Begin your WebQuest!
You have been hired by Biologists to help find the effects of the extinction of certain organisms. You now have a choice to become a team of Zoologists (biologists who study animals) or a team of Botanists (biologists who study plants). Certain plants and animals are endangered and we need to know what would happen if they became extinct.
Throughout this exploration, you will be keeping track of your research in your journals given to you in class. At the end of the lesson, you will create a mobile of the food web in which your organism is a part of, and explain to the class what our world would look like without your organism.
Let’s get started!
The following organisms are endangered (for our learning purposes only, not currently in real life):
Animals:
Bees
Mice
Oysters
Lions
Plants:
Grass
Trees
Flowers
Seaweed
Your team will choose one of these organisms to research and examine. After choosing your organism, you will need to research its niche (role) in the ecosystem. Get to know your organism! Why is this organism important? After researching, write your thoughts in your journal. Also, pay special attention to any information on what they eat and who eats them, it could help later on when creating a food web.
Resources:
Bees: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Apidae/
Mice: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Peromyscus_leucopus/
Oysters: http://hatchery.hpl.umces.edu/index.php/oysters/importance-of-oysters/
Lions: http://animals.pawnation.com/role-lion-ecosystem-5414.html
Grass: http://www.grogood.com/NewsAndMultiMedia/EnvironmentalBenefitsOfGrass
Trees: http://www.savatree.com/whytrees.html
Flowers: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/flowers-kids-53539.html
Seaweed: http://oceanlink.info/biodiversity/seaweeds/seaweeds.html
Are your organism’s roles in the ecosystem important? Brainstorm what the effects would be if this organism did not exist. Write your ideas in your journal.
Now, let’s focus even closer at what your organism eats and is eaten by. Where does it belong on a food web? Research and write what you find in your journals.
Let’s remind ourselves what food webs are.
Food Webs:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/foodchain.htm
http://www.ducksters.com/science/ecosystems/food_chain_and_web.php
http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_foodchain.html
To help brainstorming where your organism fits in a food chain, try this research.
Bees: http://bee-buzzing.tumblr.com/post/9629747098/breaking-the-chain-how-bees-affect-the-food-chain
Mice: http://animals.pawnation.com/mice-eat-nature-2618.html
http://animals.pawnation.com/animal-eats-mouse-3582.html
Oysters: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/bayecosystem/bottom
http://a-z-animals.com/animals/oyster/
Lions: http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/lion/
For the Botanist groups, remember that plants are the first stage in the food web. How do they get their energy? Think about animals that eat from your plant.
http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_foodchain.html
Seaweed team check this out: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03mex/background/seaweeds/seaweeds.html
Now with your teammates, draw a food web that includes your organism.
Now that you have learned more about your organism, think about what would happen if it disappeared tomorrow. What would happen to the ecosystem? The other organisms? The food web? How would it affect YOU? Write at least 1 page in your journal reflecting on this. Discuss your thoughts and ideas within your group. Once you have a good idea of what the world would be like without your organism, create a shoebox diorama that will show the biologists that you are working for an ecosystem lacking your organism.
Here are some resources for creating a shoebox diorama:
http://www.abcteach.com/babysit/projects/dioramas.htm
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Animals/habitatdiorama/habitatdiorama.html
Visit the Assessment Page to see how your Dioramas will be graded.
/assessment-page.html
By researching your organism and creating a diorama of an ecosystem after its extinction, your team of Biologists have shown your organization the importance of your organism! Remember, being knowledgeable is the first step for change, and you have successfully provided reason for preventing extinction. They will now do everything in their power to prevent it from becoming extinct. Your organization and humanity thanks you.
Now it is time to share your experiences with your classmates!
What is the niche of your organism? If it disappeared tomorrow, what would the effects be on the ecosystem? How would losing this organism affect you personally?
Throughout this exploration, you will be keeping track of your research in your journals given to you in class. At the end of the lesson, you will create a mobile of the food web in which your organism is a part of, and explain to the class what our world would look like without your organism.
Let’s get started!
The following organisms are endangered (for our learning purposes only, not currently in real life):
Animals:
Bees
Mice
Oysters
Lions
Plants:
Grass
Trees
Flowers
Seaweed
Your team will choose one of these organisms to research and examine. After choosing your organism, you will need to research its niche (role) in the ecosystem. Get to know your organism! Why is this organism important? After researching, write your thoughts in your journal. Also, pay special attention to any information on what they eat and who eats them, it could help later on when creating a food web.
Resources:
Bees: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Apidae/
Mice: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Peromyscus_leucopus/
Oysters: http://hatchery.hpl.umces.edu/index.php/oysters/importance-of-oysters/
Lions: http://animals.pawnation.com/role-lion-ecosystem-5414.html
Grass: http://www.grogood.com/NewsAndMultiMedia/EnvironmentalBenefitsOfGrass
Trees: http://www.savatree.com/whytrees.html
Flowers: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/flowers-kids-53539.html
Seaweed: http://oceanlink.info/biodiversity/seaweeds/seaweeds.html
Are your organism’s roles in the ecosystem important? Brainstorm what the effects would be if this organism did not exist. Write your ideas in your journal.
Now, let’s focus even closer at what your organism eats and is eaten by. Where does it belong on a food web? Research and write what you find in your journals.
Let’s remind ourselves what food webs are.
Food Webs:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/foodchain.htm
http://www.ducksters.com/science/ecosystems/food_chain_and_web.php
http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_foodchain.html
To help brainstorming where your organism fits in a food chain, try this research.
Bees: http://bee-buzzing.tumblr.com/post/9629747098/breaking-the-chain-how-bees-affect-the-food-chain
Mice: http://animals.pawnation.com/mice-eat-nature-2618.html
http://animals.pawnation.com/animal-eats-mouse-3582.html
Oysters: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/bayecosystem/bottom
http://a-z-animals.com/animals/oyster/
Lions: http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/lion/
For the Botanist groups, remember that plants are the first stage in the food web. How do they get their energy? Think about animals that eat from your plant.
http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_foodchain.html
Seaweed team check this out: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03mex/background/seaweeds/seaweeds.html
Now with your teammates, draw a food web that includes your organism.
Now that you have learned more about your organism, think about what would happen if it disappeared tomorrow. What would happen to the ecosystem? The other organisms? The food web? How would it affect YOU? Write at least 1 page in your journal reflecting on this. Discuss your thoughts and ideas within your group. Once you have a good idea of what the world would be like without your organism, create a shoebox diorama that will show the biologists that you are working for an ecosystem lacking your organism.
Here are some resources for creating a shoebox diorama:
http://www.abcteach.com/babysit/projects/dioramas.htm
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Animals/habitatdiorama/habitatdiorama.html
Visit the Assessment Page to see how your Dioramas will be graded.
/assessment-page.html
By researching your organism and creating a diorama of an ecosystem after its extinction, your team of Biologists have shown your organization the importance of your organism! Remember, being knowledgeable is the first step for change, and you have successfully provided reason for preventing extinction. They will now do everything in their power to prevent it from becoming extinct. Your organization and humanity thanks you.
Now it is time to share your experiences with your classmates!
What is the niche of your organism? If it disappeared tomorrow, what would the effects be on the ecosystem? How would losing this organism affect you personally?