Introduction
Welcome to your 4th grade inquiry webquest!
Have you ever wondered why polar bears don't live in a desert? Do you know what might happen if all the mosquitos were eliminated from the earth? Do you wonder if sunlight is necessary for all living organisms to survive? As you venture through this webquest you will make discoveries that will guide your understanding and learning. Let's start your journey. Grab your headphones and watch this video!
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjWQaF3MzaQ]
Task
Students, through this webquest, you will learn about different habitats. As you journey through the different links, see if you can find answers to the following questions: Why are living things able to survive in one place and not another? What would happen to an organism that wasn't having its needs met? What do organisms need to survive in their environment?
Take notes and jot down questions that you are wondering about. You can use the graphic organizer that is provided or you can create your own organizer. NOTE: If you are using the graphic organizer that is provided, please follow these steps: open the link; go to FILE and select MAKE A COPY; select OK and use this to take your notes on the keyboard. If you would like to use the organizer and paper and pencil for taking notes- ask your teacher for a paper copy!
If you have questions that are not fully answered through our webquest, you are invited to use this following link for additional information of the different biomes that exist within our world. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm .
Have fun exploring and learning.
Process
Students, click on the links below to gather information about different habitats. Select one organism from each biome (habitat).Take notes as you identify the characteristics of each biome and learn about that organism. Write down questions that will guide your learning and discovery.
Evaluation
Congratulations! You have successfully made your way through this webquest!
The last step in this inquiry process is to share your knowledge with your teacher. Click on your teacher's name and then complete the Google Form. When you have answered each question to the best of your ability, submit the form.
Mrs. Rivard's Class Google Form
Mrs. Walter's Class Google Form
After you have submitted the google form, ask your teacher if you can continue your learning by visiting the following links:
Credits
We would like to give proper credit to the following sources which were instrumental in our development of this webquest.
Images:
ocean image: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CYXG9rG0Jf0/maxresdefault.jpg
savanah image: http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Africa/Kenya/West/Rift_Valley/photo740…
freshwater image: https://www.papermasters.com/images/acidification-on-freshwater-researc…
forest image: http://freebigpictures.com/forest-pictures/shady-forest/
rainforest image:
http://www.mycoolbackgrounds.com/backgrounds/22751/Hoh%20Rainforest,%20…
desert image: http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?safesearch=1&version=llv1&media_t…
tundra image: http://www.alaska.org/detail/denali-tundra-wilderness-tour
Video:
Teacher Page
This webquest was created as part of a requirement for SNHU's EDU533c course. Lee Rivard and Pam Walter, both 4th grade teachers, created this webquest for their classroom use. The quest is designed to incorporate the NGSS engineering practice of asking questions and critiquing as students investigate and gather information about the natural world. They will also evaluate and communicate their understanding of NGSS standard addressing Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants and Their Environment and Environmental Impacts on Organisms and Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits. This webquest also provides background knowledge for the district's Jr. STEAM/First Robotics Lego League challenge and addresses the following Manchester Academic Standards for ELA Reading and Writing: MAS.ELA.RI.4.1;MAS.ELA.RI.4.2; MAS.ELA.RI.4.4; MAS.ELA.RI.4.7; MAS.ELA.RF.4.3;
MAS.ELA.RF.4.3a; MAS.ELA.RF.4.4a; MAS.ELA.W.4.7; MAS.ELA.W.4.8; MAS.ELA.W.4.9. We are hopeful that our webquest will be useful to all of the 4th grade teachers in our district.
Essential questions that guided this inquiry webquest:
Why are living things able to survive in one place and not another?
What would happen to an organism that wasn't having its needs met?
What do organisms need to survive in their environment.
General understandings/expected learning outcomes:
A habitat (biome) is a place where an animal lives and makes its home. Throughout the entire planet there are many different types of habitats. Within each habitat is a specific ecosystem that includes plants, animals and organisms as well as weather, soil and sunlight. When an ecosystem is in balance all organisms depend upon each other for survival. Sometimes plants and animals need to adapt or become better suited to their environment for survival.
Connection to Jr. STEAM:
As part of the 4th grade Jr. STEAM curriculum, students will learn about different animals and their habitats. Students will then extend on this knowledge and solve the 2016-17 Jr. STEAM challenge. Students will define a problem and create a solution to this problem. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning through multiple formats such as: demonstration boards, oral presentations, written essay, slideshow, etc.
Assessment/Grading will be defined based on parameters of the Jr. STEAM curriculum and the ELA Report of Information Guidelines as noted in the Manchester Academic Standards.