Water Adventures!!
A WebQuest for 5th Grade (Science)
Designed by Anne Stewart
alstewar@yahoo.com
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page
Introduction
Imagine that you have just become a water droplet. But, what exactly is water and what do water droplets do? You could become rain or snow, and you could live in a pond or in the ocean. I'm sure that there are many adventures in store for you!
It will be your job to help teach the 1st grade students all that you learn. What path would you take through the water cycle if you were a water droplet?
Task
We had better find out more about water and the water cycle. Together with your partner, take a look at some of the websites on this page...
We need to help teach all the other future droplets about the water cycle. Write and illustrate a children's book where the main character is a water droplet. Together with your partner, decide what path your droplet will take.
Process
- Part 1 Investigating
- As a class, we must find out the process of the water cycle, how water moves, its different forms, and why we need it. You and your partner will record your findings on a separate piece of paper.
- Pick a partner. One of you will use the computer and the other will record your findings. Switch roles each day.
- Use the following websites to investigate the water cycle. 1) Water Conservation Facts and Tips 2) Follow a Drip Through the Water Cycle 3) Water Cycle Background Information 4) Water Conservation Month 5) Getwise Facts about Water 6) The Water Cycle 7) Weather and the Water Cycle 8) Kidzone Water Cycle 9) Cycles of the Earth - Water 10) The Earth's Water
- Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.
1) List three ways that surface water is used. 2) Describe in two
sentences the process of evaporation. 3) What are the four main
steps in the water cycle? 4) How much of the Earth's surface
is covered by water? How much water on the Earth is fresh water?
How much is drinkable? 5) How many gallons of water does the
average American use each day? 6) What are the three forms in
which water exists? 7) How many gallons of water fall to the
Earth from clouds each day? 8) How much water is in the
Human Body? 9) Describe two ways that you can make a
difference conserving water.
Part 2 Compiling
- Begin writing your children's story in Microsoft Word using the answers you found during the investigation portion of the project. If you have questions, refer back to the internet. Look below at the "Evaluation" section before writing. It will help you arrange your knowledge successfully.
- Your final product will be a children's book. This book must be 8-12 pages in length. Each page will include writing (typed) and illustrations that show what is happening on that page. Your first draft must be professional-looking and properly formatted in Microsoft Word. Your illustrations in your draft can be rough sketches of what will be in your final product.
- You will turn in your final book to me on Friday. After reviewing all of the books, we will present them all to the 1st grade class one week later.
Evaluation
Your performance on both the investigations and the children's book are described below. You will receive an individual grade for you investigations and a common grade on the children's book.
|
Beginning 1 |
Developing 2 |
Accomplished 3 |
Exemplary 4 |
Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Spelling/ Punctuation
|
10 or more errors. | 4-9 errors. Errors affect the meaning or readability. |
4-6 errors. Errors do not significantly affect meaning or readability. |
0-3 errors. Errors do not affect meaning or readability. |
|
|
Investigated and answered all questions and answers to questions demonstrate student learning
|
Investigated less than half the questions. | Investigated most questions. Given answers are complete. | Investigated every question. All answers are complete. | Investigated every question. All answers are complete and descriptive. | |
|
Children's book shows creativity
|
Low level of creativity demonstrated. Characters are not developed. | Low level of creativity demonstrated. Characters are interesting and developed. | High level of creativity demonstrated. Characters are not developed. | High level of creativity demonstrated. Characters are interesting and developed. | |
|
Children's book meets length requirement (8-12 pages)
|
Book is less than 8 pages with little text on each page. | Book is less than 8 pages with ample text on each page. | Book is 8-12 pages with little text on each page. | Book is 8-12 pages with ample text on each page. | |
|
Children's book is well illustrated
|
Not all pages are illustrated and/ or no illustrations correspond to the text on that page. | Every page is illustrated. Few illustrations correspond to the text on that page. | Every page is illustrated. Most illustrations correspond to the text on that page. | Every page is illustrated. All illustrations correspond to the text on that page. | |
|
Children's book covers at least 4 stages of the water cycle
|
Less than 4 stages of the water cycle. | 4 stages of the water cycle with incomplete explanations. | 4 stages of the water cycle are briefly explained. | 4 stages of the water cycle are clearly explained. | |
|
Children's book demonstrates student's knowledge of the water cycle
|
Descriptions demonstrate beginning knowledge of the water cycle. | Descriptions demonstrate developing knowledge of the water cycle. | Descriptions demonstrate adequate knowledge of the water cycle. | Descriptions clearly demonstrate complete knowledge of the water cycle. |
Conclusion
Now you are ready to teach the 1st graders all that you have learned. Before we drop off the books in their classroom, please consider the following questions:
Is there an end to the water cycle?
How old is the water we have today?
Why is it important to conserve drinking water?
Credits & References
Colonial Williamsburg photograph
"We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this lesson, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this lesson. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL."
Here is a link to the WebQuest Page and the Design Patterns Page at San Diego State University.
Last updated on 6/28/03. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page