Leatherback Sea Turtle WebQuest for 9 th Grade Biology I Designed by: Mary Margaret Ulderich Introduction Task Process Resources Evaluation Rubric Evaluation.

Leatherback Sea Leatherback Sea TurtleTurtle

WebQuest for 9WebQuest for 9thth Grade Grade Biology IBiology I

Designed by:Designed by:Mary Margaret UlderichMary Margaret Ulderich

Introduction

Task

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IntroductionIntroductionIn the United States, there areIn the United States, there are 496 animals and 735 plants that are 496 animals and 735 plants that are

threatened or endangered. How does human activity contribute to threatened or endangered. How does human activity contribute to the problem of threatened and endangered plants and animals? the problem of threatened and endangered plants and animals? Imagine you are a scientist working to preserve Leatherback Sea Imagine you are a scientist working to preserve Leatherback Sea

Turtles.Turtles. For you to complete the task, you must have an understanding of Threatened For you to complete the task, you must have an understanding of Threatened and Endangered species. and Endangered species.

Threatened Species: a species likely, in the near future, to become an Threatened Species: a species likely, in the near future, to become an endangered speciesendangered species within all or much of its range.  within all or much of its range.

Endangered Species: A species present in such small numbers that it is at Endangered Species: A species present in such small numbers that it is at risk of extinction. risk of extinction.

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TaskTask

Your group will research Leatherback Sea Turtles and Your group will research Leatherback Sea Turtles and determine the proper habitat, niche, abiotic and biotic determine the proper habitat, niche, abiotic and biotic factors needed to sustain a healthy population. You will factors needed to sustain a healthy population. You will also discover the dangers to the ecosystem if the also discover the dangers to the ecosystem if the Leatherback Sea Turtle becomes extinct. You will Leatherback Sea Turtle becomes extinct. You will research human activities that caused Leatherback Sea research human activities that caused Leatherback Sea Turtles to become endangered. After research data has Turtles to become endangered. After research data has been collected, you will present your findings to your been collected, you will present your findings to your classmates in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. You classmates in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. You will then perform a Persuasion Task by writing letters to will then perform a Persuasion Task by writing letters to the U.S. Congress outlining your research and asking for the U.S. Congress outlining your research and asking for changes in the law to promote a healthy Leatherback Sea changes in the law to promote a healthy Leatherback Sea Turtle population. Turtle population.

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ProcessProcess• Use the following worksheet.Use the following worksheet.

Human Impact on Leatherback Sea Turtles WebQuest Worksheet.doc

• Research the Leatherback Sea TurtleResearch the Leatherback Sea Turtle’’s habitat, niche, s habitat, niche, abiotic and biotic factors needed in order to have a healthy abiotic and biotic factors needed in order to have a healthy population.population.

• Discover human activities that interfere with Leatherback Discover human activities that interfere with Leatherback Sea Turtle populations.Sea Turtle populations.

• Summarize what will happen to the ecosystem if the Summarize what will happen to the ecosystem if the Leatherback Sea Turtle becomes extinct.Leatherback Sea Turtle becomes extinct.

• Prepare a 7 slide persuasive PowerPoint presentation.Prepare a 7 slide persuasive PowerPoint presentation.

• Write 2 letters to the U.S. Congress to promote eco-friendly Write 2 letters to the U.S. Congress to promote eco-friendly laws.laws.

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ResourcesResourcesThe following is a list of websites that you may find helpful The following is a list of websites that you may find helpful during your research. during your research.

• Animal Diversity Web • Leatherback Sea Turtles-An Endangered Species• An Introduction to Sea Turtles• Why Care About Sea Turtles?• Species Fact Sheet-Leatherback Sea Turtle• NOAA Fisheries-Office of Protected Resources• Sea Turtles-Endangered Species• Letter Writing Guide• Business Letter Format

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Evaluation RubricEvaluation Rubric

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Final Grade __________

Task None 0

Beginner 1-3

Developing 4-6

Accomplished 7-9

Exemplary 10

Score

10 Abiotic Factors

Does not list any abiotic factors

Lists 1-3 abiotic factors Lists 4-6 abiotic factors Lists 7-9 abiotic factors

Lists 10 abiotic factors

10 Biotic Factors

Does not list any biotic factors

Lists 1-3 biotic factors Lists 4-6 biotic factors Lists 7-9 biotic factors

Lists 10 biotic factors

Niche Description

Does not describe the niche

Attempts to describe the niche

Describes the niche with somewhat accurate data

Describes the niche with much accuracy

Describes the niche with exact accuracy

Habitat Description

Does not describe the habitat

Attempts to describe the habitat

Describes the habitat with somewhat accurate data

Describes the habitat with much accuracy

Describes the habitat with exact accuracy

Human Impact on Leatherback Sea Turtles

Does not describe the human impact on Leatherback Sea Turtles

Attempts to describe the human impact on Leatherback Sea Turtles

Describes the human impact on Leatherback Sea Turtles with somewhat accurate data

