PLAYING AROUND WITH PANDAS

"PLAYING AROUND WITH PANDAS"

A WebQuest for 4th-5th Grade
Integrating
Language Arts/Science/Math

Introduction:

Just hired by the Memphis City Zoo as an endangered species consultant, you have been asked to find some giant pandas for a China Exhibit. Being totally clueless on where to begin your search, you will use the power of the Internet to enter the world of a panda for a day and learn more about them through creative adventures and fun-filled activities. Let's go and play around with the pandas!

The Tasks:

Through the "PLAYING AROUND WITH PANDAS" Webquest, you will learn about the life and habitat of giant pandas while simultaneously completing the following tasks:

identifying terms associated with a panda by completing a word search puzzle,
navigating the Internet to reivew and study information and pictures of pandas,
using the research information to write a detailed report about pandas,
utilizing math skills to budget "Panda" purchases made from an on-line website,
brainstorming to complete a difficult maze, and
completing a cooperative group project compiling the research information using Microsoft Powerpoint.

The Process:

Searching for pandas? Don't worry, your help is right here! To assist you in your efforts to find the research you need, a set of unique sites are listed below. These sites will be most helpful as you attempt to learn about the life and habitat of a panda. So, go play, and have fun!

1. Need insight! Mr. Bamboo, the president of the Zoological Society, has presented you with a list of terms which are associated with the panda. See, if you can find them in this word search puzzle. Print your sheet and have a "growling" good time!
2. Have a open eye! Look at this site to learn some panda information. You will need to take notes about the estimated number of existing pandas, their physical attributes, their daily diet intake, reasons why they are losing their habitat and average life span, and where they are most likely to be found. Wait! Hello! There is more! You have just been informed by the San Diego Zoo that they have a panda family -- Shi Shi, Bai Yun, and Hua Mei -- in which they can loan to you. Come on, let's take a peek at these videos. Also, don't forget to look at the photo album of Hua--the world's most famous baby panda. She's a beauty.
3. Creative thought! You will now need to make a display information board about pandas and specifically about the "panda family" for the exhibiion. Use the information from your notes to write a two-page summary about the life and habitat of pandas, and some facts about Shi, Bai, and Hui. Keep in mind, the display board will be pretty big and your writing will be viewed by thousands of zoo vistiors. Be factual, use detailed information, and use appropriate sentence structure. Print out at least 2-3 sheets and begin to"write" your heart out.
4. You are now making plans to bring the pandas home to Memphis for the China Exhibition. It is not easy, so use this maze to bring the pandas home. This activity will allow you to brainstorm to get the panda home safely. Print out your sheet! Search and you shall find! Good Luck!
5. Now, it is time to shop! The manager of the zoo has asked you to help design a" kids panda room" which will be on display for parents to view for home decorating. Use your expertise in adding and subtraction to manage the $3500 you have to spend for the design of the panda room. Remember, you must stay within your budget and everything must have a panda on it. Please print out everything you order and record the total of what you spend. For, purpose of recordkeeping, be able to show how the manager your final "product" by having it written out in detail. Now, Shop 'til you drop!
6. OOPS! Have you checked on them? They are already receiving early visitors before the exhibit. They are very tired and ready to take a nap. Create a doortag which says "Do Not Disturb" for the zookeepers to stay out until they wake up. They will love you for it. Print out your finished product and cut it out.
7. The time has come! It is the day before the exhibit. You and two of the zookeepers (assigned partners) will create a presentation using Microsoft Powerpoint to show what you have learned about pandas. This presentation will be used to show other children about this beautiful endanangered specie. It will include approximately ten slides. They are: the title page, five information slides on history, physical attributes, diet intake, habitat, and average life span of the pandas. There will be three additonal slides on the panda family located at the San Diego Zoo---Shi, Bai, and Hui. And the final slide will be a "conclusion" slide. Team assignments will be made by the teacher and additional information will be given on how to use Powerpoint.

