National Parks

A Fourth Grade Regions and Biomes

WebQuest and Task

Based on a task developed by Rosemary Venditto


Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Citing Sources | Evaluation | Conclusion

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Introduction

The earth is made up of five major biomes. Organisms in these biomes have physical and behavioral adaptations that improve their chances for survival. Humans can have a positive or negative impact on a biome. The United States is divided into regions which are part of one or more biome. Each region has unique characteristics that impact the people who live there. Although there are many differences between the regions, there are also similarities. One similarity is that each region has National Parks and/or Historic landmarks that have been preserved by our government. The National Parks Service is a government agency that oversees all of our national parks and historic landmarks. You may have seen the brochures that they publish about the parks or landmarks that you have visited.

The Director of the National Parks Service has decided to promote information about our National Parks and Historic Landmarks in order to increase tourism and help in the preservation of these special places.

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Task

Congratulations! The National Parks Service has hired you as their new Director of Travel and Tourism! Your job objectives are to increases tourism to a national park or landmark, as well as educate the public in ways to preserve these special places. To do this you will have two tasks to accomplish. The first is to create a two-sided, three-panel brochure to inform people about their visit your park or landmark. The second is to educate the public on ways they can help protect this park or landmark. To do this you will need to create a poster which will be placed in the local newspaper, or a create song with music and lyrics which will be played on the local radio station, or a produce and act in a commercial to be shown on a local television station.

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Process

Task One: Using Pages, create a two-sided three-panel brochure to promote travel and tourism to your park or landmark. Your brochure should include pictures of your park or landmark and answer the following questions:

  1. Choose a national park or landmark. Write a letter to your park requesting more information and brochures. (Complete by the end of Feb.)
  2. Research your park/landmark to find the information below. Use your graphic organizer to take notes. Make sure you have at least two print resources and one electronic resource. Download your pictures as you research. Be sure to cite your sources on your organizer.
  3. Browse through various travel brochures. Think about how you want to organize your brochure to include all necessary information. What will you put where? How will you fit it all in? Plan it out on paper first.
  4. Create your brochure using the Pages template. Make sure your paragraphs contain interesting topic sentences and are supported by details. Make sure you have complete sentences using interesting words. Make sure you have included all necessary information. Double check that you have used both sides of your brochure.
  5. Format your text as needed.
  6. Insert your images where you want them.
  7. Check your spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Remember to ask someone to help you proofread and look for errors.
  8. Save and print your brochure.
OPTIONAL: Task Two: In what ways have humans changed this park or landmark? Are these positive or negative changes, or both? Why? What can humans do to help protect this park or landmark? What could happen if these protections were not put into place? Choose one of the following ways to present this information to your class:
  1. Create a poster with pictures and text. This can be made with art supplies or on the computer.
  2. Write a song with music and lyrics. If you play an instrument you can use that in your presentation while you sing the song.
  3. Create and act out a television commercial. This will need props and/or a backdrop.
  4. Write an expository piece on your National Park.

You must also:

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Resources

star  Pick Your National Park or Landmark  star


Additional Resources

Biomes

The World's Biomes

Earth Floor:  Biomes

Learn About Biomes

Regions Resources

World Book Online

Search for print resources available at Plainville Elementary Schools

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Citing Your Sources

Remember that you must not only put information you find into your own words, but you must also cite your sources. That means you must say where you got both your information and your pictures. Be sure to ask if you have questions.


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Evaluation

Your grade for this project will be based on the rubric below. On your print copy color in your score for each area as you complete it, to help you keep track of your performance. Review it one more time before you pass in task one and present task two.

 
Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary Score
Tri-Fold Brochure Information Gathered Used one print or electronic resource
4 pts		 Used one print and one electronic resource
6 pts		 Used three resources including at least one print and one electronic resource
8 pts		 Used a minimum of two print and two electronic resources
10 pts

Factual Information Little correct Information 
4 pts		 Correct factual information shared but did not include all neccesary information
6 pts		 All necessary correct factual information shared
8 pts		 All necessary correct factual information shared in creative format
10 pts

Documentation of Sources One resource identified
4 pts		 Some Resources identified
6 pts		 All Resources Identified
8 pts		 All Resources identified in correct format
10 pts
Expository Writing

Writing is not expository or not on topic
4 pts

 Some expository writing, limited on topic
6 pts		 All writing is expository, some is on topic.
8 pts
 All writing is expository and on topic.
10pts

Organizer Note Cards Did not use or lost Organizer Note Cards
4 pts		 Used some Organizer Note Cards
6 pts

Used most Organizer Note Cards
8 pts

 Used all Organizer Note Cards
10 pts

Understanding Did not show understanding with most of the phrases and information copied from resources
4 pts.		 Showed some understanding, but some phrases and information are copied from resources
6 pts.		 Showed understanding through use of own words to convey information
8 pts

Showed understanding through use of own words to convey information, and made effort to use Thesaurus in many areas
10 pts.

Language Mechanics 1-2 brochure panels have complete sentences with appropriate punctuation and correct spelling
4 pts		 3-4 brochure panels have complete sentences with appropriate punctuation and correct spelling
6 pts		 5 brochure panels have complete sentences with appropriate punctuation and correct spelling
8 pts		 All 6 brochure panels have complete sentences with appropriate punctuation and correct spelling
10 pts
Work Habits Limited time on task
4 pts		 Needed daily reminders to stay focused and on task
6 pts		 Stayed focused and on task most days
8 pts		 Stayed focused and on task each day
10 pts

Creativity Presentation

(Optional Piece)

 

The student did not clearly and convincingly explained any of the following items:

  • How humans have changed the park/landmark (both positive and negative)
  • How humans can protect the park/landmark
  • Why it is important to protect the park/landmark


4 pts

The student clearly and convincingly explained only one of the following three items:

  • How humans have changed the park/landmark (both positive and negative)
  • How humans can protect the park/landmark
  • Why it is important to protect the park/landmark

6 pts

 The student clearly and convincingly explained two of the following three items:
  • How humans have changed the park/landmark (both positive and negative)
  • How humans can protect the park/landmark
  • Why it is important to protect the park/landmark
8 pts		 The student clearly and convincingly explained ALL of the following:
  • How humans have changed the park/landmark (both positive and negative)
  • How humans can protect the park/landmark
  • Why it is important to protect the park/landmark
10 pts

  
Overall Project
Just the Basics
4 pts		 Could be Better
6 pts		 Good Job!
8 pts		 This Project Rocks!!
10 pts
             
Teacher Comments   Student completed the report in the classroom independently.

Student required extra time by choice.

Student completed the report with additional support outside of the classroom.

Student completed the report with additional support outside of the classroom.

Student required modifications to complete the report. (should be noted below)

Student did not complete report because planning and other components were not completed by due dates.

Student did not complete report due to unexcused absences.

Student is new to Plainville and may not have had all the background experiences required in the task.

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Conclusion

Through this project you've been able to learn about biomes and regions by studying a national park or landmark. You've also learned how to help protect these special places from human harm. You can use this information to help protect many places from human harm. As you journey through life, perhaps you'll have the opportunity to visit one or more of these special places. Perhaps you might even grow up to work in and help protect one of them!   

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Last updated February 14, 2008