Created by Ms. Russo
Merrick
Avenue Middle School
Imagine that there were no more elephants or zebras! There are thousands of endangered species found around the world. Some organizations have been established to try to save them! You are about to join their efforts to save an endangered species of your choice by presenting the facts and making your own public service announcement! You will also conduct a survey to find the public's opinion: Should endangered species be saved?
You are going to to make charts of the facts using spreadsheets, and then present this information in graphs. You will create your own public service announcement using multimedia software.
In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will complete the task. As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about endangered species. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.
Each group of four will be split into two pairs. One pair will explore the statistics on endangered species in four main areas of the world. Specifically, these areas will be North America, South America, Europe and Africa. Represent the number endangered species in each area in a spreadsheet, and then in an accompanying graph.
The second pair will select an endangered species that your group would like to support. Research the facts about this species. Your presentation will introduce the endangered species you have chosen, discuss what threatens the species, and what is being done about it.
You will then share the information learned with the entire group, and answer the question: Should endangered species be saved? Include in this response the combined results from a survey that each of you will conduct. Details are explained at the end of this Quest.
Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Research information about a specific species and create a public service announcement.
- Create a public service announcement about a particular endangered species. You can use any multimedia software you choose, such as HyperStudio or PowerPoint. Be sure to include:
- The common and the scientific name of the species
- What family the species belongs to (mammal, bird, plant, fish, reptile, etc.)
a description (size, shape, color, etc.)- Habitat
- Current population
- Average life span
- The food it eats
- Describe what threatens the animal and what is being done to protect it
- Anything else that you found unusual or interesting about this species
- In addition, state how people can help, and what else you think should be done, if anything.
NOTE: Explore the websites linked to this page. You can gather the information you need in two ways:
1. You can print out information, and underline the passages that you feel are the most important.
2. You can look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.
NOTE: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.
Endangered species in specific countries
Use the Internet information linked below to answer the questions specifically related to the number of endangered species in North America, South America, Europe and Africa.
- Redlist - Number of endangered species according to country.
Endangered species
Use the Internet information linked below to answer the questions specifically related to selected endangered species.
- Endangered creatures - Endangered Creatures
- Kids Planet - Animal Facts
You have all learned about a different aspect of endangered species. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now share the information that you learned as a group. Discuss whether you think that it is important to save endangered species. Talk about what the world would be like if the specific species that you researched would become extinct. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.
TAKE A POLL!
Your team will now conduct a survey posing the question "Should endangered species be saved?" If necessary, talk about the species that you researched. Each person on your team should ask 10 different people.
Make a tally of the responses and present the combined results in your paper along with your team's response.
After completing this project, you know more about endangered species, and how math plays a part in real life situations, like keeping track of the populations of species. Using charts and graphs helps to present information in a clear and organized way. Surveys are used to collect information, as well as help to paint a clearer picture of people's opinions. Statistics has many other uses and can be used in all different areas of life. So keep on looking for the math in your life! Remember, knowledge is power!
| Content by Ms. Russo Last revised Thu March 22, 2001 |