The Evaluation:

The activities in this Webquest will be graded by using the scale below. Individual task will be checked on an individual basis. The cooperative group project will be checked as a group activity. As you complete the tasks in this Web Quest, please check the scale in order to insure that your work will receive the highest score available.

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4
Word Search Puzzle	Identifies at least two of the words in the puzzle.	Identifies at least three to four of words in the puzzle.	Identifies at least five to seven words in the puzzle .	Identifies all of the words in the puzzle.
Information summary	Contains part of the page requirement, not organized, frequent grammar/or spelling errors, illegible writing.	Contains part of the page requirement,some organization, more than two errors, legible writing with some ill-formed letters, print too small or too large.	Contains at least a page and a half of information, organized, facts are somewhat jumpy, only one or two errors, legible writing with most well-formed characters.	Contains two pages of information with good organization, logically ordered, all grammar and spelling are correct, neatly written with all characters well-formed.
Brainstorming Activity: The Panda Maze	Completed printing the sheet, and made it through at least one-fourth of the activity.	Completed printing the sheet, and made it through one-third of the activity.	Completed printing the sheet, and made it through at least one-half of the activity.	Completed printing the sheet and successfully made it to the end of the activity.
Budgeting: Using the Skills of Addition and Subtraction	Printed ordered products list, spent $3200 or less, no sketch to show the final amount spent.	Printed ordered product list, spent at least $3300 but no more than $3400. Unclear sketch to show final amount spent, some serious math errors in showing final amount spent.	Printed ordered product list,spent at least $3400, and no more than $3490. Clear sketch, no major math errors in showing final amount spent.	Printed ordered product list, spent at least $3490. Clear sketch, no significant math errors in showing the final amount spent.
Cooperative Group Project: Power Point Slide Show	Includes five slides or less, little essential information, presentation does not have an introduction,and has very little sequence, and has more than five grammatical, spelling, or other errors in the content.	Includes seven slides or less, some essential information which introduces the topic, presentation attempts to introduce the topic and some sequence, includes three to four grammatical, spelling, or other errors in content .	Includes seven to nine slides, essential and accurate information which introduces the topic, presentation as a small introduction, has sequence, and has two to three grammatical, spelling, or other errors in the content.	Includes all ten slides, presentation has an informative introduction, follows a logical sequence, grammar, spelling, and other errors are not present in text.

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You have learned about the life and habitat of pandas through an integration of Language Arts, Math, and Science. I hope your experience here will entice you to share with your friends and relatives what you have learned. Feel free to visit this site as many times as you wish.

Credits & References:

Thanks to the following websites for the use of their resources:

Clip Art Connection for panda pictures used and Art Today for clip art used.

Teacher Advice:

"PLAYING AROUND WITH PANDAS " is designed for fourth and fifth grade levels through the integration of Language Arts, Math, and Science. The prerequisites essential for learners to complete this Web Quest are: use of proper sentence structure, how to organize paragraph content, knowledge of using addition and subtraction with monetary figures, and how to use a computer.

The lesson is organized in a manner in which the learner will have a goal in which he is trying to accomplish. The goal will be achieved through the tasks presented in the Web Quest. Upon completion of individual tasks, the learners will be assigned to cooperative groups in order to create a Powerpoint presentation. The idea is to recap the main ideas associated with Pandas through the use of technology. Therefore, this multi-disciplinary unit will take a series of class periods to complete.

When it comes down to the time of completing the final task---the Powerpoint presentation, I suggest demonstrating a sample presentation to the class. Then, give walk-through instructions and allow stopping points for any questions that the learner(s) may have.

Using a vivid imagination, the teacher can introduce the Web Quest by talking about the various types of endangered species. Also, the weekly lesson plan of the teacher could possibly cover each of the skills mentioned in the task. "PLAYING AROUND WITH PANDAS" is an exciting way to integrate technology in the classroom.

Created for EDU 506 @ FHU School of Education by Donna D. Maclin on July 2, 2001.