a Web Quest by Andrew S. Basler
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teachers | Credits
Beavers are a keystone species that are found throughout North America. Besides humans, no other living thing visibly alters the landscape as much as beavers do. These altered landscapes form marshes that serve as homes for other species.
Your first task is to watch and closely pay attention to the the IMAX movie Beavers. Look for unique characteristics and adaptations that allow beavers to change the environment. Also, think about what kind of role that change plays within an ecosystem. After watching the movie, your teacher will divide the class up into four groups. Each group is responsible for using the internet to research a beaver topic, and answer a question about beavers. The four questions are: 1) What adaptations allow the beaver to construct dams, and survive? 2) How do beavers build dams? 3)What different stages form the beaver's life cycle and shape it's family life? 4) What are the natural benefits of beavers? Each group will then complete their research and present the findings to the class, answering the question. Also, each group will make a visual aid for their class presentation.
1. First, you will watch the IMAX dvd Beavers. Be sure to pay attention to the movie and make mental notes.
2. After the movie the class will be divided into four groups. Each group will be assigned one of the following questions:
What adaptations allow the beaver to construct dams, and survive?
How do beavers build dams?
What different stages form the beaver's life cycle and family life?
What are the natural benefits of beavers?
3. Once your group has a topic, you should begin the internet research. You may use the links provided to start, and use a Google Search Engine to perform your own search customized for your question. Here are four links to start with:
4. The best way to do group research is to divide up the work. Make sure that everyone in the group has a site assigned to research, and take notes relevant to your question from the websites you visit.
5. After each group member has completed their research, as a group decide which material is most useful. Your class presentation should be between 5 and 7 minutes, so be sure and have enough material to complete the presentation. Also, as a group decide what type of visual aid you wish to use in your presentation (poster board, power point, class handouts, model, etc)
6. Work together and prepare your class presentation. Just as in research, every member of the group should have a part in the presentation.
|
Points Possible |
Self Assesment |
Teacher Assessment |
|
|
Group Team Work |
10 |
||
|
Evidence of Research |
10 |
||
|
Oral Presentation 5-7 mins. (Completed project, visual aid, etc.) |
30 |
||
|
Total Points |
50 |
Note that 60 percent of your grade is on the oral presentation. In addition, the remaining 40 percent is divided between team work, and evidence of research. If you have any questions about the grading system, be sure to ask your teacher before you begin the oral presentation.
Beavers are very important to the forest ecosystem because of their dams. Dams allow ponds and marshes to form, increasing the diversity of life, and enriching the soil, ensuring future generations of plant growth. Beavers are a keystone species because many other animals depend on the beaver pond for survival.
Grade Band: 4 - 8 grade
Tennessee Curriculum Standards:
4th: 5.2 Determine that adaptations help organisms to survive in their environments
5th: 5.5.tpi.2 provide examples of adaptations that allow animals to avoid predation
6th: 6.5.tpi.3 explain the relationship between a given structure of an organism and its purpose (e.g., teeth to chewing, stamen to pollination).
8th: The student will investigate how living things interact with one another and with non-living elements of their environment
Preceding and Ensuing Events of Instruction
Before beginning this Web Quest the teacher should show the IMAX dvd Beavers available online at Amazon. The movie is approximately 40 minutes long. After watching the video, assist the students in their online research. They might need assistance using the google search engine if they have not had previous experience doing internet research. Be prepared to make alternative keyword searches, and also to help the students brainstorm for visual aid ideas. Remind the students that everyone needs to have a role in both research and presentation. The teacher should feel free to alter the web quest in any way necessary to best meet time requirements and enhance student learning.
Purpose of Web Quest
To enhance student understanding of keystone species and their effect on ecosystems, to promote the internet as a research tool, to provide valuable research experience, to promote group co-operation skills, to promote oral presentation skills, and to enhance a student's general knowledge of beavers.
Big Picture Productions. (1999). Beavers [dvd]. Toronto, Canada: Imax
Toronto Zoo (2000). Keystone Species - The Beaver. Retrieved January 13, 2004 from www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond/curriculum/f1-beaver.html
Beavers, Wetlands and Wildlife (2002). The Beaver. Retrieved January 13, 2004 from www.beaversww.org/beaver.html
Nature Works (2000). Beaver. Retrieved January 13, 2004 from www.nhptv.org/natureworks/beaver.htm
National Parks Conservation Association (January 2003). The Benefits of Beavers. Retrieved January 13, 2004 from www.npca.org/magazine/2003/January_February/beavers.asp
Google (2004). Search Engine. Retrieved January 13, 2004 from www.google.com