Ecosystem Webquest.pdf

Ecosystem WebQuest
4 th Grade
Mrs. Jones
Introduction / Task/ Process/ Rubric/ Conclusion

We have just finished discussing the various
ecosystems. You have learned just how complex this
world can be. Our own environment is very diverse.
We live in the Deciduous Forest where you can find
things such as deciduous trees, fertile soil, chipmunks,
squirrels, frogs, spiders, mosquitoes, etc. We also live
in a environment that has warm and cold seasons. We
have discussed how plants and animals survive in the
desert and in the arctic. Through this WebQuest, we
will look more in depth into the various ecosystems.
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TASK
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You will be working in groups of 2-3 students
researching an animal from a particular ecosystem.
After you have chosen your animal you will then
determine in which ecosystem it would best
survive. In doing so you will learn a lot about your
animal’s ecosystem and be able to answer the 5 Key
Questions.
5 Key Questions

THE PROCESS
1. You will be assigned a group
2. Each person in your group will have a role:
1. Recorder Responsible for taking notes
2. Tech. Support Responsible for computer
3. Efficiency Expert Responsible for keeping group on task and complete the
given assignments on time
3. Each group will be given an animal from the list below:
* Kinkajou
* John Dory
* Jerboa
* Meerkat
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* Ermine

1. You will use the animal links to find out which
ecosystem your animal best survives in.
2. Once you have determined which one best fits your
animal, you will need to research that ecosystem
using the websites provided.
3. As you research, make sure that you are answering
the 5 Key Questions. The recorder should be
writing down this information.
4. Once you have answered the questions and
recorded all of your answers, you will create a
book about your ecosystem.

Animal Websites
Kinkajou
John Dory
Jerboa
Meerkat
Ermine

Ecosystem Websites
Click on an ecosystem that your animal
comes from:
Arctic
Desert
Grassland
Coral Reef
Tropical Rainforest

Other Websites:
Biomes of the World
Ecosystems
Biomes and Ecosystems
Biomes - Thinkquest
Athropolis Arctic Library
The Desert Biome
What is a Prairie?
Where are the Rainforests?
World Map Biomes
Blue Planet Biomes
The Great Barrier Reef Experience

Assessment
Click on the link below to view the grading guidelines for
this project.
Page 1
Conclusion
Assessment Rubric
During this Ecosystem WebQuest students will have learned about the
location of many different ecosystems and different plants, and animals that
live there as well as the various climates. They will have completed several
different tasks that will enable them to build cooperative learning skills and
gain organizational, research, and presentation abilities

Cover Page
•You will need to use the paper and ruler provided to you
by your teacher.
•You will need to set up your title page in landscape
format
•You will need to label your title page with your
ecosystem name and the name of your group members.
•You will need to outline your writing and make sure it is
done neatly.

Page 1: Web
• You will be using Kidspiration to create a web about
your ecosystem.
• The web will contain 4 components: Plants, Animals,
Location, and Climate.
• You will print out your web and add it to your book.
• Click on the link below to see an example of what you
will be creating.
Sample Web

Page 2: Location
• Using the information you have found on the web, you
will be charting the location of your ecosystem.
• You will be given an outline of a world map.
• You follow the directions at the bottom of the map.
• Be sure to read carefully and follow ALL of the
directions.

Page 3: Climate
You will be printing and filling in a climate chart that will
have the following 3 categories:
1. Precipitation
2. Weather
3. Temperature
* In each of these categories you will provide the
information about your ecosystem.

