key characteristics of the class.

Slide show is simplistic and does not contain enough info. to cover the species
Conclusion

I hope you had fun learning about how to classify vertebrates!  Try out some of these fun games and videos while you wait for other groups to finish.  Enjoy the presentations!

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/animalclassgame.htm

 

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/kidscorner_games.htm

 

Classfication Song (Based on "Animal" by Neon Trees)

Credits

by Abbey LaRose