Adapted From A WebQuest Designed for Grades 3-5.
By:
Juli Smith

TASKPROCESSAFRICAN_ANIMALSEVALUATIONCONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

A new zoo is opening soon in your town. The new zoo officials have agreed upon a plan to develop a section of the zoo that will display only animals found in African deserts and savannas. The officials have selected your group to go on an African safari and have asked that you bring back various facts about different animals. The officials want your group to present the information in three days, so your safari is limited to two days. ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

TASK

You have arrived at your destination in Africa. You only have two days, so you and your group are going to have to go in different directions to find as many animals as possible. For the next two days, you're going to travel parts of Africa, and you will be discovering different wildlife along the way. After your safari, you'll return and give a presentation to educate the officials on what the animals of the African deserts and savannas are like and how to care for them.

PROCESS

1. Your group will need to decide who will gather information about each of the animals listed below. Just click on the animal name.
2. Your safari guide will provide you with a list of questions to answer while on your trip. Clicking on the links will give you information to help you get the answers.
3. After everyone in your group returns from the safari, you need to meet and discuss your answers.
4. You must prepare to talk as a group to the zoo officials about your findings.
5. Present your findings as a group to the zoo officials (your class).
6. Create a clay model of your animal and place it within its habitat. Make sure you include its food source and one of its predators..

African_Animals
Spotted Hyena
Cheetah
African Lion
African Elephant
Burchell's Zebra
Warthog
Grant's Gazelle
Giraffe
Chacma Baboon
Wildebeest
Lappet-Faced Vulture
Wild Dog
Meerkat

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Spotted Hyena (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the hyena?
2. How much do hyenas weigh?
3. How long is the life span of the hyena?
4. What does the hyena eat?
5. When does the hyena sleep?
6. What is the worst enemy of the hyena?
7. What are the groups called that hyenas live in?
8. What are the three species of hyena?
9. Is a hyena more closely related to a cat or a dog?
10. How many babies(offspring) does a hyena have at one time?
11. Describe how a hyena looks.
12. Does the hyena hunt?

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Cheetah (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the cheetah?
2. What is the size of the average cheetah?
3. What does the cheetah eat?
4. Does the cheetah need a lot of water?
5. How fast can cheetas run?
6. Are cheetahs in danger of becoming extinct?
7. How can you tell cheetahs apart from each other?
8. What body part helps to belance the cheetah when turning during a chase?
9. Are the toe pads of the cheetah hard or soft?
10. How long must a cheetah rest before eating its kill?
11. What animals are the cheetah's worst enemies?
12. How many babies or offspring does a cheetah have at one time?
13. How long can the cheetah live (longevity)?

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African Lion (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. How big is the lion in feet(ft.)?
2. What is the habitat of the African Lion?
3. How many babies (cubs)are born at a time?
4. How many pounds (lb.) do lions weigh?
5. What does the lion eat?
6. What is the group that the lion lives in called?
7. How far away can an adult lion's roar be heard?
8. Who usually hunts for food--males or females?
9. Who eats first--males, females or cubs?
10. Why do lions roar?
11. How long can the African Lion live (longevity or life span)?
12. Does the lioness hunt alone or with others?

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African Elephant (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the African Elephant?
2. How much does the average elephant weigh?
3. Which are larger--males or females?
4. What color is the skin on the African Elephant?
5. How many teeth do elephants have?
6. What do the elephants eat?
7. How much water can an elephant drink in one year?
8. How long can elephants live?
9. Do elephants live alone or in herds?
10. How many babies do elephants have at one time?
11. Why do elephants roll in dust and throw dust on their backs?
12. What does the elephant use its trunk for?

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Burchell's Zebra (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the zebra?
2. Does the Burchell's Zebra live alone or in herds?
3. What animals are enemies of Burchell's Zebras?
4. Does the zebra need a lot of water?
5. What does the zebra eat?
6. How many offspring (babies) are born to the zebra at a time?
7. How long does the Burchell's Zebra live (longevity)?
8. How do zebras fight large animals such as the lion?
9. What animals is the zebra friendly with?
10. Are all zebras' striping the same?
11. Why does a mother zebra keep her calf close to her when it is first born?

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Warthog (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the warthog's habitat?
2. What does the warthog eat?
3. What is the size of the warthog?
4. How long do the warthogs live (longevity or life span)?
5. Where do warthogs sleep?
6. Do male warthogs travel alone or in groups?
7. What animals are enemies of the warthog?
8. Does the warthog have warts? If so, where are they found?
9. What are the groups of female and baby warthogs called?
10. Is water important to the warthog?
11. How many babies or offspring do the warthogs have at one time?
12. Can you name the famous warthog in the Lion King movies?

