Teacher Page


     This WebQuest was created in  response to my sixth grade students asking, "So, Where Are the Dolphins?" while on a field trip to the South Carolina Aquarium. Fascinated by the marine life that is abundant along the South Carolina coast,I wanted to answer their question by enticing them to read nonfiction. With the help of the educational staff at the South Carolina Aquarium and  Sally Murphy of the South Carolina Department of Wildlife and Marine Resources, I was able to include excerpts from the Code of Laws of South Carolina. All links to research articles are from "child-centered"search engines such as Yahooligans and Google. This WebQuest encourages students to read information from a variety of sources in order to answer relevant questions.


     For successful completion of this WebQuest, the students must...
  • have prior experience developing PowerPoint presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • have knowledge of how to capture, download, and import photographs and clip art into PowerPoint presentations.
  • have supervised access to the Internet.
  • have access to a printer, scanner, and LCD projector.
  • work independently and cooperatively in a group.
  • have access to nonfiction books on marine mammals.

Technology Foundation Standards for All Students:

Basic Operations and Concepts:
  • Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operations of technology systems.
  • Students are proficient in the use of technology.
Social, Ethical, and Human Issues:
  • Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.
  • Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
Technology Productivity Tools:
  • Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
  • Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, preparing publications, and producing other creative works.
Technology Communication Tools:
  • Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
  • Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to mutiple audiences.
Technology Research Tools:
  • Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
  • Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

South Carolina Curriculum Standards for Language Arts:

Reading Process and Comprehension
  • Demonstrate the ability to make connections between a text read independently and his or her prior knowledge, other texts, and the world.
  • Demonstrate the ability to summarize and paraphrase texts.
  • Demonstrate the ability to draw conclusions and make inferences.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use skimming and scanning techniques.
  • Demonstrate the ability to compare and contrast his her findings on a particular topic after having extracted that information from two or more pieces of graphic or written material.
The Writing Process
  • Demonstrate the ability to generate drafts that use a logical progression of ideas to develop a topic for a specific audience and /or purpose.
  • Demonstrate the ability to write and publish in a variety of formats.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use the Internet with teacher guidance to communicate with others.
Writing Purposes
  • Demonstrate the ability to use writing to explain and inform.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use writing to learn, entertain, and describe.
Communication:  Speaking
  • Demonstrate the ability to face an audience, make eye contact, and use the appropriate voice level; continue using appropriate gestures, facial expressions,and posture when making oral presentations.
  • Demonstrate the ability to give brief presentations, demonstrations, and oral reports.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use visual aids, props, and technology to support and extend his her meaning and enhance his or her oral presentations.
Communication: Listening
  • Demonstrate the ability to listen to record information as a member of a group.
Selecting a Research Topic:
  • Demonstrate the ability to ask questions to guide his or her research inquiry.
  • Begin asking questions to investigate all aspects of a topic, including various viewpoints regarding it.
Gathering Information and Refinining a Topic:
  • Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of resources, including technology, to access information.
  • Demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research using available resources, including technology.
  • Begin using note-taking strategies to record facts and opinions from sources.
Preparing and Presenting Information
  • Demonstrate the ability to present his or her research findings in a variety of formats.

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