Desert
Introduction
Learners
Curriculum
Standards
Process
 Resources Needed
Quest
 Evaluation
Conclusion
Multiple
Intelligences
Credits
Student Page
A Desert WebQuest for 3rd Grade 
Designed by Kelli Higgins

Introduction
Your class has just returned from a two-week expedition in the Sonoran Desert.  You have become an expert on this Southwestern United States desert habitat!  How will you share what you've learned with the rest of the school?
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Learners
This lesson is anchored in third grade language arts and involves social studies and science to a lesser extent.  This WebQuest can easily be adapted to other grade levels.

Prior do this WebQuest, students were engaged in a one week unit on the Sonoran Desert.  Students read desert books and watched videos to gain background knowledge.
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Curriculum Standards
Social Studies Goals Addressed:
  • 17A2a Compare the physical characteristics of places including soils, landforms, vegetation, wildlife, climate, and natural hazards.
  • 17B2b Explain how physical and living components interact in a variety of ecosystems including desert, prairie, flood plain, forest and tundra.
Science Goals Addressed:
  • 12B Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and with their environment.
Language Arts Goals Addressed:
  • 1C Comprehend a broad range of reading material.
  • 3C2a Write for a variety of purposes and for a specified audience in a variety of forms.
  • 5A Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems, and communicate ideas.
Visual Arts Goals Addressed:
  • 26B2d Demonstate knowledge and skills to create works of visual art using problem solving, abserving, designing, sketching, and constructing.
Visit the Illinois State Standards site for details.
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Process
 
Select one of the activities below and complete a student contract.
Sonoran Desert Brochure
(print brochure template) 
Microsoft Word
 After researching the Sonoran Desert habitat, you will create a travel brochure showcasing at least 5 critters and 4 kinds of desert plantlife                                                                      
Verbal/Linguistic   Visual/Spatial
Desert Animal 
Info-cube
(print info-cube pattern)
Microsoft Word
(see sample info-cube)
 After researching the desert, you will select 5 critters to draw on your info-cube.  You must write a short, factual paragraph about each animal on each cube section.   Try to include such information as what kind of species it is, where it lives, what it eats, and how it protects itself in the desert.                                                                      
Verbal/Linguistic   Visual/Spatial
Venn Diagram
(print Venn Diagram chart) Microsoft Word
 After researching the Sonoran Desert habitat, compare it to the local habitat that surrounds your neighborhood.  You will need to find at least 5 similarities, and 5 differences.  You may wish to illustrate around the edges of your Venn Diagram.                              
Logical/Mathematical  Verbal/Linguistic
Desert mobile
(see sample mobile)
 After researching the Sonoran Desert, select at least 6 plants and animals to shocase on a mobile.  You will be drawing each plant or animal you select, and writing a short paragraph about each.  You can use a variety of materials to hang your mobile.                
Verbal/Linguistic   Visual/Spatial
Desert Fact 
Boardgame
(see sample boardgame)
 After researching the Sonoran Desert, you will collect at least 10 facts to be used on True/False fact cards.  You will also design a boardgame that features portions of the desert habitat that interested you.  Make sure your boardgame has at least 12 spaces. 
Logical/Mathematical  Verbal/Linguistic  Visual/Spatial
Print out Student Contract
1.  Select an activity and fill out your student contract to plan your work for the week.
2.  After your contract has been approved, begin researching the WebQuest sites listed below.
3.  Take notes on the critters and plants you want to use in your project. 
4.  You may want to sketch each of your chosen critters, or ask if you can print pictures. 
5.  Continue to follow your contract, gathering materials that you need for project completion.
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Resources Used
Books:
Cactus Hotel by Brenda Guiberson 
The Desert is Theirs by Byrd Baylor
Videos:
Eyewitness Desert
Sonoran Desert
Web sites  (Click on any underlined word to go to the site.  Use the BACK button to return to this page)
The Desert Biome section on plants has some super pictures and great plant trivia! 
The Desert Biome animals section gives information on a few desert critters. 
Desert USA offers great information on mammals, birds, amphibians, and insects!
Desert USA also has a great plant index to check out! 
The Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum (ASDM) has great maps and pictures of the area.
The ASDM also has good pictures and information for desert mammals, reptiles, birds, and plants.
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Evaluation
Students will be evaluated individually with the following rubric:
Task
Prickly Pear
1
Barrel Cactus
2
Saguaro Cactus
3
Teacher Comments
Did you fill out the Student Contract completely?
Contract lacks specific details and objectives
Contract contains details and specific objectives
Contract contains specific details and objectives with additional, pertinent information given
  
Did you use a variety of websites and books as resources?
Uses only one resource
Uses several resources
Uses a wide variety of resources including internet and text
  
Did you write clear and detailed facts about
selected plants and animals?
One or two facts are present
Three or four facts are present
Five or more well-developed facts are present
  
How did your project turn out?
Project is messy and difficult to interpret
Project is neat and easy to interpret
Project is neat, easy to interpret, and shows great care and detail
  
Did you completed project on time?
More than one day late
One day late
Project is completed on time
  
How well did you present your project to the class?
Presentation lacks pertinant information, low voice, little eye contact
Pertinant information is shared with good voice tone and eye contact
Presentation is well planned and delivered with clear voice and good eye contact
  
     
Total Score:
  

Conclusion
Upon completion of this project, students will be a Sonoran Desert Experts!  They will have used their researching skills to learn and teach! 
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Multiple Intelligences
This WebQuest allows students to develop a variety of multiple intelligence areas.  By giving students a choice of projects, they can work in an area of strength to unsure personal success!  To learn more about Multiple Intelligences, visit my MI site!
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Credits
Thank you to the following sites for the use of pictures and graphics:
The Evergreen Project at www.mbnet.mobot.org
Desert USA at www.desertusa.com
Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum at www.desertmuseum.org
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Last updated June 12, 2000
by: Kelli Higgins

Based on a template from The WebQuest Page.