Audubon Zoo

Pandas

 

 

 

A Language Arts and Science WebQuest
Developed for Third Grade
by Vickie Welch

(Best viewed in Internet Explorer)


vwelch@i-55.com

 

Louisiana State
Benchmarks

Description
ELA-2-E1 dictating or writing a composition that clearly states or
implies a central idea with supporting details in a logical, sequential order; 
ELA-2-E2  focusing on language, concepts, and ideas that show an
awareness of the intended audience and/or purpose (e.g., classroom, real-life, workplace) in developing compositions;
ELA-2-E3  creating written texts using the writing process; 
ELA-2-E4  using narration, description, exposition, and persuasion to develop compositions (e.g., notes, stories, letters, poems, logs); 
LS-E-C1  examining the habitats of plants and animals and
determining how basic needs are met within each habitat; 
LS-E-C2  describing how the features of some plants and animals
enable them to live in specific habitats; 
LS-E-C3  observing animals and plants and describing interaction or
interdependence. 
SE-E-A5  understanding that most plant and animal species are threatened or endangered today due to habitat loss or
change. 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

     URGENT!  The Audubon Zoo of New Orleans, Louisiana, needs YOUR help.  The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., is remodeling its panda complex and has asked the Audubon Zoo to keep Tian Tian and Mei Xiang until the project is completed.  The Audubon Zoo needs you to help it get ready for the visitors by researching information about the giant pandas and submitting a report explaining what the zoo needs to do in order to provide for Tian Tian's and Mei Xiang's needs. 

      After becoming a panda expert from all of your research, you will need to decide what YOU can do to help save the giant pandas.

 

                  

Task

 

     

          You will work in teams to research information on the Internet about the needs of the giant pandas. Then you will develop a written plan to help the Audubon Zoo prepare for the visit of two giant pandas, Tian Tian and Mei Xiang.  Next, you will demonstrate your knowledge of the pandas by taking a panda quiz. Finally, you will create a postcard explaining to a friend or relative what you plan to do to help save these magnificent animals persuading him/her to do the same.
Step 1 Your teacher will divide you into four teams:  Three research teams and the Publishing Committee.  

Each research team must select:                      

1. Two readers to read the information at each site.                               
2.  A computer driver who operates the computer.

3.  Recorders to write down the information. (The number of 
     recorders depends upon the number of students in the 
     group.)

 
Step  2 Print a copy of the Panda Survival Facts sheet for the recorders of each research team.
Step 3/Research Team 1 Using the Panda Survival Facts sheet, you will gather all the information you can about the pandas' diet. Check out these sites:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0011/pandas2.html

http://www.bearden.org/panda.html

http://www.nature-net.com/bears/panda.html

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/3019/morepandas.html

 
Step 3/Research Team 2 Using the Panda Survival Facts sheet, you will gather all the information you can about the type of habitat the panda needs.

http://pandas.si.edu/mei_tian/panda-enclosure.htm (This site is very useful.)

http://www.cnd.org/Contrib/pandas/panda_home.html

http://www.cnd.org/Contrib/pandas/panda_bred.html

http://www.bearden.org/panda.html

http://www.nature-net.com/bears/panda.html

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/3019/morepandas.html

 
Step 3/Research Team 3 Using the Panda Survival Facts sheet, you will gather any other information the Audubon Zoo will need to know before Tian Tian and Mei Xiang arrive.

http://www.cnd.org/Contrib/pandas/panda_soc.html

http://www.cnd.org/Contrib/pandas/panda_conv.html

http://www.bearden.org/panda.html

http://www.nature-net.com/bears/panda.html

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/3019/morepandas.html

 
Step 4/All
Research
Teams		 Each research team is to write a report about its findings, present the report to the class, and submit it to the Publishing Committee. Each team will decide on the software it will use to write its report.
Step 5/Publishing
Committee 		 The Publishing Committee is to compile all of the information from the research teams' reports into a final report that the committee will submit to the class and the Panda Board at the Audubon Zoo.  The Publishing Committee will use Word 2000 to publish its report.

Step 6

 Each of you is to take the panda quiz at http://pandas.si.edu/kids/pandaquiz/pandaquiztrivia.htm.

You must write your name and date on a sheet of paper and number to seven.  After answering each question, write "yes" or "no" beside each number to indicate if you answered the question correctly or incorrectly.  Give the sheet to your teacher.

Step 7

 Read information from http://pandas.si.edu/getinvolved/index.htm to find out what you can do to help save the giant pandas.

After reading the information, email a postcard to a friend or relative telling him/her what you plan to do to help save the pandas and persuade him/her to do the same. Use the following site: http://www.fonz.org/pandacards/cardgp2.html.

Send a copy of the postcard to yourself at dcr100@i-55.com (or your email address), open it, and print two copies.  Put one copy in your technology folder and give one to your teacher.

 

 

 

 

Evaluation

 

 

Each committee will print a copy of the rubric and complete it to evaluate its report.
(See Steps 1-5.)

 

Each student will complete the Panda Quiz to determine how much he/she learned about the giant pandas as a result of the research and the sharing of reports.  (See Step 6.)

      Panda Quiz

http://pandas.si.edu/kids/pandaquiz/pandaquiztrivia.htm

Each student will print two copies of his/her panda postcard explaining how to help save the giant pandas. (See Step 7.)

Panda Postcard

http://www.fonz.org/pandacards/cardgp2.html

 

 

Conclusion

 

        Congratulations on a job well done!  The Audubon Zoo could not have prepared for Tian Tian's and Mei Xiang's visit without your help.  Not only did you help the zoo, but you  also became a giant panda expert as a result of the research you did.  In addition, you gained an understanding of the importance of saving these beautiful creatures, and you discovered how YOU can be a part of a worldwide plan to SAVE THE GIANT PANDAS.

       Your next quest is to find some ways to encourage other classes at your school and/or other schools to join you in your efforts to save the giant pandas.

http://pandas.si.edu/getinvolved/index.htm

     

For a Little Panda Fun:

1.  Work a panda crossword puzzle.

 http://pandas.si.edu/kids/kidscrossword/kidscrossword.htm .      

2.  Send Tian Tian and Mei Xiang a panda-gram.

http://www.fujifilm.com/pandas/pandasend.html

3.  Print out a giant panda color sheet.

http://pandas.si.edu/kids/color_panda.htm

4.  Make a giant panda mask.

http://pandas.si.edu/kids/pandamask.htm

5.  Make some Chinese fortune cookies.
    (Make sure an adult helps you with this activity.)

http://pandas.si.edu/kids/fortune_cookies.htm

6.  Download a 15 page Saving the Giant Pandas Activity Book.
     (Make sure you ask an adult to do this for you.)

http://pandas.si.edu/kids/activitybook.htm