(August 2, 1999 - This 1995 document is WAYYYY out of date

LET'S GO TO THE ZOO!!!

A WebQuest for 4th and 5^th Grades (Zoo Animals)

Designed by: Kristie Korth and Laura Bazant

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

Introduction

This activity is to get students interested in the many aspects of the zoo and to be able to gain knowledge to influence other people to visit the zoo, culminating with a trip to the zoo. Each person in the group is either going to be a giraffe, an elephant, a monkey, or a tiger. Everyone will have their own job to keep the group on task and to be responsible for specific information. When all the information is found, the group will then write a 1-2 page report over the research and will present it to the class. The overall question that you will be able to answer after this webquest is, "What is the MOST EXCITING feature, fact, or animal at the zoo that will encourage people to visit?" We will then end the activity by taking a field trip to the zoo to make an advertisement/commercial with a digital or video camera, on what each group feels to be the MOST EXCITING feature, fact, or animal. So come on, "Let's Go To The Zoo!"

The Task

The group will be able to learn about the animals, history, and the people involved with the Henry Doorly Zoo. The group will also be finding a lot of information about the zoo and making a 1-2 page report about the different features in the zoo, including a database showing how many mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates at the zoo. Keep in mind that each member of the group will be evaluating all of the other members, so make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing. The overall goal is to find what the MOST EXCITING feature, fact, or animal is about the zoo that will encourage people to visit. From the information gathered the class will be taking a field trip to the zoo and making an advertisement/commercial with a digital or video camera about the overall goal.

The Process

1. First you will be assigned to a team of 4 students.

2. The teacher will hand out a piece of paper with a 1, 2, 3, or 4 to each individual.

3. The person who gets the #1 will be the Giraffe, the person who gets the #2 will be the Tiger, the person who gets the #3 will be the Monkey, and the person who gets the #4 will be the Elephant.

1. Giraffe	Researcher: Search the various sites to find the specific information asked for below.
2. Tiger	Researcher: Search the various sites to find the specific information asked for below.
3. Monkey	Recorder: Write down all of the information that the giraffe and tiger find.
4. Elephant	Reporter: Keep the group on task and make sure everyone is involved in some way. You will be the person to present to the class what your group has found.

1. Go through the various sites shown below to find the information.

a. Find at least 25 interesting facts about the Henry Doorly Zoo. Include the history, people involved, special features, events, hours, memberships, etc.

b. Find at least 5 animals that live in the Henry Doorly Zoo and find 10 or more facts about each one.

c. What is the featured animal at the zoo this month?

d. Create a table or database showing how many mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and endangered species are at the zoo.

*In the first column list the class names and in the second column list the number amounts that are in the zoo.

e. You may use the following links to find more information for your reports.

The exhibits. www.omahazoo.com/Gallery/index_exhibits.html

Pictures. www.omahazoo.com/Gallery/index_pics.html

Information about species. www.omahazoo.com/Gallery/index_species.html

The zoo mission. www.omahazoo.com/Information/index.html

You can email any questions, requests for more information, etc. at www.omaha.com/Mail/index.html

2. Each member of the group will evaluate all of the other members. Be sure to be honest and to make comments where needed. Evaluations.

3. After the reports are turned in and graded, we will take a field trip to the zoo and make an advertisement/commercial based on the overall goal of the reports. While you are finding information for your reports, be thinking of ways you will want to film your advertisement/commercial, encouraging people to visit the zoo. We will talk about this part of the project on a later date.

For Teachers

Imax information. www.omahazoo.com/IMAX/index.html

Education. www.omahazoo.com/Education/index.html

What are some of the research projects that the zoo is conducting? www.omahazoo.com/CCR/index.html

You can email any questions, requests for more information, etc. at www.omahazoo.com/Mail/index.html

Evaluation

The overall performance grade will be based on the group work and the final paper for a total of 50 points. The student evaluations will be taken into consideration when given the final grade. The following rubric shows the criteria the group will be graded on and the amount of points the group can earn based on the criteria.

CRITERIA	ALWAYS (5)	SOMETIMES (2-4)	NEVER (0)
1. Report is handed in on time.
2. Report is 1-2 pages in length.
3. Report persuades the reader to visit the zoo.
4. Report lists 5 animals and 10 facts about each.
5. Report specifically tells about the group's idea of the MOST EXCITING fact, feature, or animal.
6. Group worked well together.
7. Group evaluations completed.
8. Has all the required information in the database.
9. Has database neatly done and labeled correctly.
10. Has a written paragraph about an idea for their advertisement/commercial.

TOTAL AMOUNT OF POINTS (50)

Conclusion

By completing this activity each group has had the opportunity to gain knowledge about the many different aspects of the zoo and written a report influencing other people to visit the zoo. Alright everyone, "Let's Go To The Zoo!"

CREDITS & REFERENCES

A Special Thanks to the Henry Doorly Zoo site for the graphics. www.omahazoo.com

Based on a template from The WebQuest Page