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A Rainforest Creature's Life

A WebQuest for 5th Grade Science

http://education.ed.pacificu.edu/sweb/cindyhonma

Introduction

You, yes you, have been hired by one of the most successful computer animation studios in the world --- Pixar Studios!. As a member of the character development department, you're responsible for working with the animation teams to create memorable, personable and accurate creatures like Marvin and Dory in Finding Nemo or Princess Atta in A Bug's Life.

Why do we care about these fictional creatures so much? Because they not only have great personalities, they look like and act like their real-life counterparts. They deal with challenges that all real creatures in their habitat must.

Your first assignment is to start character development for their next big production! The new movie will feature mammals, reptiles & amphibians, bugs and insects, and birds of the Tropical Rainforests. Everyone on the film is depending on you!

Task

First, you'll be choosing a slip with a rainforest animal name from a box. You'll spend some time researching your animal and filling out a questionnaire. While you complete the questionnaire, you'll learn characteristics and habits of your animal. You will then be put into groups containing at least one of each type: mammal, reptile/amphibian, bugs/insects and bird. You'll teach your teammates about the characteristics of your animal, and learn about theirs. Then you and your team will write, perform, edit and present a 5 - 10 minute film starring each of your animals on your team.

Process

1. First, you will draw an animal slip out of a basket in class. This will be your animal to research. For example, you might choose the Hercules beetle.

2. Now you start your Web and book research on the Hercules beetle. The links you'll need are listed below. If you find other good sites, feel free to use them also. You'll be filling out a questionnaire with information the screenwriter has requested to prepare the script. Take notes on this page and answer the questions as you research. Keep in mind that after your research period is over, you'll be expected to teach your team all about the Hercules beetle. You also need to know enough about the beetle to include its character quirks in your movie characterization.

Links: Look at these web pages using the computer. Click on the blue text to link to the web page will appear!

Mammals, Birds, Reptiles	http://www.belizezoo.org/zoo/zoo.html
Virtual Amazon Tour - move your pointer to explore animals everywhere!	http://www.msu.edu/~carurosa/rainforest.htm
Learning About Rainforests	http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/serve_home.html
Bugs/Insects	http://www.bugbios.com/entophiles/index.html
Rainforest.org - check out the kidz section!	http://www.rainforestlive.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=376&ArticleStart=36
Rainforestweb.org - great one-stop source for rainforest info on the Internet	http://www.rainforestweb.org/Rainforest_Information/Animals/
Rainforest Sounds	http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildplaces/amazon/sounds.cfm
More Rainforest Sounds	http://christiananswers.net/kids/sounds.html
NASA Rainforest Info and Videos	http://passporttoknowledge.com/rainforest/main.html

Books to research: You can find these books in the library.

Magic Tree House Research Guide: Rainforests by Will and Mary Pope Osborne

Afternoon on the Amazon by Mary Pope Osborne

Kids Discover: Rainforests

One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest by Jean Craighead George

4. After you have answered all the questions on the questionnaire and are done researching, please prepare a short presentation about your animal. You should have a handout for your team providing the answers to the questions. You may write up a Word document, prepare a PowerPoint, make a chart, design a brochure or prepare a slide show.

5. You will be then assigned to a group to teach each other about your animals. Each person will receive a blank questionnaire so they can take notes. Ask plenty of questions so you have a good understanding of every animal represented in your team.

6. Brainstorm with your group about the plot of your mini-movie. Be sure that you keep the perspective of your character! Your 10- to 15-minute skit must:
     1. Take place in the Rainforest. You need to identify which one.
     2. Include an event that would likely happen in the Rainforest
     3. Reveal aspects of your animal's real behavior and habits in the Rainforest during the course of the film. Each animal must have a speaking part in the movie.
     4. Have a written script describing the scenes, and including all the dialogue and speaking parts.

7. Prepare any costumes, masks or props you need. Your teacher will provide construction paper, markers, paint, glue, tape and other supplies.

