How is a Squid Like a Snail Webquest

Introduction:

Doesn’t that seem like a silly question? After all, a squid and a snail aren’t anything alike, are they? Or are they? To find out, visit this Web Page: Ocean Planet. There you will find some of the amazing ways that a snail and a squid are related to one another and you will begin to understand what you and your team will be trying to accomplish as you work your way through this Webquest.

Your Task:

Your team will choose two marine animals from the same family. Marine animals are animals that live in or rely on the ocean. Use the “Marine Bio” link from the Resources list to help you decide on which animals you will study. Try to find two animals that are interesting to your team, but different enough that you can see some real differences between them. You will want to be able to compare their similarities and also contrast their differences. Study your animals to discover where and how they live, what other species live with them, and what challenges they encounter as a result of environmental issues and human activities.

Your group should work to answer these basic questions about your animals:
1. Is your animal a mammal, amphibian, crustacean etc.?

2. What ocean is this animal usually found in? Does it migrate?

3. Is this an endangered animal? If so, what must bedone to preserve the animal's habitat?

4. Please share any facts about this animal that may beimportant for us to understand. For example: This shark only eats electric eels, or this elephant seal must stay in specific water temperatures.

Resources:

Marine Bio

Office of Navy Research
Scholastic Ocean Explorer
Windows of the Universe
Temperate Oceans
Marine Invertebrates
Crustaceans of Australia
Intro to Echinoderms
Smithsonian Ocean
Sea Grant
Florida Smart
Ocean link

Process:

The members of your group will choose one of the following occupations. Each member of your group is expected to keep hand written notes and to document all the sources (where did information come from) that are used as part of this project. Notes will be collected at the conclusion of the project:
1. PowerPoint Slide Show Maker (Will produce a 7-10 slide PowerPoint presentation about your group’s findings that compare your two animals. This presentation should demonstrate how your two animals are “alike” and how they are different. Pictures or illustrations to be included on at least 4 slides).
2. Aquarium Poster Maker (Will create a colorful and attractive poster showing your animals in an “aquarium” setting with the plants and other marine life that might be found in their normal habitat – all inhabitants of the aquarium should be labeled).
3. News Reporter (Will write and illustrate a news article – approximately 300 words in length-- describing any current environmental issues or impacts of human activities on your group’s animals, and giving possible solutions for any problems. Cite sources as appropriate.)
4. Map Maker (Will create a colored poster size map of the places in the world where your group’s animals are typically found. Extra credit may be given for maps which show related information such as migration patterns, breeding grounds, fishing patterns, pollution impacts, global warming concerns, etc.)

Evaluation:

All the materials that your group creates will be graded using the following grading rubric . Each category will receive up to 20 points.

• Answers to Webquest Questions (All questions thoroughly and completely answered)
• Use of Computer Resources / Appropriate Technology (Excellent and appropriate use of resources and technology)
• Documentation of Sources (Excellent documentation of sources – sufficient to allow all sources to be checked and verified)
• Cooperative Group Effort (Excellent collaboration and problem resolution within the group resulting in excellent results overall)
• Writing Mechanics / Detailed and Accurate Information (All written material was of excellent quality (spelling, grammar, mechanics) AND information was detailed and accurate. Work displays a level of writing beyond what might be expected at 6th grade level)
• Incorporation of the Arts (All materials are artistically pleasing, well designed, creative, colorful, and make use of a range of techniques and materials as appropriate to the assignment)
  

Conclusion:

So is a squid like a snail? Well, maybe yes and maybe no. When you are only “looking” at one part, it's easy to come up with an answer that may not be completely right. It's the same for understanding a topic as broad or complex as Ocean Animals: when you only know part of the picture, you only know part of the picture. Now you and your team all know a lot more. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the simple answer of a topic and into the deeper areas? What other parts of Ocean Animals could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.