Process
The trip will begin with the discussion of the land that surrounds Las Vegas, NV. The teacher will record the brainstorming process by writing on a piece of butcher paper under the following labels: plants, animals, land forms and climate.
The teacher will give the children background knowledge for their quest by reading the book America's Deserts by Marianne D. Wallace.
The students are then broke down into groups of three by the teacher.
Teacher's Note: The groups have been put together by the teacher prior to the activities. The groups are based on ability levels and can be modified at any time during the WebQuest. The teacher has control of the groups. Each group will be assigned to a computer, given a desert folder to keep their work, and crayons and a pencil.
Within each group, the students will assume one rule throughout the entire WebQuest and during each task below.
The scientist: performs the research and gives the recorder the information to write.
The recorder: writes down the information about the desert Southwest.
The illustrator: draws the pictures both on paper as well as on the computer.
