The residents of SunnyVille Station are getting sick, unprepared for the cold winter, and dealing with excess garbage. Students are tasked with researching what could be causing the sickness, how residents can prepare for winter, and what the mayor can do about garbage as Earth Explorers. They will then present their findings and recommendations at a town hall meeting.

1. Click Here to Begin

2. Introduction
Task
Conclusion
Processes
Evaluation
Standards
Teacher
Information
Technology
Infusion Plan
Credits

3.  Hello there Earth Explorers! I have a very detailed mission for you if you
chose to accept it. The people of SunnyVille Station are very sick and
they don’t know why. They know there is a new factory that opened up
in the city and ever since then no one in the city has been feeling well.
Another problem is the residents heard that this winter is going to be
very cold and they are not prepared. So on top of all the sickness, they
are worried about how they are going to stay warm. Lastly, the Mayor is
concerned about the amount of garbage that is piling up and no place to
put it. He doesn’t know if that has anything to do with this sickness that
is going around or not.
 Once you have all your answers, you will hold a town hall meeting with
your finding and recommendations.

4. Working in your regular exploring groups, you will need to find answers for the
people of SunnyVille Station.
 What could be causing the sickness in the residents? As Earth Explorers you will need to do some
investigating to see what could be causing everyone to be sick.
 What can the residents do to prepare for the winter? Using the natural resources available to the
residences, determine what they can use to help stay warm.
 What can the Mayor do to help with the excess garbage problem? Think about what you know
about recycling and reusing material.

5. What could be causing the sickness in the residents?
Step 1: Look back in the introduction. What clues were given that could cause
people to get sick?
Step 2: Using one of the websites or search engines on the next page, look up
the following and write the definitions for each word listed below. Also look
for ways to stop these pollutions.
a. Causes of pollution
b. Air pollution
c. Water pollution
d. Land pollution
Step 3: Determine what could be making the residence sick based off of your
findings.
Step 4: Draw a chart showing how the residence are getting sick from the
pollution you chose.
Step 5: Make a recommendation as to how this can be fixed.

6. What could be causing the sickness in the residents?
Search Engines:
Google
Bing
Yahoo
Websites:
BrainPop
Clean Air
Eekoworld
Eartheasy

7. What can the residents do to prepare for the winter?
Step 1: Using Google or another search engine, look up the following words
and learn where they come from and what humans use them for to survive.
a. Coal e. Air
b. Oil f. Sunlight
c. Natural Gas g. Rocks
d. Wind h. Wood
Step 2: Based on your search results, determine which natural resources could
be used to prepare for winter.
Step 3: Make a chart that shows which natural resources could be used and
which could not.
Step 4: Make a recommendation to the Mayor on which natural resources
would work best for his town.

8. What can the Mayor do to help with the excess garbage problem?
Step 1: Using one of the search engines or websites on the next page, look up
the following and write the definitions for each. Also, read about the different
ways you can do each of these.
a. Recycling
b. Ways to reduce trash
c. Ways to re-use trash
Step 2: Based on your search results, think about the various ways to cut back
on trash. Make a list of three ways each of the above could help reduce
trash in SunnyVille.
Step 3: Using your chart, rank the ways your group feels would benefit the
residence as #1 choice, #2 choice, and #3 choice.

9. What can the Mayor do to help with the excess garbage problem?
Search Engines:
Google
Bing
Yahoo
Websites:
NRDC
Kidplanet
Sciencekids
http://Kidsface

10. Town Hall Meeting Prep
Step 1: One person from the group gather all the information.
Step 2: As a group, you will discuss what information the group will use.
Step 3: As a group, you will decide what each member will say. Be open to all
suggestions.
Step 4: As a group, think of some questions that may be asked at this Town
Hall meeting. Being prepared is always a good thing.
Step 5: You should practice your presentations together at least 2 times. Time
will be given in class to do this step.
Step 6: Using the Rubric, each student show grade the other students to
ensure all areas are addressed. Be honest with your feedback.

11. Town Hall Meeting
Step 1: One person from the group will discuss what they discovered from their
research as to why the residence are getting sick.
Step 2: A different person from the group will discuss how the residence can
prepare for the winter.
Step 3: A third member from the group will talk about the best ways to reduce
the amount of trash in SunnyVille.
Step 4: The last student from the group will open the floor up to any questions
the residence and Mayor may have.

13. The group will be graded in 5 separated
areas.
Use the rubric as your guide when creating
your presentation.
When completing Task 4, use the rubric to
grade each other. (be honest)
Feedback will be given by me at the end

14. AWESOME JOB!!
Everyone did such a great job! The Mayor of
SunnyVille couldn’t thank me enough for having
you do all that research! You truly know your
stuff about pollution, recycling, and natural
resources. He now knows what to do to stop the
trash from getting worse, fixing the pollution
problem from the factory, and what resources to
use to keep warm! You should all be very proud
to call yourselves Earth Explorers!
I am PROUD of you!

15.  What could be causing the sickness in the residents?
• The factory
 Air Pollution
• The trash
 Land pollution
• Other residence
 What can the residents do to prepare for the winter?
• Stock up on coal, fire wood, oil for stoves/furnaces
• Gather extra blankets and candles
 What can the Mayor do to help with the excess garbage problem?
• Recycle some of the material that was just being thrown away
• Reuse the material for other purposes
• Find another landfill area

16. SOL Science 1.8: Earth Resources
 1.8 The student will investigate and understand that natural
resources are limited. Key concepts include
a. identification of natural resources;
b. factors that affect air and water quality; and
c. recycling, reusing, and reducing consumption of natural
resources.
SOL English 1.2 Oral Language
 1.2 The student will continue to expand and use listening and
speaking vocabularies.
a. Increase oral descriptive vocabulary.

17. Created by Mrs. Alison Lambert
1st Grade (target)
ODU (Master’s in Elementary Education
student)
Contact: alamb019@odu.edu
That’s me

18. Title of WebQuest: Calling All Earth Explorers
Brief Description: This WebQuest is geared toward first graders who are learning about
natural resources and what affects the environment.
3 of the 4 tasks have technology applied
WHO - The target audience for this lesson is whole group in a normal classroom setting.
WHY - The purpose of the technology is to help students explore various Websites and to help
them to explain why various issues happen to the Earth. Students will also be able to
elaborate on facts associated with pollution, recycling, and natural resources.
WHAT - The resources needed for this lesson are a computer for each group of students, a
project and computer for teacher use.
WHEN - This lesson will be used in conjunction with the Earth Resources lesson. I will explain
the basic facts and then allow the students to complete the WebQuest.
WHERE - Technology fusion will take place in the classroom. I will have the students following
along with me the first time to ensure they understand the tasks at hand.
*Questions and table adapted from 5W/5E "Infusing Technology
into any Instructional Program", by Wanda Walters

19. (n.d.) Explorer image. Taken on 13 Nov 2012 from
http://whatanart.com/2011/09/09/cartoon-illustrations-josh-cleland/
(n.d.) Sunny house image. Taken on 13 Nov 2012 from
http://dallastexasrealestateblog.com/dallas-real-estate/dallas-texans-forget-the-
housing-forecast-and-look-out-the-window
(n.d) Earth pollution. Taken on 13 Nov 2012 from
http://envis.maharashtra.gov.in/envis_data/files/news/apr/pollution%20management.ht
ml
(n.d.) Winter scene. Taken on 17 Nov 2012 from
http://nature.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/51529/
Ramos, g. (n.d.) Recycling children. Taken on 17 Nov 2012 from
http://www.123rf.com/photo_14751717_children-around-recycle-sign-drawing-
illustration.html