The Quest of the The Quest of the Disappearing WoodpeckerDisappearing Woodpecker

Fourth Grade Web QuestFourth Grade Web QuestBy: Karen SolesBy: Karen Soles

Andalusia Elementary SchoolAndalusia Elementary SchoolAndalusia, ALAndalusia, AL

http://rcwrecovery.fws.gov/rcw.htm

The Quest of the Disappearing The Quest of the Disappearing WoodpeckerWoodpecker

IntroductionIntroduction Have you ever wanted to be like the Have you ever wanted to be like the Crocodile Hunter Crocodile Hunter

and act as a conservation hero? Well, this will be your and act as a conservation hero? Well, this will be your opportunity to help prevent a wildlife tragedy from opportunity to help prevent a wildlife tragedy from happening. The happening. The Long Leaf Pine ecosystem Long Leaf Pine ecosystem is a delicate is a delicate one. We are losing it, and the animals that depend on it are one. We are losing it, and the animals that depend on it are disappearing. The Long Leaf pine depends on fire and disappearing. The Long Leaf pine depends on fire and strict forestry management to survive. It furnishes a haven strict forestry management to survive. It furnishes a haven for threatened or endangered plant and animal species. for threatened or endangered plant and animal species. Make it your mission to identify these animals and spark Make it your mission to identify these animals and spark awareness of their interdependence.awareness of their interdependence.

Jump in the jeep and fasten your seatbelt for an adventure Jump in the jeep and fasten your seatbelt for an adventure of a lifetime!of a lifetime!

The TaskThe Task

Imagine that you and your teammates are wildlife Imagine that you and your teammates are wildlife biologists. You have been hired by Discover biologists. You have been hired by Discover Animals, a television program to research a specific Animals, a television program to research a specific animal that lives in the Long Leaf Pine Ecosystem animal that lives in the Long Leaf Pine Ecosystem and prepare a multimedia report for their show. and prepare a multimedia report for their show. Others group reports will be included with yours to Others group reports will be included with yours to build a Field guide for scientific study. Your efforts build a Field guide for scientific study. Your efforts will inform the world of the variety of life that will inform the world of the variety of life that depends upon the Long Leaf Pine ecosystemdepends upon the Long Leaf Pine ecosystem . . Each Each group will use search engines, use library resources, group will use search engines, use library resources, and find pictures to use in their report.and find pictures to use in their report.

Click the jeep to continue

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project| Teacher Printouts

The ProcessThere are 5 steps to follow to complete

your project. Be sure to go to the evaluation to see how you are being graded. ( This is included in your printouts.)

Step 1: First, get an assigned animal and Questions Sheet with project printouts from your teacher. Then you can answer each question thoroughly and know your responsibilities.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

Step 2 Use the search engines on the Resources Page to locate the information to answer the questions about your animal.

Remember: You must read the articles and write the answers in your own words. Do not copy.

Step 3 Use your team answers to develop your story board for your PowerPoint presentation. The story board form is in your project printouts.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

Step 4 Have your completed storyboard proofed by all the team members and then let your teacher check it.

Step 5 View the Sample Project. Open PowerPoint and begin developing your presentation. Save it for presenting to the class.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

Resources PageResources Page

http://www.google.com/http://www.google.com/

http://http://www.yahooligans.comwww.yahooligans.com

http://http://www.ajkids.comwww.ajkids.com

http://http://search.fws.gov/index.htmlsearch.fws.gov/index.html

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

Conclusion Congratulations, If

you’ve done your best then you’ve done an excellent job. Now, your presentations can be used to save an endangered ecosystem!

I’m proud of you!

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project

Teacher Printouts

Microsoft Word Document

Questions SheetEvaluation Rubric

Microsoft Word Document

Storyboard

Microsoft Word Document

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

Sample ProjectSample Project

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

Written and Produced by

Karen Soles

A cockade is a hat decoration. Have you ever seen a woodpecker wear a dressy hat?

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

It does have a black cap. The male even has a bright red dot on the both sides of its head, and these are its fancy cockades. It also has black and white stripes on its back, and a white belly. The stripes can be described as barred. You can really identify it by its large round white cheeks. It is about 7inches long and has a wing span of 15 inches. You can compare it to a cardinal. It has a beak, feet with toes, and is covered with feathers.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

The Longleaf pine ecosystem is it’s home. The Longleaf pine ecosystem is it’s home. It will make excavate a hole in a longleaf It will make excavate a hole in a longleaf pine tree that is at least 60 years old, and it pine tree that is at least 60 years old, and it really likes a tree that is infected with red-really likes a tree that is infected with red-heart disease. It pecks out the soften heart heart disease. It pecks out the soften heart and allows the sap to continue to leak out and allows the sap to continue to leak out of the opening for protection against of the opening for protection against snakes and other predators.snakes and other predators.

http://www.pfmt.org/wildlife/endangered/red.htm

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

The red-cockaded woodpecker loves to eat insects. It catches ants, beetles, caterpillars, and corn ear worms. They also like seasonal fruit.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/endang/animals/birds/rcw.htm

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

They spend much of the time nesting, gathering food, and caring for the young. They live and work in a family.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

Red cockaded woodpeckers have the same mate for several years. The female lays three to four eggs in the breeding male’s nest. Family group members care for the eggs. Once hatched, the baby birds are cared for about 26 days. They look like their parents.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts

The sap that drains from the woodpecker’s hole is actually protection from a predator. It acts as a fence to keep the snakes from climbing into their home.

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Sample Project Teacher Printouts