Describes the human impact on Leatherback Sea Turtles with much accuracy

Describes the human impact on Leatherback Sea Turtles with exact accuracy

PowerPoint Does not make a PowerPoint

Prepares a 1-2 slide PowerPoint with somewhat accurate data

Prepares a 3-4 slide PowerPoint with accurate data

Prepares a 5-6 slide PowerPoint with accurate data

Prepares a 7 slide PowerPoint with accurate data

Letters to the U.S. Congress

Does not write 2 letters to the General Assembly

Writes 1 letter with many grammatical errors

Writes 2 letters with many grammatical errors

Writes 2 letters with few grammatical errors

Writes 2 letters with no grammatical errors

ConclusionConclusion• You have successfully completed the WebQuest and learned You have successfully completed the WebQuest and learned about Leatherback Sea Turtles and how humans impact their about Leatherback Sea Turtles and how humans impact their survival. You have also determined the proper habitat, niche, survival. You have also determined the proper habitat, niche, abiotic and biotic factors needed for the Leatherback Sea Turtles abiotic and biotic factors needed for the Leatherback Sea Turtles to survive in a healthy population. By writing the letters to the to survive in a healthy population. By writing the letters to the United States Congress, you have a direct impact on their United States Congress, you have a direct impact on their survival. survival.

• In your research about Leatherback Sea Turtles, you may have In your research about Leatherback Sea Turtles, you may have encountered other endangered plants or animals you are encountered other endangered plants or animals you are interested in researching. You may want to learn how you can interested in researching. You may want to learn how you can become involved in protecting them around the world. There are become involved in protecting them around the world. There are many organizations that work to protect plants and animals from many organizations that work to protect plants and animals from extinction that would welcome your help.extinction that would welcome your help.

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CreditsCreditsInternet Websites for studentsInternet Websites for students

Leatherback Sea Turtles-An Endangered Species An Introduction to Sea Turtles Why Care About Sea Turtles? Species Fact Sheet-Leatherback Sea Turtle NOAA Fisheries-Office of Protected Resources Sea Turtles-Endangered Species Letter Writing Guide Business Letter Format

Pictures/Clip ArtPictures/Clip Art

• Caribbean Conservation CorporationCaribbean Conservation Corporation• Microsoft Office softwareMicrosoft Office software

WebQuest TemplateWebQuest Template

• Dr. Glenda Rakes, University of TN-MartinDr. Glenda Rakes, University of TN-Martin

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Learning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesAt the end of this WebQuest the students will:At the end of this WebQuest the students will:

• Using the Web sites provided in the WebQuest, the student will Using the Web sites provided in the WebQuest, the student will record information about the habitat, niche, and at least 10 abiotic, record information about the habitat, niche, and at least 10 abiotic, and 10 biotic factors of the Leatherback Sea Turtle. and 10 biotic factors of the Leatherback Sea Turtle.

• Using the Web sites provided in the WebQuest, the student will Using the Web sites provided in the WebQuest, the student will record information about the relationship between human impact on record information about the relationship between human impact on the environment and the Leatherback Sea Turtle being placed on the environment and the Leatherback Sea Turtle being placed on the Endangered Species list. the Endangered Species list.

• Create a persuasive PowerPoint presentation for the class with at Create a persuasive PowerPoint presentation for the class with at least 7 slides using the data collected through the WebQuest project least 7 slides using the data collected through the WebQuest project with the purpose of outlining their research and proposals for with the purpose of outlining their research and proposals for changes in the law to promote a healthy Leatherback Sea Turtle changes in the law to promote a healthy Leatherback Sea Turtle population to the class. population to the class.

• Write at least two grammatically correct letters to members of the Write at least two grammatically correct letters to members of the United States Congress outlining the research and asking for United States Congress outlining the research and asking for changes in the law to promote a healthy Leatherback Sea Turtle changes in the law to promote a healthy Leatherback Sea Turtle population.population.

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Curriculum StandardsCurriculum Standards

• Check for Understanding 3210.2.4 Investigate an outdoor habitat to identify the abiotic and biotic factors, plant and animal populations, producers, consumers, and decomposers.

• Check for Understanding 3210.2.5 Conduct research on how human influences have changed an ecosystem and communicate findings through written or oral presentations.

• SPI 3210.2.4 Predict how various types of human activities affect the environment.

• SPI 3210.2.5 Make inferences about how a specific environmental change can affect the amount of biodiversity.

• SPI 3210.2.6 Predict how a specific environmental change may lead to the extinction of a particular species.

Tennessee Curriculum StandardsTennessee Curriculum StandardsBiology IBiology I

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