Introduction
Welcome, young ecologists! Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey to explore the diverse habitats and ecosystems of our planet? In this WebQuest, you will investigate different types of habitats, understand the organisms that live in them, and discover how these ecosystems work together. By the end of this quest, you will create an informative poster to share your findings with your classmates!
Task
Your mission is to research one of the following habitats:
- Rainforest
- Desert
- Ocean
- Grassland
- Tundra
You will create a poster that includes:
- A description of your chosen habitat
- Key organisms that live there (plants and animals)
- Information about the climate and geography
- How the habitat supports life
- Threats to the habitat and conservation efforts
Process
- Choose Your Habitat: Select one of the habitats listed above to research.
- Research: Use the provided websites to gather information about your chosen habitat. Take notes on important facts, organisms, and conservation efforts.
- Create Your Poster: Use poster board or a digital tool (like Canva or Google Slides) to design your poster. Include text, images, and diagrams.
- Include All Required Information: Ensure your poster answers all parts of the task.
- Present Your Poster: Be ready to present your findings to the class and answer questions.
Resources:
- National Geographic: Ecosystems
- BBC Bitesize: Habitats
- World Wildlife Fund: Habitats
- Discovery Education: Habitats
- YouTube: Explore Different Ecosystems
Evaluation
Students will be assessed out of 100 points, divided into four categories, each worth 25%.
Content: A score of 90-100% indicates thorough coverage of habitat details; 70-89% shows most details covered, while 50-69% reflects incomplete information. Scores below 50% indicate minimal content.
Visual Appeal: A score of 90-100% signifies a visually stunning poster; 70-89% indicates good appeal but some organization issues. Scores of 50-69% show poor visual engagement, and below 50% means no visual appeal.
Accuracy: A score of 90-100% reflects accurate research, while 70-89% shows mostly accurate content. Scores of 50-69% indicate some inaccuracies, and below 50% denotes numerous errors.
Presentation Skills: A score of 90-100% indicates confident delivery; 70-89% shows mostly clear presentation. Scores of 50-69% reflect difficulty in presenting, and below 50% indicates unclear delivery.
Conclusion
Congratulations on completing your exploration of habitats and ecosystems! You have gained valuable knowledge about the diverse environments that support life on Earth and the organisms that inhabit them. Through your research and presentations, you've developed essential skills in critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. As you reflect on what you've learned, consider the importance of conserving these ecosystems for future generations. Share your insights with your classmates and think about how you can contribute to protecting our planet’s natural habitats.