black footed ferret webquest
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
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A WebQuest for 7th – 12th Graders (Biology/Ecology)
Designed by Brad McNutt
Brad [email protected]
Based on a template from The WebQuest Page
Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Program
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The black-footed ferret needs your help! This beautiful species that once roamed freely in the plains of central North America is now practically wiped out. Can you and your team of wildlife biologists find a way to restore the population of this exotic and wild animal. You will need to have a good understanding of the biology and ecology of this animal to develop a successful recovery program. I know you can do it. Good luck!
Introduction
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Introduction
Task
Process
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You will need to develop a recovery program that will be approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. The program will be written in essay format and should include:• an appropriate site for the reintroduction including size suitable habitat• a logical number for the reintroduction population• a convincing argument for the site and reintroduction• an illustration of the species being reintroduced and its habitatYou can do your research from the following websites (feel free to find your own):Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Programhttp://www.blackfootedferret.org/facts-history.htmlDefenders of Wildlifehttp://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/black-footed_ferret.php
Wikipedia – Black-Footed Ferrethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-footed_Ferret\National Geographichttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/black-footed-ferret.html
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceshttp://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/SpeciesReport.do?spcode=A004
Animal Info – Black-Footed Ferrethttp://www.animalinfo.org/species/carnivor/mustnigr.htm
Title
The Task
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Final Product: A recovery program for the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) including a site for reintroduction with a suitable habitat and source of food (provide an illustration/map of site), reintroduction population (include appropriate number and age), and viable arguments for site and reintroduction.
1. Join 2 other wildlife biologist to create a research team for your recovery program.
2. Among your team, come up with a reason why the black-footed ferret (BFF) nearly went extinct in the first place. This will be the beginning of your recovery program essay. Then research the characteristics of the BFF (include size, shape, habitat, source of food and other characteristics you think will be needed to write a recovery program).
3. Then split up the research among the teama. one member research a suitable site for reintroduction (make sure to look for decent size, and enough source of food).b. one member research where BFF’s are being breed to access a population for reintroduction (look for mature ages for reintroduction and apt reintroduction population sizes).c. the final member should research reasons for reintroduction and develop arguments for reintroduction (this is an important task; you have to be convincing).
4. Come together with your research and write up an essay to be given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.
5. Finally, turn in your essay when you feel you have given every last argument for the fate of this beautiful species.
The Process
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Evaluation
CATEGORY 5 4 3 1
Organization Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings.
Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs.
Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed.
The information appears to be disorganized. 8)
Amount of Information All topics are addressed and all questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.
All topics are addressed and most questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.
All topics are addressed, and most questions answered with 1 sentence about each.
One or more topics were not addressed.
Internet Use Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.
Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.
Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.
Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.
Delegation of Responsibility
Each Student in the group can clearly explain what information is needed by the group, what information s/he is reponsible for locating, and when the information is needed.
Each student in the group can clearly explain what information s/he is responsible for locating.
Each student in the group, with minimal prompting from peers, can clearly explain what information s/he is responsible for locating.
One or more students in the group cannot clearly explain what info they are responsible for locating.
Diagrams & Illustrations
Diagrams and illustrations are neat, accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic.
Diagrams and illustrations are accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic.
Diagrams and illustrations are neat and accurate and sometimes add to the reader's understanding of the topic.
Diagrams and illustrations are not accurate OR do not add to the reader's understanding of the topic.
Mechanics No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors
A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.
Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.
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Congratulations!
You and your team have completed the recovery program for the black-footed ferret and convinced the USFWS to green light the site for reintroduction. Hopefully your plan will work and this wonderful and exotic animal can live in peace in the wild again. Good Job!
Conclusion
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Black-footed ferret picture in Introduction and Tasks:The Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Programhttp://www.blackfootedferret.org/facts-history.htmlPicture in Conclusion:http://endangeredmammals.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/black-footed-ferret/
Include a link back to The WebQuest Page and The WebQuest Slideshare Group so that others can acquire the latest version of this template and training materials.
Credits & References
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A WebQuest for 7th – 12th Graders (Biology/Ecology)
Designed by
Brad [email protected]
Based on a template from The WebQuest Page
Evaluation
Teacher Script
Conclusion
Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Program (Mr. McNutt)
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This webquest was designed as a tool to bring students to a better understanding of an endangered species and the problems facing it. Also, it introduces students to information needed in planning a reintroduction for an endangered species. They will perform different aspects of research on the topic and come together to create a convincing argument for reintroduction. They will be graded on the quality and amount of suitable research.
The students will also be practicing their skill on writing a persuasive essay. They will need to come up with convincing arguments to persuade a higher power on their project to have it passed.
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Introduction (Teacher)
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This webquest is meant for junior high and high school students. It is anchored by high school level biology and ecology and involves english, mainly essay writing and research, skills to a lesser extent. The lesson can be extended to lower levels of schooling which would require more instruction from the teacher on ecology and life systems.
