The Webquest I have created incorporates technology and common software into a nature journal project. In this Webquest, students are asked to create a journal template and cover page using either Microsoft Word or Publisher. This template is then printed and ten two sided copies are made. It is on this template that the student will write detailed, reflective, nature journal entries that relate to topics in science. Five of these entries will be done in the "real world" and five of them will be inresponse to national geographic videos or virtual birder "birding breaks". this will allow stduents the opportunity to refelct on species and habitats in their own community and those in different places in the World. Once the entries are complete, the student will use Excel to create a table of contents that will accompany their journal. Finally, the student will create one slide in PowerPoint to accompany each of their journal entries. This slide can include digital photos they themselves took, or images found on the internet.

1. Global Nature Journal Student Page Title Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits [ Teacher Page ] A WebQuest for 9 th – 12 th Grade Ecology/ 9 th Grade Biology Designed by: Mrs. Dunning [email_address] Based on a template from The WebQuest Page Sample Online Resources

2. Introduction Student Page Title Introduction Task Process Evaluation Conclusion Credits [ Teacher Page ] Earth is full of beauty and awe. In a fast pace age full of rapid-fire technology and information overload, it is important to take time out to contemplate and appreciate the simple wonderments that exists everywhere. Nature journals are not so much a record of personal information, but rather a record of your responses and reflections about the world around you. Nature journals can be therapeutic, as nature reflection often brings calm to the soul. They can also be used as scientific record when observing phenomena or species in the field. Nature journals serve as a telling source about the author. Nature journals by Aldo Leopold and Henry David Thoreau not only told us a lot about the environment during their time, but also told us a great deal about who they were. Nature journals include personal reflection, scientific record, detailed descriptions of observations, sketches, diagrams, poems etc… Simple observations in the field can often lead to questions, hypotheses, and experimentation. This WebQuest brings technology to the the traditional nature journal. Sample Online Resources

5. Online Resources National Geographic Go to this site and search the available videos. You can select environment or animal realted videos by using the menu bar near the top of the page. Once you select a genre, more specific topics will appear in a menu to the left. You can select topics such as habitats or environmental threats, mammals, amphibians, reptiles etc.... Click on one of these topics and you are presented with even more specific topics like marine, desert, deforestation, cats, apes etc....Click on a specific topic or species and look to the right of the screen for availbale videos. Choose at least three videos from the national geographic webpage to write about. Virtualbirder Go to this site and select any of the available ”birding breaks”. You must write about at least one birding break. Use the tools that allow you to look right, left, up and down. Describe in detail and try to identify some of the birds you see on your trip. What type of habitat are you in? What bird species do you see in the same area? Do you think competition exists among theses species? Explain why or why not. Student Page [ Teacher Page ] Title Introduction Task Process Sample Evaluation Conclusion Credits Online Resources

6. Title Introduction Task Process Sample Evaluation Conclusion Student Page [ Teacher Page ] Online Resources

10. Global Nature Journal [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page A WebQuest for 9 th -12th Grade (Biology/Ecology) Designed By: Colleen Dunning [email_address] Based on a template from The WebQuest Page Evaluation Teacher Script Conclusion

11. Introduction [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page This project was developed for integration into high school Ecology and Biology courses throughout My Imaginary School District. This project strives to get students outside and encourages them to observe the natural world around them. In addition to time spent outdoors, this project also encourages students to use the technology available to them to explore natural places in other parts of the World, create templates, organize information, and compliment written work . This project focuses on the development of intrapersonal, literacy, and technology skills. Through creative writing and drawing and use of PowerPoint, students will communicate their thoughts, ideas and observations and make personal connections to science. Evaluation Teacher Script Conclusion

12. Learners [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page This project is designed for students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in a biology, ecology, environmental or wildlife course. This project could also focus more on writing techniques and be used in a high school English classroom. This project can easily be modified to focus on technology skills and be used in an introductory technologies class. A focus on drawing, painting or photographing plant and animal species could make this project extendable to art classes as well. Prior to this project students should be familiar with the concept of ecosystems, biological diversity, species, species interactions, and how to make observations in the field. This project is designed to get students to reflect about these scientific concepts on a more personal level and to better understand their connection within the system. Students should also be competent in using the internet to search for information, images and watch videos. Evaluation Teacher Script Conclusion

19. [ Student Page ] Teacher Page Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Evaluation Teacher Script Conclusion Credits Teacher Script Making a template w/ Publisher Use all scripts while going through the motions on your computer and projecting the computer screen for all students to view. 1. Today we are going to create a journal page template and cover page using Microsoft Publisher. Be sure to save your work every few minutes. 2. Everyone should see this screen on their computer, this is your desktop. 4. Everyone please click on the start menu at the bottom of the page, move your cursor to all programs and find Publisher in the menu, click on Publisher. 5. Under Publication types select letterhead. Look through the various letterhead templates and choose one that you like and click create. 6. Under the insert menu on top click on text box. 7. Draw a text box on your document, this is where you will make your lines to write on. 8. Customize the other features on the document with your own information. Press F9 if the text is too small to read. 9. Once you have finished creating a template and cover page and saved your document, go to the file menu and select print. 10. Under properties choose, print on both sides, then click O.K., then click print. 11. Check your document for quality, if you are happy with the document turn it in and I will make the remaining 9 copies.

20. [ Student Page ] Teacher Page Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Evaluation Teacher Script Conclusion Credits Teacher Script Using Excel Use all scripts while going through the motions on your own computer. Use a projector so that all students can view the computer screen image. 1. Today we are going to create a table of contents using Excel. Be sure to save your work every few minutes. 2. Everyone should see this screen on their computer, this is your desktop. 3. On your desktop you should see an icon that looks like this, Double click this Icon. 4. You should now see a screen that looks like this, this is a blank spreadsheet within Excel. 5. Each of the squares within this spreadsheet is a “cell” 6. As the cells go across the page they are called “rows”, as the cells do down the page they are called columns. 7. If you click on a cell you can type within the cell. 8. Font style and size can be changed using the toll bar on the top of the screen. 9. Play around with the cells and fonts to create a table of contents. Please include, your name as the author, the title of your journal and page numbers. For each page please relate it to location and date and journal entry title if you assigned one.

21. Conclusion [ Student Page ] Title Introduction Learners Standards Process Resources Credits Teacher Page Evaluation Teacher Script Conclusion Taking time out to observe nature and reflect on its intricacies, connections, and importance helps students understand their place in this world. Observing nature reinforces topics in science such as biodiversity, ecosystems, food webs and environmental connectedness. By asking students to reflect, we are asking for their personal response to the world around them, which promotes intrapersonal skills. By incorporating the internet in this activity, students learn to utilize this amazing resource in order to learn about the ecosystems, species, and environmental issues that exists in other parts of the World. Incorporating various software programs in this project helps students increase proficiency within these common programs and helps them understand how to communicate information using these programs. This is a fun and innovative way for students to practice creative and critical thought in connection with science and inprove technology skills. I see a place for creativity in science and hope this project prompts students to see science and nature in a different light.