FORESTQUEST

A WebQuest for 9th Grade on Forest Biodiversity

Teacher’s Page

Introduction

This activity uses a pedagogical approach of modified “jigsawing”. Students divide into research teams to learn different aspects of a topic then, break into new groups and teach each other. In this extended ForestQuest activity students will compare the biodiversity of urban forests with natural forests, consider cultural/environmental attributes, infer challenges created by industry and development, create multi-media presentations, and hone their internet-research skills.

The Task

Divide students into six research teams to evaluate the biodiversity of urban forests as compared to natural forests. They will present their findings, challenges and recommendations for promoting biodiversity in PowerPoint presentations to the class.

The Process

1) Each individual will need to know how to create a PowerPoint presentation. A tutorial is available below to gain this skill.

PowerPoint Tutorial

2) Each individual will research information for the following questions before working on group tasks:

What is biodiversity?

Why is biodiversity important?

How can humans impact biodiversity?

How can we conserve biodiversity?

Biodiversity and Protected Areas

Earth Easy: Simple Sustainable Living

The Benefits of Wildlife

Biodiversity and Conservation

Biodiversity Information

3) Divide the class into six groups:

4) Each group should select a role.

5) Define individual responsibilities within each group.

6) Each group will create an action plan and a corresponding timeline.

7) Begin quest (research, collect data, design a product, prepare to publish, present).

Team Roles and Assignments

Urban Botanists	Team members will take plant diversity surveys in an urban forest and take digital pictures of plants and/or download them from the web to create a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation will reflect the diversity of plant life in their urban forest, the factors that influence that diversity, and recommendations on how to increase plant diversity. Research roles could be divided into the following categories: Flowers, herbaceous, shrubs, deciduous trees, and coniferous trees.
Urban Zoologists	Team members will take animal diversity surveys in an urban forest and take digital pictures of animals and/or download them from the web to create a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation will reflect the diversity of animal life in their urban forest, the factors that influence that diversity, and recommendations on how to increase animal diversity. Research roles could be divided into the following categories: birds, insects, reptiles/amphibians, mammals, and humans.
Boreal Botanists	Team members will take plant diversity surveys in a Boreal forest and take digital pictures of plants and/or download them from the web to create a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation will reflect the diversity of plant life in the Boreal forest, the factors that influence that diversity, and recommendations on how to increase/sustain plant diversity. Research roles could be divided into the following categories: Flowers, herbaceous, shrubs, deciduous trees, and coniferous trees.
Boreal Zoologists	Team members will take animal diversity surveys in a Boreal forest and take digital pictures of animals and/or download them from the web to create a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation will reflect the diversity of animal life in the Boreal forest, the factors that influence that diversity, and recommendations on how to increase/sustain animal diversity. Research roles could be divided into the following categories: birds, insects, reptiles/amphibians, mammals, and humans.
Urban Ecologist	Team members research the abiotic factors that influence the biodiversity of an urban forest and create a PowerPoint presentation with their findings and recommendations on how to promote biodiversity. Research roles could be divided into the following categories: soil, water, weather, pollution, and human impact.
Boreal Ecologist	Team members research the abiotic factors that influence the biodiversity of a Boreal forest and create a PowerPoint presentation with their findings and recommendations on how to promote biodiversity. Research roles could be divided into the following categories: soil, water, weather, pollution, and human impact.

Conclusion

After each group has given their presentation, discuss the role each of the groups’ topics played in determining the biodiversity of each area. Discuss the attributes and inefficiencies of studying elements in isolation rather than as a whole ecosystem. Can recommendations on how to conserve biodiversity of an ecosystem be based on one component of the ecosystem? Which groups found it the easiest to make recommendations?

Evaluation

Have students grade the peers in their group according to their quality and quantity of research, communication with the group, and accountability. A Forest Quest Rubric is available for students and teacher to use.

Evaluate each student’s comprehension of the subject matter in all presentations by having them write an essay on “Conserving Biodiversity”.