The Process
|
| 1. |
As a Bluff Lake Explorer, you must
begin to prepare for your adventure by learning more about
Bluff Lake Nature Center.
So, read the Bluff
Lake Information and then view the Bluff
Lake Photos. |
| |
Note: After you view a website link, mouse click
on the Back Arrow at the top left of the page. This will
return you to your place in this Webquest |
|
| |
|
| 2. |
After you have finished reading
about Bluff Lake, your teacher will assign you to an Explorers
Team to get ready for your trip to Bluff Lake. Your team will
then work in pairs to conduct research on the wildlife and
habitats at Bluff Lake. |
| |
|
| 3. |
Before beginning your research, each person
will need to prepare a Nature Journal. To do so, go to the
front of the classroom to collect your materials: 1 piece
of colored cardstock and 4 white sheets. Fold all sheets in
half to form a booklet (see sample) then staple edges.
*When you return to your seat, write your name in the lower
right of the front cover. Also, write the title of your
journal on the front cover: Bluff Lake Nature Journal. |
|
| |
|
| 4. |
Go to Create
a Nature Journal and print form. Use this to make sure
that you include the necessary information in your nature
journal.
Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat to view
this file. It's free, follow link to www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Read the Create a Nature Journal instructions carefully
and follow along as you read the tasks below. |
|
|
| 5. |
Now that you know how to record your research,
click on the following links for general information about
each of the two habitats that you will be visiting at Bluff
Lake.
|
|
Prairie
Habitat |
Wetland
Habitat |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
| 6. |
Now, you are ready to begin your animal research.
Your teacher will assign each pair the names of two animals
that live at Bluff Lake. One will be found in a prairie habitat
and the other in a wetland habitat. |
| |
|
| 7. |
Click on the links below to find out information
about your specific prairie and wetland animals. |
| |
| Prairie Animals |
Wetland Animals |
| Rabbit |
Beaver |
| Mouse |
Frog |
| Ant |
Mallard
Duck |
| Grasshopper |
Great
Blue Heron |
| Badger |
Mosquito |
| Coyote |
Water
Strider |
| Prairie
Dog |
Painted
Turtle |
| Red
Fox |
Racoon |
| Red-Tailed
Hawk |
Crayfish |
| Bull
Snake |
Dragonfly |
| Mule
Deer |
Muskrat |
| Golden
Eagle |
Bald
Eagle |
| Western
Meadowlark |
Tiger
Salamander |
| Great
Horned Owl |
Little
Brown Bat |
|
| |
|
| 8. |
Using your nature journal entries and your research,
prepare your oral talk about your animals. This is a one-minute
summary of your animal and habitat research to be presented
to your Bluff Lake Naturalist and Explorers Team during your
nature tour at Bluff Lake. Be sure to look around at the Bluff
Lake habitats when you arrive and include in your talk where
you would expect to find your animals at Bluff Lake. Be ready
to identify distinguishing features of each habitat such as
dry soils or dense vegetation. Practice your oral talk in
your pairs. Prepare your “stumper” facts in question
form and present them during your oral talk.
|
| |
|
| |
|
| 9. |
By now you have prepared your Bluff Lake Nature
Journal and you know a lot about the habitats and wildlife
at Bluff Lake. But how will you know the animals are living
at Bluff Lake if you cannot see them? To answer this question,
please view a professional nature journal entry. You will
read how a scientist uses her nature journal and her research
about animals to locate visual clues of the animals in their
habitats. Continue to work in pairs. Select 2 animal track
links from the listing below. Each partner should view one
link. |
| |
|
| |
| Racoon
Tracks |
Beaver
Tracks |
Coyote
Tracks |
Rabbit
Tracks |
Fox
Tracks |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| 10. |
Draw and label the track (footprint) of the
animal on a remaining page in your journal. Read the “Natural
History” of the animal. Record any information about
“signs” this animal leaves behind in its habitat
that will let you know that your particular animal lives at
Bluff Lake, such as scat or other markings. Draw the “scat”
(animal droppings) of the animal if available. |
| |
|
| 11. |
Share your drawings of tracks, scat, and other
signs with your partner and Explorers Team, if time allows,
so that your team will be ready to discover animal and habitat
clues at Bluff Lake. |
| |
|
| |
|
