Rainforest WebQuest

Introduction

The tropical Rainforest is home for some of the most unusual plant and animal life on Earth. Many different types of animals live there. You are going to learn more about the rainforest and the plants and animals who are at home there.

The Task:

You will begin your quest by taking a tour.  (Before you begin your quest you should know the difference between a plant, an animal and an insect.) Look and listen as you take your tour. You will search the rainforest to find its inhabitants (the things that live there). When finished you will predict what would happen to the inhabitants if the rainforest was cut down.

The Process:

At the computer:

Many animals live in the rainforest so it is a noisy place.

Listen to the sounds of the rainforest. Click on:

Teacher Tip: If using Netscape on a Windows computer, click the back button after lisiening to the sound. If the sound opens in Windows Media Player, close the sound window after each sound has been played. Sounds can be downloaded and played offline if using a Macintosh computer.

Frog photographs and all sounds by: Marco Bleeker http://www.euronet.nl/users/mbleeker/suriname/suri-eng.html Howler Monkey and Parrot photographs by Gerald R. Urquhart Ph.D. http://www.msu.edu/~urquhar5/tour/active.html

Take a tour of the Rainforest. (Read all directions before you begin.)

1. Print Rainforest Hidden Life Worksheet.
2. Click on Rainforest: A Virtual Interactive Tour to begin your tour.
3. Click Start Virtual Rainforest to begin.
4. At the web site you will see a large picture of the rainforest.
5. Move your mouse over the picture and the hidden plants, animals, and insects will pop up.  When you see one, click on it.
6. Look at the picture and read the name at the top of the page. Decide if the picture is showing a plant, an animal or an insect.  Write its name on your Rainforest Hidden Life Worksheet under the correct label.
7. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Back to the Rainforest to find another hidden inhabitant.
8. Repeat steps 4 - 6 until all hidden rainforest inhabitants have been found.

In the classroom: (A group activity)

• Compile the class results from the Rainforest Hidden Life Worksheet. 
• Tell whether the inhabitants of the rainforest belong in the category: plant, animal or insects.
• Tell what you think would happen to all of the rainforest inhabitants if the rainforest were to be cut down.

Resources:

Rainforest: A Virtual Interactive Tour

Rainforest: A Virtual Tour (step by step slide show which duplicates most of the pictures found in Rainforest: A Virtual Interactive Tour)

Virtual Tour of the Surinam Rainforest

Evaluation:

Students will self-check their Rainforest Hidden Life Worksheet as they work with the group to identify whether the inhabitants of the rainforest belong in the category: plant, animal or insects. 

Conclusion:

After completing your Rainforest WebQuest you will know of many plants, animals, and insects who live in the rainforest.  You will discover how important the rainforest is to the living things who call it home.