The Case of the Mysterious Living Creature!

A WebQuest for 3rd Grade Science

Designed by
Ms. Young

kyoung@mail.garfield.sparcc.org

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

Introduction

·        Animals are divided into 2 major categories: vertebrates and invertebrates.

·        Vertebrates are animals with backbones.

·        There are five classifications of vertebrates: 1) amphibians, 2) birds, 3) fish, 4) mammals, and 5) reptiles.

·        All living things are divided into 2 categories: 1) plants and 2) animals

·        Your detective agency has been chosen to investigate an unidentified creature.     

Goal:  What type of living thing is this mysterious creature? Is it a plant or an animal? …. A vertebrate or an invertebrate? …. An amphibian, bird, fish, mammal, or reptile?

  The Task

·        You are a member of a five person detective agency. Your job is to identify the classification of your mysterious creature.

  The Process

·        You will decide which person will investigate amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, or reptiles.

·        Each group member is responsible for investigating and answering questions about their classification.

·        Each group will be given a picture of an unidentified creature. You will need to find information about the creature on the back of the picture.

o       Get a chart from the teacher.

o       Each Group member must fill in his or her part of the chart.

o       Discuss as a Group to which classification this creature belongs.

• You must write your reasons why you believe the creature belongs to the classification you chose.

Resources

General Animal Sites  http://www.ajkids.com   http://www.scz.org/educate/home.html http://www.hoglezoo.org/worldmap.htm Science Anytime: Animals! Animals! (Harcourt Brace) o       What Do Animals Need? pg. A13 – A15 o       Body Coverings                        pg. A16 – A20 o       Animals and Their Young          pg. A73 – A79
Amphibians http://library.thinkquest.org/11922/amphibians/ amphibians.htm Science Anytime: Animals! Animals! (Harcourt Brace)      pg. A46
Birds ·        http://www.birdwatching.com/stories.html ·        http://www.birdwatching.com/stories.html ·        http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/ Science Anytime: Animals! Animals! (Harcourt Brace)      pg. A47
Fish ·        http://netvet.wustl.edu/fish.htm ·        http://library.thinkquest.org/11922/fish/ Science Anytime: Animals! Animals! (Harcourt Brace)      pg. A45
Mammals ·        http://www.geobop.com/Mammals/ ·        http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammal/ Mammals.shtml ·        http://www.worldkids.net/critters/mammals/welcome.htm Science Anytime: Animals! Animals! (Harcourt Brace)      pg. A47
Reptiles ·        http://netvet.wustl.edu/reptiles.htm ·        http://library.thinkquest.org/11922/reptiles/reptiles.htm Science Anytime: Animals! Animals! (Harcourt Brace)      pg. A46

Evaluation

Your group grade will be based on the following areas. To receive a 4 your group must have done all of the following:

·        Worked cooperatively

·        Managed time wisely

·        Completed Classification Chart

·        Completed Explanation

Your individual grade will be based on the following areas. To receive a 4 you must have done all of the following:

·        Used sufficient resources (Use at least two)

·        Documented sources (Write down which resources you used)

·        Wrote clear, coherent, and detailed information explaining why the mysterious creature belongs or does not belong to your classification.

·        Correctly completed questions for your classification.

Conclusion

·        After gathering information on the five classifications of vertebrates, and animals in those categories, were you able to correctly identify the mysterious creature? Could you identify what classification other animals belong in?

Credits and References

·        Vertebrate Zoo: http://wneo.org/WebQuests/TeacherWebQuests/animal/vertebrate_zoo.htm  (resources)

·        Science Anytime: Animals! Animals! (Harcourt Brace) pg. A13-A79

Teacher

Proficiency Objectives:

4.4    Use a simple key to distinguish between objects.

4.16     Demonstrate an understanding of the basic needs of living things.

6.1           Use a simple key to classify objects, organisms, and / or phenomena.

6.14     Trace the transmission of energy in a small, simple
ecosystem and / or identify the roles of organisms in the energy movement in an ecosystem.

 Click here to get classification chart!

Click here to get student questions!

Animal Sites

Dipper: http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/FISH.GAME/notebook/bird/dipper.htm

 Angel Fish:
http://www.groupz.net/~mjcc

Frilled Lizard:
http://home.mira.net/~areadman/liz.htm

Green Frog:
http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/grfrog.htm

Pygmy Marmoset:
http://www.lpzoo.com/tour/factsheets/mammals/pygmy_marmoset.html

Red Eft:
http://www.encyclopedia.com/articlesnew/39192.html

Scimitar-Horned Oryx:
http://www.animalinfo.org/species/artiperi/oryxdamm.htm

Serval:
http://www.cattales.org/serval.html

Slender Glass Lizard:
http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/lizards/glass_lizard.html

Wigeon:
http://www.teleport.com/~guide/sample/amwi.htm