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Grant's Gazelle (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the Grant's Gazelle?
2. What does the gazelle eat?
3. How many gazelles live in a herd?
4. What do the gazelles spend much of their time doing?
5. What animals are Grant's Gazelles' main enemies?
6. What color are the bellies and necks of the Grant's Gazelle?
7. How many babies (calf or calves) are born at at time?
8. What is the length of the horns of Grant's Gazelle?
9. How are the groups of gazelles divided?
10. Does the Grant's Gazelle need a lot of water?
11. How long does the Grant's Gazelle live (life span or longevity)?

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Giraffe (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the giraffe?
2. How tall (in feet or ft.) is the giraffe?
3. Does the giraffe live alone or in groups?
4. What are the giraffe's worst enemies?
5. What does the giraffe eat?
6. How long can the giraffe live (longevity or life span)?
7. How does the mother giraffe give birth?
8. How long is the tongue of the giraffe in inches (in.)?
9. Are the spots the same on all giraffes?
10. Are there any animals taller than the giraffe?
11. What do giraffes use their long tongues for?
12. How many babies (offspring) does the giraffe have at one time?

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Chacma Baboon (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the Chacma Baboon?
2. When does this baboon sleep?
3. Where does the Chacma Baboon sleep?
4. How many Chacma Baboons live in herds?
5. How long can the Chacma Baboon live (longevity)?
6. How many babies (offspring) are born at a time?
7. When do baboons look for food?
8. Where do they spend most of the daylight hours?
9. Where on their bodies do baboons store food?
10. What do baboons eat?
11. What is the life span of the baboon?

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Wildebeest (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the wildebeest?
2. How much does the male wildebeest weigh?
3. How much does the female wildebeest weigh?
4. How long can the wildebeest live (longevity or life span)?
5. What does the wildebeest eat?
6. Does the wildebeest need a lot of water?
7. What animals are enemies of the wildebeest?
8. How long after birth can calves (babies) stand and run?
9. Where do wildebeest sleep?
10. What animals often live in herds with the wildebeest?
11. Do female wildebeests have horns?

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Lappet-Faced Vulture (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of this vulture?
2. Using a dictionary, look up the word "carrion".
3. What does the Lappet-faced Vulture eat?
4. How long is the Lappet-faced Vulture?
5. How did this vulture get the name "Lappet-faced"?
6. What is the life span of the Lappet-faced Vulture?
7. Why are African vultures in decline?
8. What is different about their heads from the rest of their bodies?
9. What is another name for the Lappet-faced Vulture?
10. How many eggs are usually found in a Lappet-faced Vulture's nest?
11. Where are their nests located?
12. Do they take baths?

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Wild Dog (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the wild dog?
2. After a kill, who gets to eat first, adult dogs or puppies?
3. How does a dog hunt? By scent or sight? Alone or in packs?
4. How much do wild dogs weigh?
5. When do wild dogs hunt?
6. What does it spend most of the day doing?
7. What animals are the main enemies of the wild dog?
8. How many puppies do wild dogs have in a litter?
9. How long do wild dogs live (life span or longevity)?
10. What is the name of the groups that wild dogs live in?
11. How fast can a wild dog run?

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Meerkat (Click on these links to begin your adventure.)

1. What is the habitat of the meerkat?
2. How long is the meerkat's head and body?
3. What does the meerkat eat?
4. How many babies does the meerkat have at a time?
5. Where do the meerkats live (dwelling)?
6. Is the meerkat a member of the cat family?
7. Who are the main enemies of the meerkat?
8. How many toes does the meerkat have?
9. What is the tail used for?
10. Why do meerkats stand up?
11. How much do meerkats weigh?
12. What is the name of the meerkat in the Lion King movies?

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EVALUATION

1. Answers questions with accuracy. Students may ask for help from teacher when needed.--10 points.
2. Shows a willingness to work with group members. Completes his/her part as expected and participates in all group discussions.--20 points.
3. Demonstrates knowledge of subject in the group presentation. Presents information in a clear, organized way. Allows classmates to ask questions of his/her research.--20 points.

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CONCLUSION

Now that your safari experience has ended, you should have a good idea of some types of animals that are found in the African deserts and savannas. You have also gained the experience of working with your classmates on a project. For a further challenge, you and your group could continue the project and develop plans for the African section of the zoo, based on the information you now know about the animals there. For instance, will there be a lot of water in the lion's den? Will there only be bushes in the giraffe's den or will there be tall trees? Will you feed meat to the elephants?

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