Wet n' Wild 
A Web Quest for 5th Grade Science

Designed by Carol Carattini 
Frost School
East Brunswick, New Jersey

scigal@rocketmail.com

Teacher Page

Introduction | Learners | Standards | Process | Resources |Conclusion | Credits | Student Page

Introduction

Welcome Teachers! This Web Quest was designed with a focus on the Frost School Outdoor Classroom. You can adapt it for your particular use in any environmental setting. 
 

Learners

This lesson is anchored in our fifth grade Science curriculum unit Communities and also involves Social Studies (mapping), Art(illustration and design) and Language Arts (research and written communication). This lesson can easily be extended to other grade levels if required.
 

Curriculum Standards
Science Standards Addressed : 

Standard 5.1: All Students Will Learn To Identify Systems Of Interacting Components And Understand How Their Interactions Combine To Produce The Overall Behavior Of The System. 

Standard 5.2: All Students Will Develop Problem Solving, Decision Making And Inquiry Skills, Reflected By Formulating Usable Questions And Hypotheses, Planning Experiments, Conducting Systematic Observations,Interpreting And Analyzing Data, Drawing Conclusions, And Communicating Results. 

Standard 5.4: All Students Will Develop An Understanding Of Technology As An Application Of Scientific Principles. 

Standard 5.6: All Students Will Gain An Understanding Of The Structure, Characteristics, And Basic Needs Of Organisms. 

Standard 5.7: All Students Will Investigate The Diversity Of Life. 

Standard 5.12: All Students Will Develop An Understanding Of The Environment As A System Of Interdependent Components Affected By Human Activity And Natural Phenomena. 

 In addition to the learning outcomes within the traditional subject area, students will also develop and/or enhance 
critical thinking, creative production, creative problem solving, observation and categorization, comparison, teamwork, collaboration, and compromise.

Process

How to Set Up This Web Quest 

               A web quest is a group project that uses the internet to help students gain insight and make decisions.This specific web quest has been designed for fifth grade students. It should be completed in approximately 6 class sessions. Students will need at least 3 observation sessions in the Outdoor Classroom. A varity of team conferences in the outdoor environment, in the classroom, and in the computer lab will be very useful.
              First, in the Computer Lab, each student should read the Ques.Explain how students can navigate through the Web Quest by using the hot-linked resources; then choose a role and form a group of four(4). I suggest only assigning roles and teams if students cannot decide on their own.Each team should have four people, one person per role.You may have to make adjustments depending on the number of students in your class. Be sure that each role is represented in each group.
Provide materials for notes, brochures and presentation.I suggest  that you give each student a folder with their name and role on it so that they can keep their work in their "secret file." Suggest format and timeline for the Guide design. Also make a copy of the Web Quest for each team for their reference. 
             Students should document all their work. They can even use a digital camera, if available, to copy specimens and locations.
           Team should produce their product. Team should meet to plan and rehearse their presentation for the class.
 

Resources Needed
  To implement this lesson, the teacher will need a working knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Frost Outdoor Classroom. Teachers are encouraged to visit the actual site to observe the environment before bringing in students. Also the teacher should investigate the web sites listed in the Quest to familiarize themselves with the content. The lesson makes extensive use of these specific web sites listed in the Student Section, so at least two computer lab sessions are required.

Conclusion

                   I hope that this web quest serves to enhance technology learning and critical thinking in your classroom. If there are misconceptions or stumbling blocks that you encounter using this Quest  please describe them and suggest ways to get around them.Any questions or comments can be sent to the author via the e-mail addresses found on the title page and will be extremely helpful in the further development and improvement of this project.

Credits & References
 Created as a project final for NJCU Education Technology Masters Course #EDTC621, and as ascience curriculum enhancement for the fifth grade Communities Unit . 

                                 Background credits: http://www.iconbazaar.com 
                                 Based on a template from The Web Quest Page

Last updated on August 29,2000.