Introduction
by Amy Jackson
You will explore internet web pages and gather information about a variety of sharks. You will produce a brochure for the comapny, "Shark Crossing". You will also write an informational news article about sharks.
Introduction
Have you ever thought about how many different kind of sharks there are in the fresh water and ocean water ecosystems? Maybe you havn't, because the sharks you hear and see about in books and on television are only a few of the many different types of sharks that live under the water. Sharks do more than attack humans, as we often hear about on the news. It's nice to gain a better understanding of how different sharks are unique and important to the ecosystem.
Shark Crossing is a company whose mission statement is to provide scuba divers with educational information and underwater experiences that will increase their awareness of the importance of different sharks in the ecosystem.
Shark: a long-bodied chiefly marine fish with a cartilaginous skeleton, a prominent dorsal fin, and toothlike scales. Most sharks are predatory, although the largest kinds feed on plankton
You have been hired by Shark Crossing to provide educational materials to the public and to lead underwater tours, identifying and watching many different sharks as they interact with the ecosystem.
Go to the Task page now to see how you will create your brochure and organize your article information.
Task
Fast Fact: The world has more than 300
shark species!
Task
We want you to be successful in your tasks so we have compiled some great websites that will give you the right information to become our best guide and educator. Before you can begin leading groups into the open water, we need you to create a brochure for our customers and we need you to write a report for the world news agencies. Your brochure will be used to inform and attract customers. Your news report will be used to inform people about sharks and their contribution to their ecosystems.
Good luck and have fun!
Proceed to the Process page to continue.
Process
Process
You will first need to gather information about sharks.
Please visit the following websites:
Sharks-World Discovery: Shark Week
Great White Fact File PBS: Who's Who of Sharks
PBS: Shark Attack! Animals Time: All About Animals for Kids
Please use the graphic organizer to help you organize the information you are collecting. Use this to help you as you prepare your brochure and write your news article.
Step 1 of the mission is complete.
FANTASTIC JOB! You have learned so much about sharks!
We need you to design and publish a brochure about Shark Crossing. The brochure will need to include information about sharks and their environment. This should be colorful, exciting, and accurate. The brochure will be used to entice customers and also to provide information to the public. Don't forget to include information about underwater tours and adventures!
Please visit National Geographic: Coloring Pages for ideas.
You can also find more photos of sharks at Google.com
Step 2 of the mission is complete.
The media seems to only be interested in sharks if they have attcked a human. However, after all of your research, you know now that sharks rarely attack humans and only a few types of sharks are that aggressive. It is our duty to help the media inform the public about sharks and the contributions sharks make to the environment. Write a news article to be published in the local paper about sharks. Who knows, if the article is good enough, we might see it in other papers! Describe the different types of sharks and include photographs. Advise the public about shark attacks and how to avoid the predatory sharks. Do not forget to describe the sharks that are harmless to humans. Your article should contain accurate information about sharks. It should be well written and organized. Do not forget to tell the public about the company you now work for, Shark Crossing!
You may use the following template to write your article. This template is an option, not a requirement.
*Visit the Evaluation page to make sure you are following the guidelines in order to receive the best grade possible for this assignment*
Step 3 of the mission is complete!
Evaluation
Evaluation
Your work will be evaluated on the following rubric.
Name __________________________________
| Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Accomplished 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Score | ||
| Assignment | ||||||
| Research & Gather Information | Does not collect any information that relates to the topic. | Collects very little information--some relates to the topic. | Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic. | Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic. | ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brochure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Share Information | Does not relay any information. | Relays very little information--some relates to the topic. | Relays some basic information--most relates to the topic. | Relays a great deal of information--all relates to the topic. | ||
| Appearance | Unappealing, difficult to read, unorganized. | Contains very few colors, is not easy to read or organized | Is mostly appealing, organized, colorful, and easy to read. | Colorful, organized, appealing, contains graphics, easy to read. | ||
|
Grammar & Mechancis |
Inadequate use of basic langauge skills. |
Use of some basic language skills, needs lots of help |
Use of basic language skills, needs help |
Adequate use of basic language skills. |
|
|
| Completion of assignment | Does not finish the assignments on time. | Completes a few of the assignments on time. | Completes most of the assignments on time. | Completes all of the assignments on time. | ||
| Journalism | ||||||
| Accuracy | Is always talking--never allows anyone else to speak. | Usually doing most of the talking--rarely allows others to speak. | Listens, but sometimes talks too much. | Listens and speaks a fair amount. | ||
| Share Information | Does not give any information. | Either gives too little information or information which is irrelevant to topic. | Offers some information--most is relevant. | Offers a fair amount of important information--all is relevant. | ||
| Organization | Is not presented in an organized manner. | Is presentedin an organized manner, but needs a lot of help. | Is presented in an organized manner, but needs help. | Is presented in an organized manner with no help needed. | ||
|
Grammar & Mechancis |
Inadequate use of basic langauge skills. |
Use of some basic language skills, needs lots of help |
Use of basic language skills, needs help |
Adequate use of basic language skills. |
|
|
| Completion of assignment | Does not finish the assignments on time. | Completes a few of the assignments on time. | Completes most of the assignments on time. | Completes all of the assignments on time. | ||
| Total |
Adequate use of basic language skills.
Adequate use of basic language skills
Conclusion
Conclusion
You have completed your tasks and worked hard to organize interesting and important information. Thank you for helping to educate the public about some of the many different types of sharks. Shark Crossing thanks you for being a dependeble employee and for getting the job done!
See Credits
Credits
Credits
National Geographic: Coloring Book—Sharks
National Geographic: Creature Feature—Great White Sharks
National Geographic: Ten Cool Facts About Great White Sharks
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/baskingshark/baskingshark.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sharks/world/thgreatwhite.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sharks/world/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sharks/world/thpacificangel.html
http://www.arkive.org/great-white-shark/carcharodon-carcharias/
http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-week/ttpes-of-shark
All images taken from Google images and free clip art
Permissions
We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is granted for others to use and modify this WebQuest for educational, non-commercial purposes as long as the original authorship is credited. The modified WebQuest may be shared only under the same conditions. See the Creative Commons Attribution • Non-Commercial • Share-Alike license for details.
Teacher Page
Teacher Introduction
by Amy Jackson
I decided to do a webquest on sharks because I believe most people, especially children, are terrified of sharks because of what they read in certain books and see on the television. I would like children to have a broader understanding of this great underwater species.