Introduction

We interrupt this program for a special bulletin. Five crates, each containing an animal, were found on the side of the interstate. Apparently, the crates fell off the back of a truck. When Officer West arrived at the scene, the driver of the truck drove off before he could be questioned. We are glad to report that the animals were not harmed in any way. These animals must be returned to their homes as soon as possible. We need your help! The animals are counting on you to return them safely to their natural habitats.

The Task

Officer West has selected you and your classmates to head up Project Rescue. This mission will guarantee the transportation of the animals safely home. Your task is to research the animals and the habitats provided. You will use this information to decide what animal belongs in which habitat. In addition, your group will be responsible for designing a suitable container to transport your animal home. The container must have all the comforts of home.

The Process

Working individually first, each student will complete the first two tasks. For these tasks, students will research the animals and their habitats.

Task 1: Your teacher will supply you with a copy of the worksheet on Investigating Animals. You will complete the worksheets using links to information on the animals below. Make sure you look for information about what food they eat, where they live, who their enemies are and how they protect themselves.

 

Kangaroo Rat	Manatee	Bison
link 1 link 2	link 1 link 2	link 1 link 2
Crayfish	Porcupine
link 1 link 2	link 1 link 2

 

 

 

 

Task 2: Your teacher will supply you with a copy of the worksheet on Investigating Habitats. You will complete the worksheets using links to information on the habitats below. Make sure you look for information about average rainfall, temperature and what makes each habitat unique.

 

 

Desert	Rainforest	Grasslands
link 1 link 2	link 1 link 2	link 1 link 2
Ocean	Wetlands/Swamp	Forest
link 1 link 2	link 1 link 2	link 1 link 2

 

 

 

After completing your research, your teacher will assign you to a team with other classmates. Working as a team, complete the final three tasks.

 

 

Task 3: Your teacher will supply you with a copy of the worksheet on Project Rescue - Final Destination. Get together with your team and match each of the five animals with one of the six habitats. You will not use one habitat. Each habitat should only be used once.

 

 

Now your team's task is to return the animal home safely. Next, pick a note card from your teacher. The animal written on the card is now your team's responsibility!

 

 

Task 4: Your team now must design and construct a model of the container you would use to safely ship the animal home. Include in the container things the animal needs to survive the trip. The model must include the following:

• A container (shoe box, plastic container, etc.) to ship your animal.
• Food and drink for the animal.
• Several things found in your animal's habitat to make it feel at home.

Use your imagination and be creative!

 

 

Task 5: Your group will present the habitat container to the class. Be prepared to tell the class (1) information about your animal, (2) the items you included in their habitat container, and (3) the reasons why you chose the item.

 

Evaluation

Conclusion

Congratulations! Project Rescue was a great success!

Officer West would like to thank you and your teammates for safely returning the animals home. He hopes that you had fun and learned a lot about animals and their habitats.

Credits & References

Hee Yun's Graphic Collection. (1996, September 12). Korea. Retrieved July 26, 2001,

from the World Wide: http://soback.kornet.nm.kr/~pixeline/heeyun/graphics.html

 

Rubistar. (2001). Hight Plains Regional Technolgy in Education Consortium. Retrieved July 26, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://rubistar.4teachers.org/

 

The WebQuest Page. (2001, July 12).Retrieved July 26, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/

 

Clip Art and photographs courtesy of "© 2001-www.arttoday.com"

 

Files retrieved from the World Wide Web for student research sites on July 26, 2001:

 

http://www.desertusa.com/aug96/du_krat.html

http://www.lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/americanbison.html

http://www.tallgrass.org/buffalo.html

http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/crustacean/Crayfishprintout.shtml

http://www.mackers.com/crayfish/

http://lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/porcupine.html

http://www.proaxis.com/~cwrc/LivingWithWild/WildNatHist/Porcupine.htm

http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/~jdudley/habitats/desert/desert.html

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/deserts.html

http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/~jdudley/habitats/rainfor/rain.html

http://www.toucansam.kelloggs.ca/eng/c2p1.htm

http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/~jdudley/habitats/grassland/grass.html

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/grasslnd/def.htm

http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/~jdudley/habitats/ocean/ocean.html

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/aquatic.html

http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/~jdudley/habitats/marshsw/mrsw.html

http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/types/swamp.html

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/temp/whats.htm

http://chesterfield.k12.va.us/~jdudley/habitats/forest/forest.html

http://arnica.csustan.edu/esrpp/fkr.html

http://www.defenders.org/kidsplanet/factsheets/manatee.html

http://pelotes.jea.com/Manatee.html