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Do You Mind Our World? A WebQuest for Intermediate
& High-Intermediate ESL Students (Science) Designed by Rocío
Segura Martín
Introduction
| Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits The world is seriously in danger. There are
many problems that make it every time more and more uncomfortable: wars,
environmental problems, hunger, inequalities between poor and rich countries,
etc. So, the president of your country has asked the collaboration of all the
children to try to solve these problems. You have been offered the
opportunity and the power to change any aspect of the world and improve it.
In order to get that, you have been requested to create an NGO, and the
website of your NGO. Do your best because only two projects will be carried
out with your president’s support. But before it, you must research about
different aspects affecting our world. Before the proposal from your president, had
you ever thought which problems are frequent in the world today?
Which ones are more serious and affect more people? The aim the president
wants to get is to sensitize the Spanish people about the aspects
that cause our world to be not as wonderful as it should, and make
them to take part to solve them. This is a great opportunity for you to
help. Are you ready to save our planet?
In groups of four and using the links provided, you
will read about different problems of our world. The four problems you will
look for information on the Web are World Hunger, Global Warming, Endangered
Species and AIDS. You will each choose to research one of them. Once you have
gathered information, as a group, you will have to complete a graphic organizer which will help you
to compare the problems: its reaching, its causes and consequences, and
possible solutions. After that, each member of the group will
comment to the rest on his/her world problem. Before the elaboration of your
final task, you must discuss which problem is the most serious and
needs more urgent help. Finally, ALL together agree the NGO you are going to
create and send its website to the president of the nation through your teacher.
Cheer up ecologists!
Step One: Background Information on ONGs and Worldwide Problems Before starting your WebQuest,
discuss within your group the following questions below to gain some background
information on ONGs and the problems we are facing with in our present-day
society.
Have a look at the following
thematic glossary to help you with specific terms. Now print out this graphic organizer to help
guide you. Step Two: Exploring the Web looking
for Worldwide Problems To start your exploration, each
group member will choose one of the four problems: World Hunger, Global
Warming, Endangered Species and AIDS. After deciding which problem you will
study, you will gather information on your particular problem using the
provided websites below. As you read through the information, please keep in mind the following
questions: What
the problem consists in? What
is the reaching of the problem? How many people and what parts of the world
it affects the most? What
causes the problem? What
are the consequences of the problem? What
can we do to help? As you
answer the questions make sure you write down all the information you found
on the graphic organizer under your specific problem column. Using the
following websites, individually research the links related to your assigned
problem: WORLD HUNGER
World Hunger: Causes and some Facts http://www.earthskids.com/hunger.aspx What Can We Do to Help End World Hunger http://www.peacekidz.com/dinopals/hunger/index.htm GLOBAL WARMING
Global Warming: What is it? Indicators and Solutions http://www.earthskids.com/featured-archive-global_warming.aspx Global Warming: Causes, Consequences and What We Can
Do http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics/kidspage.cfm ENDANGERED SPECIES
Animal
Abuse http://www.hennet.org/abuses.html Threatened, Endangered and
Extinct Animals http://endangered.fws.gov/kids/pdf/html_presentation/html/001.htm Causes of Endangerment http://www.endangeredspecie.com/causes_of_endangerment.htm Endangered Species: Solutions http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/rareone/solution.htm AIDS
What is AIDS? What Causes AIDS? http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/faq/faq2.htm http://www.aids.org/factSheets/101-what-is-aids.html AIDS Around the World: Statistics http://www.avert.org/worlstatinfo.htm AIDS and VIH: Infection http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/infection/hiv.html Step Three: Teaching Your Group Now that
you have filled out your problem’s portion of the graphic organizer, come together
as a group to share your information. Each group member must interpret
the information they gathered on his/her problem. You will present what
you learned to group members so that the rest of the graphic organizer can be
completed. After completing this task, decide on which global problem was
more serious and needs more urgent help. Step Four: “Website of the NGO” Once your group have agreed
on the most serious global problem, your group will begin to work in the
elaboration of your NGO website. The website should be made in a Microsoft
Word document and include the name of your NGO and its aim, the definition of
the problem dealt with, causes and consequences, and what we can do to help. Your group should
focus on distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant information so that
only the most important information is presented. To complete the task, the
group will be divided up into following roles: Ø Two biologists / vets / doctors knowing the problem
who will write the content of the website. The following points can help you
as possible links of the page: About
Us, What We Do, Get Involved, News, Contact Us, etc. Ø A graphic designer that will draw the characterising
image of your NGO. Ø A photographer that will provide with photographs to
show the problem, how you work, parts of the world more affected by it, etc. After each member has completed his/her role in
creating the website of the NGO, ALL group members must view how it looks
before putting it on the Internet and you must present it to the rest of the
class. Finally, save your website on a floppy and give it to the teacher.
Students
will be evaluated on the completed assignment as a WebQuest team.
Now that you’ve learned all about four main global problems,
World Hunger, Global Warming, Endangered Species and AIDS, you can really
appreciate how they affect our world. By reading about all four problems from the links in
the WebQuest and through the Background Information activity, you were able
to see which problem interested you the most, and then you were able to
construct a website of an NGO dealing with the problem of your choice. Congratulations! You have now become a part of an
exciting and humanitarian cause. You should be proud of yourselves! Remember, don’t be silent, raise your voice and let
you be heard because you mind our world.
Many
thanks to Dr. Bernie Dodge and his WebQuest
page. This is "the resource" and an instant
source of inspiration for anyone that loves to teach. IMAGE
RESOURCES World in Hands Image from www.rizobacter.com.ar/.../medio-ambiente.php Man Eating Image from www.buddhalife.org/
principles/tenwrlds.htm Global Warming Image from www.laflecha.net/canales/comunicacion/200410291/ Polar Bear Image from http://www.gifmania.com/mamiferos/osos_polares/ Needle Image from http://www.gifmania.com/medicina/jeringuillas/ Arrow Image from http://www.gifmania.com/web/flecha_arriba/index.htm
Last updated on
May 10, 2005. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page |
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