The learners will need to know before hand how to acquire research material from the internet. They will also need to know the basics of ecology and life systems in mammals.Evaluation
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Learners (Teacher)
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Science Standards Addressed:
Standard 1: Students apply the processes of scientific investigation, and design, conduct, communicate about, and evaluate such investigations.
Standard 3: Students know and understand the characteristics and structure of living things, the processes of life, and how living things interact with each other and their environment.
Standard 5: Students understand that the nature of science involves a particular way of building knowledge and making meaning of the natural world.
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Curriculum Standards (Teacher)
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The Process (Teacher)Final Product: A recovery program for the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)
including a site for reintroduction with a suitable habitat and source of food (provide an illustration/map of site), reintroduction population (include appropriate number and age), and viable arguments for site and reintroduction.
1. Join 2 other wildlife biologist to create a research team for your recovery program.2. Among your team, come up with a reason why the black-footed ferret (BFF) nearly
went extinct in the first place. This will be the beginning of your recovery program essay. Then research the characteristics of the BFF (include size, shape, habitat, source of food and other characteristics you think will be needed to write a recovery program).
3. Then split up the research among the teama. one member research a suitable site for reintroduction (make sure to look for decent size, and enough source of food).b. one member research where BFF’s are being breed to access a population for reintroduction (look for mature ages for reintroduction and apt reintroduction population sizes).c. the final member should research reasons for reintroduction and develop arguments for reintroduction (this is an important task; you have to be convincing).
4. Come together with your research and write up an essay to be given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.
5. Finally, turn in your essay when you feel you have given every last argument for the fate of this beautiful species.
The time allotted for this webquest should be one class period; maybe two for the writing process.
[Student Page]
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Introduction
Learners
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Process
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Teacher Page
Internet sources:Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Programhttp://www.blackfootedferret.org/facts-history.htmlDefenders of Wildlifehttp://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/black-footed_ferret.phpWikipedia – Black-Footed Ferrethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-footed_Ferret\National Geographichttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/black-footed-ferret.htmlU.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceshttp://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/SpeciesReport.do?spcode=A004Animal Info – Black-Footed Ferrethttp://www.animalinfo.org/species/carnivor/mustnigr.htm
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Resources (Teacher)
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Students will be evaluated as group with the final product being a recovery program written as an persuasive essay with the members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services as the target audience. The essay should be neatly written with detailed information taken from the available sources (or legitimate sources found on their own). In their essay, I want the students to give detailed information on the characteristics and structures of the species the program is designed for. I also want to see the students understanding the animals processes and how the animal interacts with other animals and its environment.
With the above information, the students should be able to write a suitable program for reintroduction. They will need to apply their internet research skills to find a site for reintroduction and a breeding program for a reintroduction population.
They will be graded on how they work together, their argumentative skills, the amount of information researched and the sources by which they got the information.
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Evaluation (Teacher)
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This page is linked to the Process segment off of the Teacher Page
Step 1. Have the students pick their own group of three, and suggest that they pick someone they work will with. This should not take very long.
Step 2. Have the students research why the BFF nearly went extinct in the first place. Direct them to the sources listed in the Tasks page. Ask them whether it was disease, loss of habitat, or other reasons why the species became endangered. Then have them research over the web the characteristics of the BFF. What does it look like? What kind of habitat does it like? What does it eat? Does it like the daytime or nighttime? The step should require some time but should not take up the entire class period.
Step 3. This step should take up the bulk of the project time. Give each group three research topic points. One member research sites for reintroduction (make sure to tell the minimum square hectares for reintroduction). Have another member research breeding programs (usually found at zoos) to find a population of BFFs to reintroduce; have them research how old a mature BFF is and how many should be reintroduced. Have the last student research and think about reasons the BFF should be reintroduced in the first place. Pay close attention to this step as this should be convincing and viable.
Step 4. This should be done in the next class period probably. Make sure the entire group is contributing to the writing process as they will be graded on what and how they contribute. Have the essay turned in at the end of the class period.
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Teacher Script (Teacher)
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Many species are becoming endangered or extinct due to human contributions. If we are the cause, then we are the only answer. This webquest introduces students to the importance of every species in our ecosystem and that each species plays an important role. As they are trying to perform a great service for the environment, they are also learning about important and real life aspects of biology, ecology, zoology, and how easy it is to wipe a species off the face of the planet. Hopefully, the students will walk away with a deeper understanding of how precious life is on this beautiful planet.
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Conclusion (Teacher)
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Credits & References (Teacher)
Black-footed ferret picture in Introduction and Tasks:The Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Programhttp://www.blackfootedferret.org/facts-history.htmlPicture in Conclusion:http://endangeredmammals.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/black-footed-ferret/
Include a link back to The WebQuest Page and The WebQuest Slideshare Group so that others can acquire the latest version of this template and training materials.