Teacher Page
Overview
of
Webquest
Introduction
This Webquest features The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rainforest Lynne Cherry's Reading Rainbow Book (1990).
The primary purpose of this website is to provide students with quality children's literature to address societal issues. The Great Kapok Tree was written by an author that is extremely passionate about the beautiful, valuable life that call the Amazon Rain forest home. Lynne Cheery attempts to pass to respect and passion for the Amazon Rain forest to her readers. She believes that everyone can make a difference in the environment by be knowledgeable of the problems that threaten its extistence. This book should be read aloud for child to enjoy and grasp the true meaning of which the book was written. By the end of this webquest, students should gain a better understanding of the Amazon Rain forest and the vital life that lives in it.
The task that are provided for the students for this webquest support reading and vocabulary comprehension skills. This webquest provides students to use their critical thinking skills to express their ideas and opionions. Also if students feel deeply touched by this book and the societal issue it addresses, they have the opportunity to e-mail the President (with teacher or parental assistance). The students will be asked to connect this text to real world societal issues, make predictions, draw conclusions, compare and contrast and to describes aspects of the book.
Content Area
The Great Kapok Tree webquest is integrated in the content areas of reading, science, and social studies. This webquest is directed toward primary students (grades 2nd-3rd). However, adaptations can be made for all elementary level students. Students may need extra assistance through the supervision of an adult (parent/teacher) and through cooperative groups.
Objectives (Kentucky Curriculum Standards)
Reading: RD-E-1.0.10
Connects literature to students' lives and real world issues.
RD-E-2.0.9
Makes predictions and draw conclusions based on what is read.
RD-E-3.0.6
Identify an author's opinion about a subject.
Science
SC-E-3.1.2
Organisms have basic needs. For example, animals need air, water, and food; plants need air, water and nutrients, and light. Organisms can only survive in environments in which their needs can be met.
SC-E-3.3.2
The world has many different environments. Distinct environments support the lives of different types of organisms. When the environment changes some plants and animals survive and reproduce and others die or move to new locations.
Social Studies
SS-E-1.3.1
Rights and responsibilities are determined by specific roles within various groups including family, peer group, class, school, community, state and country.
Implementation Overview
Students will work in groups of no more than 4. The task will be assigned by the teacher according to the abilities of each student. The groups will collect data, respond to data and make a presentation to their peers. The ideas in this webquest can be implemented in any elementary classroom with the assistance of teachers, parents and other adults for students in the lower primary grades.
Special Resources needed
computers with Internet access (preferably a computer lab)
multiple copies of the Great Kapok Tree for groups to have one copy
parent volunteers to assist with Webquest for students in lower primary grades
On-line resources
http//dictionary.reference.com/
Entry Level Skills and knowledge
In order for this webquest to be a learning and meaningful experience, all of the students need to be able to read and write. For early primary students, there should be an intermediate student or parent volunteer to assist with reading and supervision.
Evaluation
The students will use the self evaluation page located at the end of the webquest. When the groups have completed the webquest, they will present their findings to the class as a group presentation. This presentation should reflect a group effort in completing the webquest. There will be a group assessment based on how well the students worked together and the overall presentation to the class. Click here for the cooperative learning assessment.
Conclusion
This web quest integrates the content areas of science, social studies, and reading. To complete this web quest the students must work cooperatively together, navigate to different sites and use critical thinking skills. Students also had options to log on to Lynne Cherry's official website to comment about the book or log on to the White House's website to express their feelings about the destruction of the rainforest.
Last updated 4-21-05