Endangered Species

The Endangered Species Webquest created has allowed students to rely on their previous science knowledge while guiding them through new information. The final assessment is a presentation but as the rubric sows, a large emphasis is placed on the process students must go through to obtain the final product. This Webquest contains a lot of factual information so the presentation was put in place to allow students to put endangered species in a meaningful context and establish a higher order of thinking. It is to be presented at our 4th grade "Save the World" convention where students will display other projects created throughout the unit. 

Standards

Webquests are one of the most useful and engaging scaffolding methods teachers have the opportunity to use for their students. This Webquest is part of teh curriculum for the Indiana Common Core Standards. Below is each standard covered:

SCI.4.2 2010 Earth Science
Describe how the supply of natural resources is limited and investigate ways that humans protect and harm the environment. (4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.2.6)
SCI.4.2.5 2010
Describe methods that humans currently use to extend the use of natural resources.
SCI.4.2.6 2010
Describe ways in which humans have changed the natural environment. Explain if these changes have been detrimental or beneficial.

SCI.4.3 2010 Life Science
Observe, describe and ask questions about structures of organisms and how they affect their growth and survival.
SCI.4.3.3 2010
Design investigations to explore how organisms meet some of their needs by responding to stimuli from their environments.
SCI 4.2.4 2010
Describe a way that a given plant or animal might adapt to a change arising from a human or non-human impact on its environment.

EL.4.7 2006 - LISTENING AND SPEAKING: Skills, Strategies, and Applications
Students listen critically and respond appropriately to oral communication. They speak in a manner that guides the listener to understand important ideas by using proper phrasing, pitch, and modulation (raising and lowering voice). Students deliver brief oral presentations about familiar experiences or interests that are organized around a coherent thesis statement (a statement of topic). Students use the same Standard English conventions for oral speech that they use in their writing
EL.4.7.1 2006
Comprehension:
Ask thoughtful questions and respond orally to relevant questions with appropriate elaboration.
EL.4.7.12 2006
Make informational presentations that:
• focus on one main topic.
include facts and details that help listeners focus.
EL.4.7.6 2006
Use logical structures for conveying information, including cause and effect, similarity and difference, and posing and answering a question.
EL.4.7.7 2006
Emphasize points in ways that help the listener or viewer follow important ideas and concepts.
EL.4.7.8 2006
Use details, examples, anecdotes (stories of a specific event), or experiences to explain or clarify information.
EL.4.7.9 2006
Engage the audience with appropriate words, facial expressions, and gestures.

Credits

I would like to thank my professor at Purdue University North Central, Dawn Ewasiuk-Anthony, for giving me the opportunity to create my first Webquest and learn how to take advantage of technology to better teach my future students.