Grand Slam Turkeys

A WebQuest for 9th-12th Grade Biology

Introduction:

There are five major sub-species of the Wild Turkey found in the United States. When one turkey from each of the five sub-species is harvested, it is called a Grand Slam. Now, imagine you are a turkey hunter on a quest for a Grand Slam. As you travel around the United States, you must collect as much information as possible about each of the sub-species. It is also very helpful to discover as much about your quarry as possible. Grab your gear and let's hit the woods!

The Tasks:

As you travel around the United States to complete your quest, some of the items you must learn include:

differentiate between male and female turkeys,
identify the five sub-species of wild turkeys found in the United States,
distinguish what part of the United States each sub-species is found,
recognize four basic calls and their use, and
complete the hunting game.

The Process:

While on your travels, there are many facts that you must learn. Any serious turkey hunter knows that the only way to achieve a Grand Slam is to know as much about your quarry as possible. The following sites will give you access to these facts and much more. Be sure to visit each site in the order they are listed below.

1. A trip to The Wild Turkey Zone is an important first stop on your quest for a Grand Slam. You will find information on the history, characteristics, and other interesting facts about turkeys. Much needed information about each of the sub-species is also found here. Read this information to learn the differences between male and female turkeys. Also, discover the common names for each of five sub-species and what part of the United States each one is found.
2. There are a number of Wild Turkey Sounds you may hear while in the turkey woods. You will find a list of the sounds and what each sound means. Would you like to hear each of these sounds to help you understand the conversation that occurs between you and the turkeys while you are hunting? Listen to the wild turkey sounds and look at the description of each. Pay special attention to the Gobble, Yelp, Cluck, and Cackle.
3. Identifying Turkeys in the Wild can often be like putting together a puzzle. Many turkeys blend in with their surroundings as part of a defense against predators. If you can Put the Pieces Together, you may like the picture that appears in the end. Look at the clip of turkeys walking in the woods and notice how they blend in with their surroundings. Then, complete the puzzle of the Wild Turkey Gobbler.
4. Before you begin your Quest, take a practice opportunity to Pursue Your Quarry. This practice hunt helps you to learn to identify gobblers from hens, and where to aim before you shoot. If you can make it all the way to level three, you are now ready to begin your Quest. Be extremely careful not to shoot a hen! If you do, you could have your hunting license revoked.
5. After a successful hunt, it's time to Score Your Turkey. A formula from the National Wild Turkey Federation will help with this task. Since the game does not give you any data about turkeys harvested, you will have to create your own data. Simply plug your pretend information into the formula and see how you did. Official step-by-step procedures are included.
6. Now you are ready to take a quiz to see if you know All About Turkeys. Type the proper term in the box that best completes the statement. The quiz will include information about the different sub-species and the calls that Wild Turkeys make.

The Evaluation:

Your individual performance will be evaluated as described below.

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4
Identify five sub-species of Wild Turkeys found in the U.S.	Can name only one sub-species.	Can name at least two sub-species.	Can name at least four sub-species.	Can name all five sub-species.
Distinguish which part of the U.S. each sub-species is found	Knows location of only one sub-species.	Knows location of at least two sub-species.	Knows location of at least four sub-species.	Knows location of all five sub-species.
Recognizes four basic calls and what each means	Recognizes only one call and what it means.	Recognizes some calls and what each means.	Recognizes most calls and what each means.	Recognizes all four calls and knows what each means.
Complete the hunting game	Cannot complete first level.	Completes first level.	Completes second level.	Completes all three levels.
Complete quiz "All About Turkeys"	Scores 70 or below on quiz.	Scores 80 on quiz.	Scores 90 on quiz.	Scores 100 on quiz.

Conclusion:

After completing this WebQuest, you should become familiar with the five sub-species of Wild Turkey and what part of the U.S. each sub-species is found. You should also be able to distinguish the difference between a male and female turkey, know where to aim, and be able to complete a game and quiz about turkeys.

Credits & References:

A very special thanks to Joe's Turkey Page for the sounds and descriptions of wild turkeys. The Wild Turkey Zone also provided a majority of the information presented on the five sub-species of Wild Turkey.

Teacher Advice:

This lesson is designed for Biology grades 9-12. The students will need to have a basic understanding of how to navigate using the World Wide Web. Coordination with the mouse is helpful, especially when playing the game. No prior knowledge about turkeys is needed to complete this exercise.

This lesson is organized in a way that allows students to study more in-depth on their own. Many of the links provide more links to more information. The lesson should be able to be completed in three days. Students need to work individually if possible. Groups can be created if the number of computers available is limited.

Since this lesson does contain hunting scenes, some parents may be concerned about violence. However, the game does not display any graphic scenes or blood.

Created by Michael Dunaway for EDU 506 @ FHU School of Education by Dr. Bruce Lewis on December 4, 2001.