Page 4: Plants
• You are going to use your previous research to find five
plants that live in your ecosystem
•You are going to have to draw each plant in detail and
then carefully label and color each of them

Page 5: Animals
• You are going to have to use your previous research to
find eight other animals that live in your ecosystem.
(You cannot use your own animal)
•You are going to have to draw these eight animals in
detail and then carefully label and color each of them.
•You are going to have to find two animals from each of
the following animal categories:
Mammals
Birds
Insects
Reptile/ Amphibians

Page 6: “Who Am I?” Poem
• You are going to work together to create a “Who Am I?”
poem. The other students in the class will try to guess
your animal is based on your clues.
•The format for the poem is the following:
I am (name the color of your animal)
I am (describe the size of your animal)
I (describe how your animal moves. Ex: flies, slithers, runs
I eat ( name what your animal likes to eat)
I am special because (tell an interesting fact about your animal
I am a type of (name a classification Ex: bird, mammal, amphibian)
I like to (describe something special your animal does)
I live in the (where does your animal live)

Page 7: Animal Picture
• Draw a detailed illustration of your animal (you
cannot trace your animal) on the paper provided.
• You must color your illustration neatly.
• The background of your illustration must represent the
ecosystem that your animal lives in.
• Do not leave any white space on your illustration.
•Your illustration must be and all pencil marks must be
erased.

Page 8: Venn Diagram
• You will be printing out and completing a Venn diagram
•You will compare and contrast your ecosystem to the
deciduous forest ecosystem.
•Be sure to find as many similarities and differences
between the two ecosystems as you can.

Page 9: Your Free Page!
• On this final page you will be able to add any other
interesting information that you have not already
included in your book.
• Put all of your pages in the correct order.
• Use the construction paper provided to create a book
jacket for your book.
•Illustrate your book jacket. Be sure to include the title
•Be creative and have fun!

5 Key Questions
1) What ecosystem does your animal live in?
2) Where is this ecosystem located?
3) What kinds of plants (flora) live there?
4) What kinds of animals (fauna) live there?
5) What is the climate like?
Back to Webquest

Use Kidspiration 3 to create a web of your ecosystem. Use this sample
web as a guide.
Back to Webquest

Back to Webquest
Neatly label the 7 continents and 4 major oceans. Lightly pencil in the location of
your ecosystem. Color the land in green and the water in blue. Choose a third color
to shade in your ecosystem location. Create a map key showing the colors you used.

Climate of your Ecosystem
Precipitation
Temperature
Weather
Back to Webquest

Names ______________________
Back to Webquest
Directions: Use this Venn diagram to compare and contrast the
deciduous forest to your animals ecosystem.
___________________ Deciduous Forest

3 2 1
Team Work Group worked well together all of Group worked well together
the time
most of the time
5 Key Questions All 5 Key Questions were 3-4 Key Questions were
answered correctly
answered correctly
Cover Page Cover Page includes all of the
required elements and is neat
Page 1- Ecosystem Web Web includes all 4 components
and details for each
Page 2 –
World Map
Page 3-
Climate
Page 4 –
Plants
Page 5-
Animals
Page 6 –
Poem
Page 7 –
Animal Picture
Page 8 –
Venn Diagram
Page 9 –
Free Page
Cover Page includes all of the
required elements but is not
neat
Web includes only 3
components and details for
each
Group did not work well
together
1-2 Key Questions were
answered correctly
Cover Page is missing 2 or
more elements
Web includes 2 or fewer
components and/or missing
details
All components are included 1-2 components are missing 3 or more components are
missing
All components are included and 1-2 components are missing 3 or more components are
accurate
missing
5 plants are included neatly 3-4 plants are included neatly 1-2 plants are included neatly
5 animals are included neatly 3-4animals are included neatly 1-2animals are included neatly
The poem follows the format and
makes sense.
The illustration is neat, and the
background represent the
animal’s habitat.
5 or more similarities and
differences are used.
New information is included
neatly.
Book Jacket The book jacket is neat. It
contains a title, illustration, and
the names of the group members.
Ecosystem Rubric
The poem makes sense, but
does not follow the format.
The illustration represents the
animal’s habitat, but it is not
neat
3-4 similarities and differences
are used.
The information is neat, but
was already used in the book.
The book jacket contains all of
the elements, but is not neat.
Back to Webquest
The poem does not follow the
format, and does not make
sense.
The illustration is not neat,
and the background does not
represent the animal’s habitat.
1-2 similarities and
differences are used.
No information was included.
The book jacket is not neat,
and is missing some or all of
the elements.