Introduction
Jump, Splash, Swish, Slither...

Bet you didn't know that some of our favorite animals live in and around a pond.  Come and explore the world of Pond Critters and see if you can find your favorite!!
 

Learners

This lesson is intended for a Kindergarten audience.  The interdisciplinary lessons involve the areas of science, language arts, and media.  Prior to introducing the quest, the children have listened to and retold the theme-related story Jump,Frog, Jump!
by Robert Kalan using a big book version and several story-telling props.  The children have also brainstormed a list of pond animals based on the information from the story and prior knowledge.  Most of the information the children will need to complete the tasks will come from the web sites on the WebQuest.

Curriculum Standards
 

Science Standards Addressed

*Standard 2.4- Living things go through prdictable life cycles.  Students will observe and investigate the wide variety of living things that exist in their environment.
*Standard 2.7- Observe how living things meet their needs by interacting with their environment.
 

Language Arts Standards Addressed

*Learning Standard 9- Develop a sense of time/sequence of event.  Learn that books are a rich source of information.
*Learning Standard 12- Conduct simple research related to a fictional story/book to determine whether the same things take place.
*Learning Standard 24-Pose questions about topics of interest and learn about a variety of sources to retrieve information.
*Learning Standard 25- Create, display, and describe represntations of their investigations.
 

Media Strands Addressed
 

*Learning Standard 1.7- Collaborate with classmates and educator to use teacher-selected Web sites.
*Learning Standard 2.1- Follow classroom rules for responsible use of computers.
*Learning Standard 2.4- Develop understanding of how the computer is a tool for learning.
*Learning Standard 26- Be exposed to the fundamental use of computers.
 

Process

These activities/tasks have been designed for Kindergarten students.  It should take approximately 4-5 class periods of 30 minutes for each activity/task.  This is also including the story retelling and brainstorming session.
 
 
 

First you need to explore some information about pond animals.  You have just listened to and retold the story,
Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan.
 
 

You have also helped us to make a list of pond animals. 

1) Find out more about some of those animals.
 Click here to learn about Pond Critters.

-Please write down the names and draw pictures of 4 animals you learned about today.

 2)Now it is time to solve the mystery of the     "disappearing" tadpole.

Click here to solve the mystery.
 
 

     -You need to print out the life cycle page.
      -Color the pictures, cut them out, and glue them in order on a strip of oaktag paper.

-First click on the cover page.
-Next choose 4 animals you would like to have in your book and click on them.
-Print them out.  Color your cover and pictures. Staple everything together.

*Remember to write your name.
 
 

4)You are now ready to take the Pond Life Quiz.

-We will take the quiz together, write down our answers and see if we are Pond Critter Experts!!!

Resources Needed

The following is a list of the resources needed to implement this WebQuest:

Jump,Frog,Jump! by Robert Kalan

*Chart paper for listing names of pond animals
*Printout of life cycle page
*Oaktag strips and art paper
*Printout of cover page to Pond Life Book
*Printout of questions for Pond Life Quiz
*Glue and crayons
 

Evaluation
 

Are you a Pond Critter Expert?

Skills met---------------------------- 3 smiley faces
You are getting there-------------- 2 smiley faces
Let's work on this some more----1 smiley faces

(Teachers can either draw in smiley faces or stamp them in.)

Students will be evaluated on each of the 4 tasks using rubric.  Click here to link directly to rubric on Student Page.

Conclusion
 

Conclusion

Congratulations!  You are now an official Pond Critter Expert.  You have learned about pond animals, solve the mystery of the "disappearing" tadpole, created a Pond Life Book, and taken the Expert quiz.  Were you surprised by how many animals live in and around a pond???

Credits & References

Sites Used For This Web Quest:
www.excite.com
www.enchantedlearning.com
www.library.thinkquest.com
www.school.discovery.com/clipart
www.barnesandnoble.com

Credits:
Bernie Dodge's template from The Web Quest Page
Jump,Frog,Jump! by Robert Kalan

Special Thanks to:
Debra Barrett-for her time and patience
Patty Rudick-for developing a wonderful Web Quest model for Kindergarten