You have
been named a future Critter Detective. As a future Critter Detective, you
have just been assigned a mission of finding the difference between insects
and spiders. You will investigate the characteristics of insects and spiders
and how they are different. What critters do you think you will meet along
the way? Do you accept this insecterrific, spiderterrific challenge?
The Tasks:
As a Critter
Detective there are investigations you must complete. Your investigations
include:
document
the basic characteristics of insects and spiders,
evaluate
the results of documented investigation,
compare
and contrast the difference between insects and spiders,
complete
an insect/spider collection using information from the Internet, and
create
a Critter Detective Handbook with all the information you gathered.
The Process:
The investigation
begins with the following web sites. You are ready to try your hand at
being a Critter Detective. Use the web sites below to crack your case.
1.
As a Critter Detective the World's
Most Notorious Bugs may be valuable to your case. When visiting
the 12 Bug Mug Shots study their rap sheets and choose a bug to write a
report on your favorite most wanted bug to add to your Critter Detective
Handbook.
2. Insect
Body Parts and Spider
Anatomy are great investigative tools. A good critter detective
studies all the facts of the case. After studying the data available print
and complete this page from your detective
handbook to document your notes.
3. Insect
or Spider: How do you tell?, is some of the previous Critter Detectives'
notes on the difference between insects and spiders. Use this web site
to check your detective notes and how they measure up to the facts.
4. Great
Critter Detectives collect
their own critters to inspect. Select ten insects or spiders from
the eNature site and print their information page to add to your Critter
Detective Handbook.
5. Spider
Memory, Insect
Scramble, and Ant
Quiz are some interactive sites for Critter Detectives to have
a little fun and check their knowledge. Relax and play the games, but before
you complete the process be sure to take the Ant Quiz and print your score
to include in your Critter Detective Handbook.
The Evaluation:
You will be graded on an individual basis according to the rubric below.
Your score will depend on the your ability to complete the tasks listed
in this webquest.
Beginning
1
Developing
2
Accomplished
3
Exemplary
4
Score
Identify
Basic Characteristics of an Insect.
Recognizes that an
insect is a bug.
Recognizes that insects
have antennas.
Recognizes that insects
have 6 legs, antennas, and wings.
Recognizes that insects
have 6 legs, antennas, wings, and 3 body parts.
Students
will identify basic characteristics of a spider.
Recognizes that spiders
are creepy bugs.
Recognize that spiders
do not have antennas or wings.
Recognize that spiders
have 8 legs and no antennas or wings.
Recognize that spiders
have 8 legs, no antennas or wings, and 2 body parts.
Students
will compare the difference between inspects and spiders.
Identifies that insects
and spiders are both considered bugs.
Able to verify which
one has antennas and which one does not.
Able to verify the
difference by counting the insects and spiders legs.
Able to analyze the
difference between insects and spiders by their basic characteristics.
Students
will collect and analyze an Internet based bug collections
Able to view and print
collections with assistance.
Able to view and print
ten or more of the collection without assistance.
Able to view and print
twenty bugs for collection.
Able to view, print,
and analyze the collection according to insect or spider.
Student
will research World's Most Notorious Bugs and summarize data in report.
Able to access and
view Notorious Bugs.
Able to access, view,
and determine favorite bug.
Able to access, view,
choose favorite, and obtain needed information to write report.
Able to complete World's
Most Notorious Bugs Report determining which is favorite and whether it
is an insect or spider.
Conclusion:
Congratulations!
You are now a Critter Detective and you know the difference between insects
and spiders. You are now ready to produce your Critter Detective Handbook
with the information you printed along the way. Use this cover
page for your handbook and have fun reviewing your detective work.
Thank you for being a super detective.
This lesson
is anchored in third grade science and involves writing to a lesser extent.
The learner
will need to have prior knowledge of bugs and their surroundings.
The concept
of the difference between insect and spiders can be taught in three to
four class periods. The webquest should take the student three to four
days to complete. The quest is multidisciplinary in that it involves science,
reading, and writing.
The students
may have difficulty accessing and printing the needed forms and assembling
handbook.
The teacher
will need basic computer literacy skills with knowledge of the Internet
and Microsoft Word.
The Internet
browser will need Macromedia Flash Player to view all web sites in this
webquest.
The lesson
could be used as cooperative learning and allow the students to help each
other as a team to develop their detective handbook. The handbooks could
be displayed in the school for other classes to view and admire.
The lesson
can be completed with only one teacher in the room. You can incorporate
the parents help in the lesson by allowing the student to add additional
information to their handbook.
This
webquest incorporates higher level learning by comparing, contrasting,
analyzing, and researching the data obtained.
document the basic characteristics of insects and spiders,