Teacher Page

Overview

Rainforest Rescue is a Web Quest designed as a project- based learning activity. It is designed to be used in a third or fourth grade classroom. Children are to work cooperatively in teams of four. The Web Quest contains a series of activities that lead to one goal/task- a newsletter with an action plan.

Rainforest Rescue was designed to incorporate the Multiple Intelligences and Gregorc’s Learning Styles. The various activities in the Web Quest also target the six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

This Web Quest creates a situation where students set themselves into the role of rainforest explorers. Students are given a scenario and asked to accept a mission to help save the rainforest. A fictional Earth Rally is described so students understand where their findings will be used. Setting up this situation and helping students “see” themselves in their roles creates sense and meaning them. When sense and meaning is present, information has a better chance of making it into long-term storage.

This Web Quest also addresses the affective domain. This Web Quest encourages accountability in that they are responsible for their entire team's success in creating the newsletter. If their part is incomplete, the final product will also be incomplete. The student's are also held accountable in that they will be graded both individually and as a group. The Web Quest generates motivation by generating interest. Students are given varying activities including utilizing technology, publishing software, and both independent and group activities.

Objectives

-Students will explore and investigate each of the four layers of the rainforest using the Internet.

-Students will gather evidence as to why the destruction of the rainforest must end.

- Students will come together to analyze their findings and produce a newsletter using Microsoft Publisher.

- Students will create an action plan for how people could work to protect the rainforest.

Curricular Areas Covered

Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Technology

New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards - list of specific NJ CCCS covered in this WebQuest

Resources needed

Internet access

Microsoft Publisher

Books

Life in the Rainforest

By: Lucy Baker

A Walk in the Rainforest

By: Kristin Joy Pratt

The Shaman’s Apprentice, a Tale of the Amazon Rainforest

By: Lynne Cherry and Mark J. Phetkin

The Great Kapok Tree

By: Lynne Cherry

Rainforest Animals

By: M. Chinery

One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest

By: J. George

Investigation log for each team member

Data Organizer for each team member

Rubrics - Individual and Group - for each team member

Tuesday, December 13, 2005 12:41:38 PM

Site created and maintained by Elizabeth Messick, Nicole DeSalvo and Kathy Crawford