This document provides information about a WebQuest activity for 5th grade students about animals at the zoo. The activity involves students researching an animal, creating an informative sign about it, and describing the ecosystem and food web that animal is part of. Students will work in groups, with each choosing a different animal from the same ecosystem to research. They will use provided websites to research facts about their animal and will create a poster with pictures and information to display at the zoo. Finally, groups will present their animal signs and describe the food web of their ecosystem. The goal is for students to learn about organisms and ecosystems.

1. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Welcome to the Zoo
A WebQuest for 5th Grade Science
Title
Introduction Designed by
Task Aaron Ettinger
Process are21@zips.uakron.edu
Evaluation
Conclusion
Credits Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

2. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Introduction
Title The local zoo is doing some redecorating and getting
Introduction some new animals. They have asked for your help at
Task making new signs for the new animal enclosures. The
Process
zoo needs students who know a lot about the animals
to create new fact sheets to put on display at the
Evaluation
different animal exhibits. This way when people at the
Conclusion
zoo are watching the animals they can read and learn
about them too. Your group will choose a specific
ecosystem and you will all choose your own animal
from the ecosystem to research and make a sign for its
exhibit at the zoo.
Credits

3. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
The Task
Title Your goal will be to use the websites I have provided
Introduction to research your favorite zoo animal and create an
Task appealing and informative sign to display at its exhibit.
As a group you will describe a food web of your
Process
ecosystem and what would happen if each of your
Evaluation
animals was removed.
Conclusion
http://animal.discovery.com/
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ani
mals/creaturefeature/
http://www.kidsbiology.com/animals-for-
children.php
Credits

4. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
The Process
Title 1. First you will be broken into small groups
2. Your group will decide on a specific ecosystem in the zoo that all
Introduction of your animals will be from.
Task 3. Then you will choose your own animal to research.
4. Using the websites I have provided you will research your animal.
Process
5. Write a description of your animal and list 7-10 facts about it.
Evaluation 6. These facts should include things like; the animals favorite food,
Conclusion how big the animal gets, what parts of the world does the animal
live in, and any other important fun facts you think people would
like.
7. Write a description of what would happen to your animal's
ecosystem if your animal was removed.
8. Finally, create a poster that will be your sign at the zoo. Your sign
should have pictures of the animal and all of the information you
collected.
9. Your group will then present all of there signs for the animals in
your ecosystem for the zoo!
10. Finally your group needs to create a food web diagram of your
ecosystem including all of your animals and describing their
placement.
Credits

5. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Evaluation
Title
Introduction
Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion
Credits

6. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Conclusion
Title This activity will allow you to gain more understanding
Introduction about organisms and the ecosystems they live in. You
Task will learn characteristics about an animal and be able
Process
to use your creativity to create an attractive sign for
the zoo. Using these sites will help you start to learn
Evaluation
how to research information on the internet. This
Conclusion
activity will also cover several Ohio life science
standards for the 5th grade level.
Credits

7. Student Page
[Teacher Page]
Credits & References
Title
Introduction http://animal.discovery.com - The main page for the animal
Task planet, some info is not project oriented but the students may be
familiar with the television channel which would excite them
Process
about the project.
Evaluation
Conclusion http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature
- A version of the national geographic
website that is more education oriented.
http://www.kidsbiology.com/animals-for-children.php
-A reliable source of information that is
friendly to this age group.
http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefa
- The Ohio Department of Education for standards
resources.
Credits

8. [Student Page]
Teacher Page Welcome to the Zoo
A WebQuest for 5th Grade Science
Title
Introduction Designed by
Learners Aaron Ettinger
Standards are21@zips.uakron.edu
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Teacher Script
Conclusion
Credits Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

9. [Student Page]
Teacher Page Introduction (Teacher)
Title This lesson was created as a an assignment for
Introduction my educational technology class at The University
Learners of Akron. The goal was to create our own
Standards
Webquest is our subject area that we could
possibly use one day in the classroom.
Process
Resources
This lesson is intended for students to start to
Evaluation learn how to research simple information on the
Teacher Script internet. They will allow the students to broaden
Conclusion their knowledge about organisms and their
environment, as well as including a
creative/artistic aspect when creating their signs.
The students will also have to work in groups to
develop a food web of the ecosystem of their
choice and analyze what would happen if each of
their organisms were removed. This aligns with
several of the science standards for the 5th grade
level.
Credits

