Oh!!! Look at the

Ocean and Octopi!!!

A WebQuest for Pre-K/Kindergarten (Multidisciplinary)

Introduction:

Let's take an adventure together!!!!! We will be going under the sea to find octopi. Do you know what octopi are? We will work together on the Internet and computer to find out all kinds of things about an octopus. We will have a great time learning about the ocean and ocean creatures, as well as playing with octopi. Let's all shout Oh!!! for ocean and octopus, and let's get started!!!!!

The Tasks:

You will draw and label an octopus, the ocean, and several ocean creatures.
Create an ocean diorama using the eight colors we have learned.
Determine five differences between octopi and other sea creatures.
Develop an ocean story to tell your mother, father, brothers, sisters, or grandparents.
Use your memory skills to play a memory game.

The Process:

Get ready to enter into an exciting ocean adventure!! It is time to look for octopi and find out all about them. Remember!! Begin with Step 1 and work all the way to Step 5. If the ocean gets rough and bumpy, please ask your parents or teacher for help. This is for fun, so have a great ocean adventure exploring for octopi.

Step 1: Have you ever wondered what an octopi looked like or where they lived? Let's go find an octopus! Have your teacher or parent read the information and tell them two of your favorite facts! Do not let your parents and teacher do all the work!! Use your switches!!

Step 2: From the research you just heard, do your best to draw a poster/picture of a scary octopus! Great job!! Show your poster or picture to everyone in the class and at your house.

Step 3: Go teach your family 5 differences between octopi and jelly fish!!! We are all so proud of all you have learned, hopefully you remembered more than 5!!! Did you use your switches to turn the page?

Step 4: Since you know your eight colors, use them all and make an ocean diorama!!

Step 5: Now that you are an expert, let's create a story about the ocean. Click on the picture of the octopus. You will only use pictures. Get ready to tell your teacher/parents the story you designed all by yourself!!

Step 6: Did you know that you can play an ocean memory game? Use your great brain to play the game. Did you win??? Remember you can use your "Touch Screen" to play the game.

Step 7: Take an oral quiz on what you have learned!!

The Evaluation:

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4
Demonstrates knowledge of eight colors	Does not know that colors exist	Uses two colors to create an ocean diorama.	Uses five colors to create an ocean diorama.	Uses eight colors to create an ocean diorama.
Understands the concept of same and different	Does not yet understand the concept of same and different	Identifies one characteristic that is different between an octopus and a jellyfish.	Identifies three characteristics that are different between an octopus and a jellyfish.	Identifies five characteristics that a different between an octopus and a jellyfish.
Comprehension of matching similar picture	Does not comprehend the concept of similar pictures or objects	Matches one picture in less than one minute.	Matches three pictures in less than one minute.	Matches five pictures in less than one minute.
Sequencing steps	Has trouble getting started with making his story	Asks for help immediately when making ocean story	Makes 50 to 75% of ocean story before asking for help	Creates ocean story without asking for help.
Listening comprehension	Remembers nothing about octopi or jellyfish	Can remember one detail about an octopus or a jelly fish	Can remember three characteristics about either octopi or jelly fish	Can remember five to seven characteristics about either octopi or jelly fish

Conclusion:

By completing this Webquest, you have learned some new and exciting things about the ocean and octopi. You have learned how to use the eight colors you had worked with. You and your parents or teacher worked hard on matching ocean animals and you learned about things that are the same and different. This Webquest also gave you the opportunity to improve your listening and sequencing skills.

Credits & References:

A special thanks to Anne Worrall and the San Diego teachers involved in the Triton Project for all of their resources. I would also like to thank Barry's Free Clipart, LiFree Clip Art Connectionst, and Rebel Artist for the use of their graphics.
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Teacher Advice:

For children with special needs, learning about places and things they have never experienced is very difficult. My goal for creating this webquest is to help them find success by allowing them to use the computer (appropriate switches, buttons and assistive technology) to help them see and experience the ocean and learn about octopi. In this program, the whole language method is utilized. In the whole language method, when the class is learning about the ocean and octopi, that theme will be used in math, art, writing and centers.

Created for EDU 506 @ FHU School of Education by Shannon H. Fawcett on July 31, 2001.