8. Rehearse your movie! Schedule the use of the video camera when you are ready for shooting.

9. Shoot your film.

10. Edit your film.

11. Finally, show your film to the class on the appointed day! Be sure to be a good audience while other groups perform.

Evaluation

Below is a list of the things I will assess you on. I will assess every student on his/her own work, effort and attitude. You will receive a number score on each dimension. The scores range from 1-4. A score of 4 means that you went above and beyond the requirements, while a score of 1 means you put no or very little effort into your work. A score of 2 and 3 fall in between. Under each dimension and score, I explained what you need to do to receive each score. Everyone can work hard and do well.

Rainforest Creature WebQuest	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4
Overall Task Completion	Student does not complete the WebQuest. Work shows little or no effort and there are entire portions of the assignment missing.	Student completes most of the WebQuest, although the work shows developing skills or minimal effort. There may be portions of the assignment missing.	Student completes all portions of the WebQuest. Work shows care and thought.	Student completes all portions of the WebQuest with care. Work shows outstanding effort and student did work beyond the requirements.
Completion and Accuracy of Research	Student may or may not research his animal. Questions are not answered fully or accurately. Presentation is not completed.	Student researches his/her character with minimal effort. He/she may not answer all the questions on the note sheet or may answer questions incompletely.	Student thoroughly researches his/her character. He/she answers all the questions on the note sheet with care. Effectively communicates info to team.	Student thoroughly researches his/her character. He/she answers all the questions on the note sheet in detail and includes extra information. Does an exemplary job at presenting info to team.
Ability to Work Cooperatively in a Group	Student does not work well with peers. He may or may not try to get involved and refuses to compromise or problem solve when he is involved.	Student works with peers, but compromise and decision making may be difficult. Student may attempt to problem solve unsuccessfully.	Student works well with peers. He/she expresses needs and opinions to other members of the group and problem solves when necessary.	Student works exceptionally well with peers. He/she respectfully expresses needs and opinions. He/she problem solves with group members and makes sure every member has a role.
Script Development and Preparation Effort and Accuracy	Student may or may not contribute to the script-writing process. He/she provides little or inadequate details or ideas. Student performs minimal amount of work on actual script.	Student participates in script development process but some details and ideas. A portion of research is evident, and the student contributes some writing or revision work to the actual script.	Student contributes his/her fair share to the script development process. He/she integrates the research on his/her character into the script accurately and has fun.	Student takes a strong or leadership role in the script development process. He/she provides additional ideas to make the characters really come alive.
Movie Performance	Student plays no or a minimal role in actual movie.	Student is part of the movie but only demonstrates a low level understanding of his/her character	Student is a key character in the movie, and acts with enthusiasm and in the character of his/her animal.	Student's performance is extra-ordinarily perceptive, and a major part of the movie. Student demonstrates profound knowledge of his/her character.
Movie Editing and Production	Student participates minimally in either the editing or decision-making process of editing the final movie	Student makes some contributions to the final movie product but less than would be expected	Student performs to expectation in helping with the editing process. Contributes some ideas which are integrated into the final form.	Student is the key editor of movie, and performs most of the work. His/her ideas are key to getting the final movie to the form it is presented in.

Conclusion

     The Rainforests are important to us for many reasons. Scientists estimate that tropical rainforests hold more than half of the world's plants and animal species, and 50% to 90% of all living . They also provide more than 40% of the Earth's oxygen. During this WebQuest study, you and your classmates have learned about many unique animals who live in the rainforest and nowhere else on Earth. It is important to learn about them now as they may disappear completely as the rainforest continues to shrink. Whereas centuries ago 12% of the Earth's surface was covered with rainforests, today less than 6% remain.

Perhaps you might be interested in helping preserve the Rainforest or one of the Rainforest's endangered species. For more information, please check out these Websites:


            Rainforest Heroes Kid Corner: www.rainforestheroes.com

            Greenpeace: www.greenpeace.org/

            The Audubon Society: www.audubon.org/

            Oneworldprojects.com (to purchase products made in and benefiting the rainforest): http://www.oneworldprojects.com/

Credits & References

I would like to credit the following institutions for providing the web sites used in this WebQuest:

The Belize Zoo
Rainforest Preservation Foundation
Rainforest Live
California Institute of Technology
Michigan State University
Exploratorium.edu

All images used in this WebQuest were obtained from:

The clip art is from: http://www.school-clip-art.com/school_clipart.shtml
The frog photo is from Image After: http://www.imageafter.com/index.php

We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL.

Last updated 10-05. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page