10. [Student Page]
Teacher Page Learners (Teacher)
Title This lesson is intended for 5th grade science. It
Introduction involves some art and language art aspects upon
Learners completion. The learners will need to have some
Standards
background knowledge of ecosystem mechanics
and familiar animals. They will also need to know
Process
how to navigate an internet site. Based on how
Resources
much detail is added to the requirements of the
Evaluation content the students are to produce, this
Teacher Script assignment can be adjusted to lower or younger
Conclusion grade levels.
Credits

11. [Student Page]
Teacher Page Curriculum Standards (Teacher)
Title
Science Standards Addressed
Introduction
Learners • Food webs can be used to identify relationships
Standards between organisms in an ecosystem.
Process
Resources This assignment will also require group discussion
Evaluation when students have to come to conclusions about
Teacher Script relationships between each of their animals and
Conclusion their ecosystem. They will also need to work
creatively when making their signs. The activity
will help them connect their new internet
researching skills to the topics in the class.
Credits

12. [Student Page]
Teacher Page The Process (Teacher)
Title
Introduction
Learners
Standards
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Teacher Script
Conclusion
Credits

13. [Student Page]
Teacher Page Resources (Teacher)
Title This assignment will not require many extra resources.
Introduction All the students should need is access to the internet,
supplies for their signs and possibly the class text book.
Learners
The lesson can be completed successfully in a one
Standards teacher classroom. Also planning it around a possible
Process field trip to the zoo would really excite and motivate the
Resources students.
Evaluation http://animal.discovery.com/
Teacher Script This is the main website for the animal planet. It has
Conclusion some information not related specifically, but it is
something that the students may be familiar with. This
could excite them about the topic they are getting into
and encourage their internet research.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature
This is a children centered, educational
version of the National Geographic website
with plenty of straight forward reliable
information.
Credits

14. [Student Page]
Teacher Page Evaluation (Teacher)
Title
The most important part of this lesson is that at the end of the
Introduction research and crafts parts, that the students make the
Learners connections about food webs and ecosystems. Making sure
that the students can think critically about the effects their
Standards specific organism has on an ecosystem is the key for covering
Process the state standard in science. The students should be able to
present this knowledge in their presentations and diagrams.
Resources
Evaluation
Teacher Script
Conclusion
Credits

15. [Student Page]
Teacher Page Teacher Script (Teacher)
The WebQuest model is best suited for learners who can navigate the Web on their
Title own and can read the kinds of material commonly found on the Web. We can
stretch the format to reach primary-aged learners, developmental English Language
Introduction Learners and special populations by creating a facilitated WebQuest, one that
Learners requires an adult or older peer to drive things.
Standards Use this page to create a script for that facilitator. The facilitator would print this
page out and use it to guide their progress through the WebQuest.
Process
This page will include step by step directions to the facilitator, including:
Resources
•What to say at each point in the process
Evaluation •What to click on
•What questions and misconceptions to anticipate
Teacher Script •How long to take at each point
•When to direct learners to work away from the computer
Conclusion
To help the facilitator, you might want to include screen dumps of particular screens
embedded with the directions of what to do at that point.
This page is linked to the Process segment off of the Teacher Page
Credits

16. [Student Page]
Teacher Page Conclusion (Teacher)
Make some kind of summary statement here about the worthiness of this lesson
Title and the importance of what it will teach.
Introduction This lesson is a simple, fun and straight forward way for students to accomplish part
Learners of the life science standards in the 5th grade curriculum. The students will be able to
work on discussion in groups as well as individual research skills. The creative sign
Standards making aspect will also give the students a break from informational work and let
them be creative. By adding these factors together, the students will be able to
Process enjoy using this WebQuest to develop an understanding of the subject while
gaining internet experience.
Resources
Evaluation
Teacher Script
Conclusion
Credits

17. [Student Page]
Teacher Page Credits & References (Teacher)
List here the sources of any images, music or text that you're using. Provide links back to
Title the original source. Say thanks to anyone who provided resources or help.
Introduction List any books and other analog media that you used as information sources as well.
Learners
Include a link back to The WebQuest Page and The WebQuest Slideshare Group so that
Standards others can acquire the latest version of this template and training materials.
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Teacher Script
Conclusion
Credits