A Web Quest for Seventh Grade Science
Created by Connie Slagle
| Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher Notes | Credits |
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| Is everything really bigger
and better in Texas?
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You will work in the classroom, science lab, computer lab, and out in the field to answer this web question. First, you will stake your claim, a square that measures ten meters on each side. Next, collect information from your "claim" or nearby. Then, use a little "Tex nology" to produce a publicity poster to convince those city slickers that, ecologically, the Texas Panhandle is the place to be. Good Luck, Pardner! |
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1. Make an insect collection. |
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2. Do a microscopic study of air, soil, and water. |
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3. Observe the weather for one week. |
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4. Dissect a cotton flower and compare it to other flowers. |
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5. Collect and classify five leaves. |
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6. Make a model of a food chain. |
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7. Report on one rare or endangered animal. |
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8. Make a publicity poster that includes
all of the above information.
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1. Collect one
insect from each of six common orders (No endangered or beneficial insects - Find
dead insects if possible. ) Use this TAMU
site and class notes for instructions.
2. Mount them correctly in a collection box which you have decorated . Be sure to include your key. 3. You may include additional insects. 4. Click for help with identification from Desert USA . Click here for cotton insects and common Texas insects. |
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Collect air, soil, and water samples. (the abiotic factors)
2. Examine each one with a microscope. 3. Use microslide viewers and the Microbe Zoo to identify the microorganisms. 4. Sketch (100X) and label each sample. |
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Observe the weather conditions for one week. Include temperature, rainfall, air pressure, humidity, wind direction and speed, etc. You may use the KVII School Net site for help. You may make your own rain gauge or anemometer. |
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Dissect a cotton flower and compare it to flowers in your field study area. For background information, do all the activities at the Great Plant Escape - Flower Parts. |
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1. Collect five leaves.
2. Place them upside down under a sheet of white paper. 3. Rub over each leaf with a crayon or map pencil. 4. Label the parts and classify each one. 5. Use this leaf key from Virginia Tech to name one of your leaves. |
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Make a Texas food chain model out of colored paper links. Use a yellow link for the sun, green for producers, red for consumers, and brown for decomposers. Write each organism's name on its link. |
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Report on endangered or rare wildlife found in our ecosystem. Include name, habitat, reproductive habits, food, and reason why endangered or rare. Draw and color a picture of the animal. Click for information from Texas Parks and Wildlife. |
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Make a poster that includes
all of the above information. It should have these things:
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Your total score = |
| One insect in each of six common orders | 10 points each = 60 points | |
| Each extra insect | 1/2 point each | |
| Correctly mounted | 10 points | |
| Decorated box | 10 points |
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ABIOTIC FACTORS |
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Your total score = |
| Three air samples | 10 points each = 30 points | |
| Three water samples, with microbes correctly identified | 10 points each = 30 points
10 points id correct = 10 pts. |
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| Three soil samples | 10 points each = 30 points |
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WEATHER JOURNAL Each measurement for 5 days |
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Your total score = |
| Temperature | 3 points per day = 15 points | |
| Rainfall | 3 points per day = 15 points | |
| Air pressure | 3 points per day = 15 points | |
| Humidity | 3 points per day = 15 points | |
| Wind speed | 3 points per day = 15 points | |
| Wind direction | 3 points per day = 15 points | |
| Make and use your own weather instrument | 5 points per instrument = 10 pts. maximum |
| FLOWER DISSECTION |
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Your score = |
| Each structure taped on paper and labeled correctly:
stamen, pistil, sepal, petal, stigma, style, ovary, anther, filament, monocot or dicot? number of sepals? number of petals? |
7 points each = 84 points | |
| Internet activities completed correctly |
16 points |
| For each of the FIVE LEAF PRINTS: |
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Total score = |
| Monocot or dicot? | 5 points each = 25 points | |
| Venation | 5 points each = 25 points | |
| Margins | 5 points each = 25 points | |
| Textures neat and colorful | 5 points each = 25 points | |
| Use leaf key correctly | + 5 points (Bonus points) |
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FOOD CHAIN |
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Total score = |
| Sun | 5 points = 5 points | |
| Producers | 5 points each | |
| Consumers | 5 points each | |
| Decomposers | 2 points each |
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WILDLIFE REPORT AND DRAWING |
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Total score = |
| Name | 10 points | |
| Habitat | 10 points | |
| Reproductive habits | 10 points | |
| Food | 10 points | |
| Endangered or rare why? | 10 points | |
| Drawing - neat and colorful | 30 points | |
| Use of internet | 10 points | |
| Handwriting and grammar | 10 points |
| PUBLICITY
POSTER |
WHAT A BUMMMER! |
FAIR TO MIDDLIN' |
THE OK CORRAL |
YEE HAW!!! |
Your score = |
| Insect collection photo | D = 6 points | C = 7 points | B = 8 points | A = 10 pts. | = |
| Abiotic factors (air, soil, water) | D = 6 points | C = 7 points | B = 8 points | A = 10 pts. | = |
| Weather chart | D = 6 points | C = 7 points | B = 8 points | A = 10 pts. | = |
| Flower dissection | D = 6 points | C = 7 points | B = 8 points | A = 10 pts. | = |
| Leaf prints | D = 6 points | C = 7 points | B = 8 points | A = 10 pts. | = |
| Food chain | D = 6 points | C = 7 points | B = 8 points | A = 10 pts. | = |
| Wildlife report and drawing | D = 6 points | C = 7 points | B = 8 points | A = 10 pts. | = |
| Poster neat and attractive | 0 - 5 points | 5 - 10 points | 10 - 20 points | 20 points | = |
| Interesting title | 0 points | 0 - 5 points | 5 - 10 points | 10 points | = |
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Your field study is a success if your
poster includes all the required information, is
attractive, and accurately illustrates the ecosystem found in the Texas
Panhandle.
"IT AIN'T BRAGGIN' IF IT'S TRUE!!" |
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| Emphasizing safety precautions in
choosing a field study site and collecting insects and water samples is
extremely important in this project. If this project
seems too simple, just "beef it up." My thanks
go to the states
of Arizona, Virginia, Illinois, and Michigan, as well as Texas, for their excellent web sites.
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| Media Builder | Bars | Clips Ahoy |
| Graphics by Lynie | MSN Home Page | Crazy Horse |
| Home Sweet Texas | Bellsnwhistles |
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