This WebQuest was developed as part of a School-wide Ecosystem Project. This is a technology based unit in which our students will be working together to create and produce a South Florida butterfly garden. Throughout this WebQuest, students will use critical thinking skills in creating and constructing the garden. Each classroom will design their garden and one from each grade level will be chosen. These will then be presented to the Science Committee. They will choose the best design appropriate for our school and funds. The planting of the butterfly garden will be a school-wide event culminating with a butterfly release at our new garden.
CONTENT AREAS
Math
Language Arts
Science
Technology
GRADE LEVELS
This WebQuest has been designed with separate activities grouped for grades K-2 and 3-5.
STANDARDS
This WebQuest follows the Florida Sunshine State Standards and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Competency Based Curriculum.
Possible standards to be covered in class to complement this WebQuest:
Kindergarten:II Life Science #2, 3, 7 A
II Measurement #1, 2, 9 A
II Language Arts #3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 1 0 A
II Technology Tools 1-4 B, C
First: II Life Science #1-5 A, 1-3 B
II Measurement #1-4 A
II Language Arts #1, 7, 12, 14 A
II Technology Tools II 1-4 B, C
Second: II Life Science #1-4 A - B
II Measurement #2, 8 A
II Language Arts #1-3, 6-8, 10, 12 A
II Technology Tools #1-3 A, B
Third: II Life Science #1-4 A
II Measurement #2, 11, 14, 15, 20 A-D
II Language Arts #1-5, 11, 13, 16 A
II Technology Tools #1-3 A, B
Fourth: II Life Science #1-3 A
II Measurement #1-2, 5-6, 9, 14, 16, 17A – C
II Language Arts #1, 6, 11, 13, 15 A
II Technology Tools #1-3 B
Fifth: II Life Science #3 B
II Measurement #1, 2, 5-7, 9-15, 18-20 A-D
II Language Arts #1, 6, 9, 12 A
II Technology Tools #1-3 B
OVERVIEW
In this WebQuest, students will be working in groups of 6-8 students, which is the WebQuest Team. They will complete the background information activities according to their grade levels. This is part one of the WebQuest. For part two, the Team divides into groups of two. Each group will work on a different job, again according to their grade levels. The Teams of two will then get together to share all the information they learned through a discussion and must come to a consensus. After the discussion, the WebQuest Team will get together to publish what they have learned. Part four of the WebQuest is the real world experience. The entire class will work cooperatively to plan and design our school’s South Florida butterfly garden. This WebQuest should take approximately 15 days to complete
Suggested Timeline:
Day 1: For all grades:
Students are introduced the WebQuest. (Emphasis should be placed on the Resources section since this is where the students will look up the majority of the information) They should also use the school’s library.
The WebQuest Teams of 6-8 students will be formed.
Students will begin writing in the KWL chart on butterflies. Do the parts What I Know and What I Want to Learn.
Prepare the WebQuest Journal.
Write the first entry on the journal
Day 2: For grades K-2:
Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Teacher should read it to the entire class.
Students will visit the web pages on general information about butterflies.
Students will draw and label the parts of a butterfly.
Students will write in the journal the activities completed today and something that was learned.
For grades 3-5:
Students will read information on butterflies using the Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Read about the metamorphosis of a butterfly.
Students will visit the web pages on general information about butterflies.
Students will complete the KWL chart with five facts learned.
Students will do Journal writing
Day 3: For grades K-2:
Students will spend some time visiting the web pages on information about butterflies of Florida.
Students will begin to make a book titled “My South Florida Butterfly Book”. Use butterfly clip art to decorate the book.
Students will do Journal writing
For grades 3-5:
Students will visit web pages on information about butterflies of Florida and butterflies in general.
Students will begin a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting any two butterflies.
Students will do Journal writing
Day 4: For grades K-2:
Students will finish “My South Florida Butterfly Book”.
Students will make a graph to show the Team members’ favorite butterflies.
Students will complete the KWL chart.
Students will do Journal writing.
For grades 3-5:
Students will finish the Venn Diagram.
Students will visit the web pages on information about the butterflies of Florida.
Students will find out about Florida’s official state butterfly, which governor designated it as such and the year.
Students will write a one sentence summary with the information obtained.
Students will do Journal writing.
Days 5 through 16 are for all grade levels:
Day 5:
Students will finish any of this week’s activities not completed.
The WebQuest Teams will be divided into groups of two for the in-depth study part of the WebQuest.
Each Team will decide which group of two will work on which job.
Day 6:
Students in groups of two will cooperatively work on their specific jobs.
Students will do Journal writing.
Day 7:
Students in groups of two will continue to cooperatively work on their specific jobs.
Students in groups of two will begin their one to two page report using Microsoft Word.
Students will do journal writing.
Day 8:
Students will finish writing their one to two page reports.
Students will do Journal writing.
Day 9:
Students will come together to their WebQuest Team and discuss what was learned (their papers) on the different jobs. They must come to a consensus about what was learned.
Students must cooperatively decide how to publish what they have learned on making a South Florida butterfly garden: PowerPoint presentation, create a book using desktop publishing (Microsoft Word) or create a puzzle using a crossword puzzle generator. Final product will be presented to the entire class on day 13.
Students will do Journal writing.
Day 10:
Students will begin working on their presentations.
Students will do Journal writing.
Day 11:
Students will continue working on their presentations.
Students will do Journal writing.
Day 12:
Students will finish working on their presentations.
Students will do Journal writing.
Day 13:
Students will present their publish work to the entire class. (Oral reports or Powerpoint slides)
Students will do Journal writing.
Day 14:
The larger WebQuest Team (the entire class) will measure the area for the garden.
The entire class cooperatively will write a plan and design a South Florida butterfly garden for our school.
Student will do Journal writing.
Day 15:
The entire class cooperatively will finish the plan and design.
Students will do Journal writing.
Teachers will turn-in their plans and designs to Grade Level Chairpersons and one will be selected to represent the grade.
Day 16:
All entries must be submitted to the Science Committee.
RESOURCES
The students will be using specific websites and web pages to obtain information about butterflies in general, butterflies of Florida, plants attracting butterflies, butterfly gardening, native plants of Florida and Florida ecosystems. See student page for the links. They should also be encouraged to check out books from the library.
ENTRY SKILLS
Students and teachers must have basic computer skills and Internet experience. They must also have some basic knowledge on how to use Microsoft Word (or another desktop publishing program) and PowerPoint.
EVALUATION
There will be two rubrics used. You may also use a rubric calculator to figure out the percentage each student receives on the rubric. To use this, you must run a rubric online and mark the performance standard for each objective.
CONCLUSION
Students have learned a lot about butterflies, plants that attract butterflies and South Florida butterfly gardens. They were also able to apply what they learned when they planned and designed a butterfly garden for our school. This real world experience will be long remembered by our students.
