A Web Quest by Kris Hillis
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Introduction | Task | Sources | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion
You will set out on a journey to explore the world of the Emperor Penguin. On what continent does the Emperor penguin live? What is the coldest temperature ever recorded there? What are some of the habits of the Emperor Penguin? How do they raise their chicks in such frigid temperatures? Find out more about the Emperor Penguin and its habitat.
Using the Web sites indicated, you will answer several questions related to the Emperor penguin. You are allowed to work in pairs to complete the assignment.
Standards:
Standard 1, Number and Operations Standards, grades 6-9: Instructional programs should enable all students to understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
Standard 4, Measurement Standard, grades 6-9: Instructional programs should enable all students to apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements.
Standard 6, Problem Solving Standard, grades 6-9: Instructional programs should enable all students to solve problems that arise in mathematical and in other contexts; apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to solve problems.
Standard 9, Connections Standard, grades 6-9: Instructional programs should enable all students to recognize and use connections among mathematical ideas; recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics.
Emperor penguin. (2004). Retrieved November 7, 2004, from http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/emperor.htm
Antartctic penguins. (2004). Retrieved November 7, 2004, from http://www.gdargaud.net/Antarctica/Penguins.html
National Geographic. emperor penguins. (2004). Retrieved November 7, 2004, from http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0101/penguins2.html
World Book online reference center. Antarctica. (2004). Retrieved November 7, 2004, from http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/Article?id=ar023740
CIA - The world factbook - Antartica. (2004). Retrieved November 7, 2004, from http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ay.html
Candlewick Press - catalog. Emperor's Egg, The. (2000). Retrieved November 7, 2004, from http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763618713&pix=n
You are to use the Web sites provided below to answer the following questions about the Emperor penguin. You will be allowed to work in pairs. For a fun school day assignment: You are to boil an egg and decorate the egg so it looks like a baby penguin. Your task is to see if you can protect the egg throughout the school day. Remember, you cannot leave your egg alone or unprotected for any reason throughout the day.
Answer the following questions:
1. How tall is the average emperor penguin in inches?
2. How much does the average emperor penguin weigh in pounds? In ounces?
3. During the time when the male emperor penguin is sitting on the chick, he will lose half of his body weight. How many pounds will he lose, and what will be his new weight? (Use the highest weight from #2 above as the original weight.)
4. If the female emperor penguin lays her egg on May 3rd, how many days will the male have to protect the egg if it hatches on July 4th?
5. On what continent is the emperor penguin found?
6. What is the coldest temperature recorded on that continent in Celsius? In Fahrenheit?
7. How many degrees lower was the coldest day in Antarctica from the freezing point?
8. How many months ago (from November 30, 2004) was the lowest temperature recorded?
9. What month does winter begin in Antarctica? How many months is that away from winter in North America?
10. What is the average elevation of Antarctica in feet? In inches?
The following Web sites will help answer your questions:
http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/emperor.htm
http://www.gdargaud.net/Antarctica/Penguins.html
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0101/penguins2.html
http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/wb/Article?id=ar023740
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ay.html
http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763618713&pix=n
Compare your answers to the answers below. Give each member of your group ten points for a correct answer.
1. The average emperor penguin is 4 feet tall which converts to 48 inches.
2. The average emperor penguin weighs between 44 and 99 pounds, which is 704 to 1,584 ounces.
3. The emperor penguin will lose about 49.5 pounds and weigh only 49.5 pounds during the fasting period.
4. The total number of days before the chick hatches is 62 days, if it hatches on July 4th.
5. The emperor penguin is found on the continent of Antarctica.
6. The coldest temperature recorded in Antarctica was -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which is -89.2 degrees Celsius.
7. The coldest temperature recorded in Antarctica was -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 160.6 degrees away from the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit above zero.
8. The lowest temperature was recorded in July of 1983, which is 256 months from November 2004.
9. Winter in Antarctica begins in May, which is 7 months away from the beginning of winter in North America.
10. The average elevation in Antarctica is 7,500 feet, which converts to 90,000 inches.
You have just explored the world of the emperor penguin and its life on the Antarctic. What would it take for humans to survive in the Antarctic? Could we endure the extreme temperatures and outdoor conditions? Would you want to live on Antarctica with the emperor penguin?