Penguins

Introduction Tasks Process Resources Learning Advice

Standards Assessment Conclusion

Introduction

Are you ready for a vacation; a break from school? Well, pack your bags. We're going on a field trip to some far away lands in the Southern Hemisphere like Antarctica and New Zealand. You'll get to meet some pretty neat feathered friends called penguins. These places are far away so we will need to fly to get there. Don't forget to pack your favorite stuffed animal, some good food, a camera and questions that you have about penguins.

This will be a quick trip so we need to collect as much information as we can about where penguins live, what they eat and other interesting facts. Tell your parents not to worry; we'll be back soon!!

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Tasks

You've finally landed. You have been assigned to be a reporter for the "Channel 17, 6:00 Expedition News". There are 17 different species of penguins. We will be focusing on 10 species. Your task is to find out as much as you can about 1 of the 10 kinds of penguins. Use the websites in the resources section to help you gather information for your news report.

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Process

Your partner has been assigned.

You and your partner will choose (out of a hat) one kind of penguin to explore.

Choose jobs for the first day by rolling a die.

The person who rolls the highest number gets to choose her\his job.

JOBS Investigator: uses computer and listens to partners ideas

Note taker: writes notes about penguin on the

penguin notes paper and listens to partners ideas

Using your copy of penguin notes and the links provided, find out as much as you can about your penguin including a description of its physical characteristics (size, weight, color), where it lives, what it eats, what harms it and other interesting facts.

Using the information you have collected, create your newscast. Your newscast could start out something like this: Welcome to the Channel 17 Expedition News.

This just in! The __________ penguin was seen in _________ and did you know that it weighs ___ and it is ______ inches tall. Another interesting fact about____ is ......

Our penguin of the week is the...... (Begin describing penguin here)

After a long trip in ________, the _________ penguin was seen (doing what?)..... It has ______ colors on it . It weighs____ and it is ____ inches tall.

Make sure you and your partner each have the opportunity to present some information.

Prepare a visual aid (project) to use during your newscast. Some project ideas include: a puppet, life sized penguin, a drawing, paper mache penguin, ..........

Practice your newscast several times including at least one time in front of a small audience.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Film your newscast!

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Resources

Click on your penguin's name to watch a video and find information.

Gentoo Rockhopper Magellanic Emperor Galapagos Adelie Chinstrap Little Blue Macaroni King

Click here for information about all of the different kinds of penguins.

This site is a great one if you are studying the Little Blue and the Rockhopper.

Here is another good site for the Rockhopper Penguin.

This is a great site if you are studying the Emperor Penguin and Adelie Penguin.

This site has information about the Gentoo, Adelie, Chinstrap and Macaroni Penguins.

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Learning Advice

Any of the underlined words are links that will take you to other places.

There are at least 2 sites for each penguin. Remember to take notes on your Penguin Notes page when you find the information that you need.

When you are finding out the height and weight of your penguin, make sure you check out the unit that the author of that site used. The weight might be in pounds (lb.) or kilograms (kg) and the height might be in inches (in) or centimeters (cm).

In order to get back to this page you must use the back arrow (usually on the left top bar).

Remember to print out a picture of your penguin. Ask for adult help when you are ready to print. This will help you with your visual aid that you need to accompany your Newscast.

If you need help with your Quest, whether it be finding your way around the Internet or reading some of the information, please feel free to ask an adult to help you.

Most important--- HAVE FUN and ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY!!

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VT Standards

Speaking The Living World Research

1.15 Students use verbal and nonverbal skills to express themselves effectively.
a. share information
7.13 Students understand the characteristics of organisms.
a. Identify characteristics of organisms

c. Describe and show examples of interdependence of all systems
1.18 Students use computers and other technology to research information

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Assessment

Criteria Almost There TOPNOTCH! Over the Top

Learn about 1 kind of penguin Student completes some sections on the penguin notes paper. Student competes ALL sections on the penguin notes paper. Student achieves TOPNOTCH and at least 1 of the following:
-adds more details to penguin notes

-researches another kind of penguin.

- tells why a penguin would or wouldn't make a good pet.

Use the WebQuest
Student will:
-locate our WebQuest

-select correct links within the WebQuest for your penguin

-travel to and from the Internet source and our WebQuest

with adult support most of the time.

(more than 50%)
Student will:
-locate our WebQuest

-select correct links within the WebQuest for my penguin

-travel to and from the Internet source and our WebQuest

with adult support some of the time.
(25%-50) Student will:
-locate our WebQuest

-select correct links within the WebQuest for your penguin

-travel to and from the Internet source and our WebQuest

with adult support a little.

(less than 25%)

Create a Newscast Presentation with a visual aid
Student shares less than 5 penguin facts.

Information presented is hard to understand or hear.

Audience can not clearly see the visual aid and\or characteristics of the penguin being studied are not shown.

Student shares 5 penguin facts.

Student presents information clearly and can be heard.

Student has a clear visual aid to accompany Newscast.
More than 5 penguin facts are presented.
Student shares information clearly and can be heard; with good eye contact towards the audience.

Visual aid to accompany Newscast is clear enough to be seen by the audience and has the characteristics of the penguin being studied.

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Conclusion

WOW! You have successfully completed this WebQuest about:
.

After sharing your newscast with the class, you should be an expert on your penguin. By paying close attention to the other newscast presentations you probably know more about other penguins too!

This can be just the beginning of your exploration into the world of the Southern Hemisphere and the animals that live there. You can continue your journey by using this WebQuest or other WebQuests!

A fun extension would be to tell me (written or oral) why a penguin would or wouldn't make a good pet. Use all the information you have learned through this WebQuest to help you convince me. This would get you "Over The Top" on the rubric.

GREAT JOB! REMEMBER LEARNING IS FUN!

Back to Top Return to Milton's WebQuest Page

This page was created by Kendra Chapman, grade 1 teacher.

Feel free to email me about this WebQuest!

Speaking	The Living World	Research
1.15 Students use verbal and nonverbal skills to express themselves effectively. a. share information	7.13 Students understand the characteristics of organisms. a. Identify characteristics of organisms c. Describe and show examples of interdependence of all systems	1.18 Students use computers and other technology to research information

Criteria	Almost There	TOPNOTCH!	Over the Top
Learn about 1 kind of penguin	Student completes some sections on the penguin notes paper.	Student competes ALL sections on the penguin notes paper.	Student achieves TOPNOTCH and at least 1 of the following: -adds more details to penguin notes -researches another kind of penguin. - tells why a penguin would or wouldn't make a good pet.
Use the WebQuest	Student will: -locate our WebQuest -select correct links within the WebQuest for your penguin -travel to and from the Internet source and our WebQuest with adult support most of the time. (more than 50%)	Student will: -locate our WebQuest -select correct links within the WebQuest for my penguin -travel to and from the Internet source and our WebQuest with adult support some of the time. (25%-50)	Student will: -locate our WebQuest -select correct links within the WebQuest for your penguin -travel to and from the Internet source and our WebQuest with adult support a little. (less than 25%)
Create a Newscast Presentation with a visual aid	Student shares less than 5 penguin facts. Information presented is hard to understand or hear. Audience can not clearly see the visual aid and\or characteristics of the penguin being studied are not shown.	Student shares 5 penguin facts. Student presents information clearly and can be heard. Student has a clear visual aid to accompany Newscast.	More than 5 penguin facts are presented. Student shares information clearly and can be heard; with good eye contact towards the audience. Visual aid to accompany Newscast is clear enough to be seen by the audience and has the characteristics of the penguin being studied.