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Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle WebQuest

A Collaborative WebQuest Designed for 4th Grade Science
Big6 Process is Embedded within the WebQuest

Designed by Elisa Magee and Linda Miller
Blattman Elementary School
Northside ISD
San Antonio, Texas
elisamagee@nisd.net; lindamiller@nisd.net
 Updated January 2004

| Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits |

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Introduction

Alert! Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles are endangered!  So what? Who cares? What's one less turtle? WELL...we're going to find out just why everyone is worried about this little fellow!

 

 


The Task

Process and Resources are embedded within The Task page.

The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle needs your help.  Your task is to learn about this Texas visitor and its status on the endangered species list, then work together to design a plan of action to educate and influence others to help protect this animal:

Your team will create a product to summarize what you learn and present to your class.  This product will be one of the following:  
  • children's picture book 
  • pamphlet or brochure
  • web page 
  • Powerpoint slide show 
  • newsletter 

Click here for more in-depth explanation of the task.


Once you have gathered your information, you will determine an action YOU can take to protect these sea turtles, and create a product to convince others of your position.  


The Process

Each team will consist of 4 research scientists.  You will need to determine who will have each role.

Resources on the Web for Research Specialists' Jobs

Click on the name of the job and you will find a list of external links that will help with your task.
Adaptation Specialist Describe sea turtle, identify body parts and life cycle
Your job is to identify, describe, and label the body parts of the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle and create an illustration of this sea turtle (use Kid Pix or draw and scan an image); describe and illustrate the life cycle of the sea turtle. Look for adaptations that the sea turtle has made to help it survive.  What dangers does the sea turtle encounter at each stage of its life cycle (egg, hatchling, adult)? 

Behavior Specialist

Describe nesting, hatching and feeding  behavior patterns
Your job is to research the nesting, hatching, and feeding habits of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles. How does the female turtle prepare her nest and protect her eggs?  What does the sea turtle eat?  What animals are its predators? What are the dangers to the newly hatched turtles? How has the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle population changed over time?

You will need to share the answers to these questions in your group's final product. llustrate how its population (number of Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles) has changed over time (use Microsoft Excel to make a chart or graph). 
Migration Specialist

Describe habitat,  range and migration patterns
Your job is to find out the travel paths (range and migratory patterns) of the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle and create an illustration of the migratory pattern. Describe and illustrate where it makes its home.

You may use Inspiration or Kid Pix to draw the migratory range and migratory pattern.
Environmental Specialist   Investigate human impact on survival of sea turtles and conservation efforts
Your job is to investigate how humans impact the survival of sea turtles:  find out what humans are doing that endangers these sea turtles; find out what is being done to protect the turtles; make a list of ways that the members of your team might help in the effort to protect Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles. Be sure to describe both positive and negative influences that humans have had on the sea turtles. What does conservation mean?

The Resources


The librarian will identify and explain how to use print resources, online databases, and Worldbook Online.  You will also use the web sites listed below to help you find the information your need:

 

Building Background Knowledge for all

Start here. Learn about sea turtles as a species...
Sea Turtle Species http://cccturtle.org/species_world.htm

Texas Gulf Coast

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentid=2160
See video!
Texas Parks and Wildlife http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/endang/animals/kempsrid.htm
Virtual field trip-Smithsonian- pollution


http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/ocean_planet_oceans_in_peril.html

 

Process and Resources are embedded within The Task page.


Evaluation

Click on this link below for the rubric for group work and group's product.

Rubrics for Student Products

 


Credits & References

Rollover Photo Credit: Hatchling (2nd image) that appears in rollover is a USGS Photo.
Photo Credit in Flash Animation: Ridley Nesting Turtle, Hatchlings and Release Photographs Courtesy of USGS Photo

Citation:
These images are available for educational purposes and are here for students to use in constructing presentations for the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle WebQuest.
Please credit photographs and MPEG video:
Courtesy of Elisa Magee@ Northside ISD, San Antonio, Texas and provide a link back to the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle WebQuest Home Page at http://www.nisd.net/blattman/links/4/sea_turtle/1_kemps_ridley_webquest.htm

Please credit photographs found on the Photos-USGS web page as USGS Photo.


Conclusion

With the knowledge you have gained, it's time to take action. Write a letter to an official persuading this leader to help protect the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles. The link below will take you to the Sea Turtle Restoration Project and information on how to take action! You will write a persuasive letter to the Governor of Texas.

http://www.seaturtles.org/actionalertdetails.cfm?actionAlertID=40

Thank you to the USGS for photographs of the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle.
Thank you to the University of Texas Marine Science Institute
Thank you to the Texas State Aquarium. 

Book and Video Resources

 

Additional Resources - "Fun Stuff"

Caribbean Conservation Corporation
Sea Turtle Survival League

Home Page of Site http://www.cccturtle.org/sat1.htm

Puzzles and Quizzeshttp://www.cccturtle.org/games.htm
Loggerhead Adventure Game http://www.euroturtle.org/

 

 

Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

 

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