RAINFOREST WEBQUEST
THE INDOOR

RAINFOREST



INTRODUCTION


Montana is planning to build the largest indoor Rainforest exhibit in the world. Bill Clinton, the President of the United States, has personally hired you as chief engineer and scientist. He has paid for you to travel to one Rainforest of your choice, as well as given you all the supplies you may possibly need. He wants you to do extensive research on all aspects of the Rainforest, and has given you a total of one month to complete your study. After your study is completed, you need to report directly back to him. Mr. Clinton then will assign you several tasks relating to the construction of the rainforest exhibit.


TASK


TASK #1:As chief scientist, Mr. Clinton has asked you to provide a basic diagram of a rainforest. Your diagram needs to include each part of a rainforest as well as the function of each part. Your diagram must be labled and in color.

TASK #2:As chief scientist, Mr. Clinton has asked you to "profile" four different rainforest animals. One animal must be a bird, one must be a mammal, one must be an amphibian and one must be an insect or an arachnid. You are also asked to "profile" two different plants, which can be of your choice. Your "profile" needs to include the following:

  1. a cover page (design of your choice, but must relate to the rainforest)
  2. a detailed and descriptive picture of each animal or plant
  3. common and scientific name of each animal or plant
  4. the family name of each animal or plant (mammal, bird, etc.)
  5. the habitat of each animal or plant
  6. the dietary needs of each animal or the "gardening" needs of each plant
  7. the predators of each animal or plant

TASK #3:Mr. Clinton would like you to design a billboard to advertise the rainforest exhibit. You need to include the name of the exhibit here. There is no format to follow but, keep in mind this billboard is what will attract the public.


TASK #4:Since you are chief engineer also, Mr. Clinton would like you to construct a three dimensional model of a piece of the rainforest exhibit. Your model must follow the following format:

  1. must be 12" by 12" square
  2. must include all parts of the rainforest (you may use your diagram from task #1 as a reference)
  3. must include all habitats of your profiled animals and plants
  4. must include a model of each animal and plant you profiled, in their appropriate habitats
  5. must include sounds that can be heard in the rainforest
  6. you may use any materials you like, but keep in mind the more "life-like" and closer to an original rainforest, the better
  7. REMEMBER, YOU NEED TO BE CREATIVE!! Mr. Clinton wants an accurate model but also a very "eye-pleasing" one. You need to keep in mind that the design of the rainforest exhibit will be the aspect that will keep the public coming back


RESOURCES


PBS SCIENCE IN THE RAINFOREST


KIDS' CORNER: RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK


ZOOM RAINFOREST


VIRTUAL RAINFOREST: ANIMALS


VIRTUAL RAINFOREST: PLANTS


CHRISTIAN ANSWERS SOUNDS


RAINFOREST ANIMAL SOUNDS



PROCESS


Use the following LEARNING ADVICE to guide you through your tasks for this webquest:

  1. read through all four tasks
  2. on a piece of paper write down the main objectives for each task
  3. visit all of the resources
  4. as you visit the resources write down or print off any information relating to your task objectives
  5. although there is no concrete order for completing your tasks, you will find it much easier to finish them in the order given
  6. HAVE FUN and USE YOUR IMAGINATION !!


CONCLUSION


Rainforests are a very important part of our world's ecosystem. These same rainforests are being cut down at an alarming rate. After visting (in your case designing) this exhibit, you and the public should have a better understanding of the benefits a rainforest provides. Hopefully, after discovering these benefits, the world will make a better effort to protect our rainforests.



WebQuest Designed By:

Kristin Hine
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana


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ALL GRAPHICS TAKEN OFF OF ALTA VISTA IMAGES