Using the Library Book 2: a web quest

 An Animal in the Zoo  Researcher's name:


Setting the Scene
You are to imagine that you are an animal that is native to another country, not one from your own country. You have been selected to live in a zoo in this country.

Your Task
You are to tell the designers of enclosures at your new zoo, and the keepers who will look after you, about your needs.
Tell the zoo keepers how to recognise you. Write about your size, shape, colour, covering and features.They may not know much about you, so include lots of detail. Include drawings or photos.

Tell the designers what features the enclosure they are making for you will need to have in order for you to live as natural a life as possible. Write about the habitat you live in in the wild. What activities (animal behaviour) should it enable you to do? What shelter must it provide for you?

Tell the keepers what they will feed you. Write about what you eat in the wild.

Resources
Go to these sites to help you choose what animal you are going to be. Click on animal names to find out about them
http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/animals.htm

http://www.awf.org/wildlives/
http://www.enature.com/home/ (select a category such as mammals to get to a list of those animals)
http://www.wildanimalpark.co.uk/animals/southamerica/

http://www.vtaide.com/png/endangeredA.htm
http://www.americazoo.com/kids/europe.htm

or
Type the name of a selected animal into a search engine to get more information. Go here for some search engines http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/searchengines.htm

also
Search for books and other resources in your Library Resource Centre computer catalogue. You can also look at an encyclopedia.

1. After you have selected the animal, write your research questions onto data charts. Make notes on the data charts under each question as you research your topic. Go here for data charts and print as many as you need. Make notes too about where the information came from.

2. Use your notes to write a draft report about the animal, its habitat and needs.

3. After your teacher has checked your draft report, write your final report, making any changes that were needed.

4. As part of your report you must note the sources of your information, where you got it from This is a bibliography. Go here to see one way of doing it.

5. Design your ideal enclosure at the zoo, making drawings and a map of it, or even a model of it. Assume that money is no object, and that there is plenty of space. The drawings and map or model will form part of your final presentation.

6. Presentation: Prepare and present a talk to the class, who will be representatives of the zoo, and can ask you questions at the end of your presentation.

Evaluation
Go here for a self-assessment form. Fill it in after your presentation. Discuss it with your teacher.