Process

This is a mystery WebQuest in which students must combine their research to establish the animal to which the notes they are given are referring. Along with this they will need to figure out the rainforest in which the animal lives and the foods it eats. The research should be done in groups of three with each person taking on the role of a different researcher. The work should not take longer than one science period each day and the project should not last for more than two weeks.

Students should be divided into groups in which the children can work well together. The success of the group depends on each member being able to work well both independently and within a group. In an effort to provide an experience set-up for success, groups should be selected by the teacher. Students who may experience difficulty in reading, word processing, or Internet navigation might benefit from having a partner share his/her role.

During the first week students will use graphic organizers to fill in the information they have collected on their topics individually. During this time students should begin formulating hypotheses based on their individual research. At the end of the week students need to begin working in groups to combine and narrow their hypotheses by comparing their research. Students should reach a consensus on their answers so they may begin the final project the next week.

During week two students need to finalize their consensus if they have not done so already. If students have not been able to reach a consensus based on the combination of their individual research they should spend time doing group research to help reach a consensus. After reaching a definite decision, students will work on their informational brochures, models, and posters, which will include information from each individual in the group.

For the answer to this mystery WebQuest please e-mail Dr. Patricia Stohr-Hunt at the University of Richmond. She will send you the link to a pdf file containing the answers.

Variations

If students present an incorrect answer, you may consider letting them research further to try and correctly identify the answer. Time is certainly limited, but if there is time, they should work in their groups and continue to search for the right answers together.