Koala Webquest

A koala webquest is an engaging activity for primary age students, as it gives them an opportunity to use computers and to relate to other media. However, it is imperative that as teachers, we research carefully the links to web sites to make sure that they are appropriate for our students. If this is a first foray into the world of webquests it is important to go slowly and to concentrate on a narrow field so that your students become comfortable with the concept.

Show your students a picture of a koala - this will immediately appeal!

Start your web quest with a literature link.

A wonderful book to share with primary students is Koala Number One by Jill Morris. Read it, or another one of your choice, and discuss that koalas may look like bears, but that to call them koala 'bears' is incorrect.

Let us find out find out why a koala is not a bear and other interesting facts about koalas, by using information that we will be able to find on the computer, or in nature magazines, or in non fiction books, or by looking at pictures

What we want to find out.

Why is a koala not a bear?

What does marsupial mean?

What is a baby koala called and where does the baby live?

What does a koala eat?

What dangers are there for koalas?

Divide the class into small groups and give each group one of the questions to research. Provide books, magazines, computer time. Provide each group with chart paper, pencils and crayons and have the students record their findings by pictures and printing. Encourage them to write things as they think they should sound and assure them that you will help with spelling when it is time to make a presentation.

Books:

Koala Lou by Mem Fox

The Koalas of Australia by Linda George

A First Look at Kangaroos, Koalas, and Other Animals with Pouches by Selsam, Millicent and Hunt, Joyce

On line searching:

Australian Animals

Taronga Zoo

Invite each of the groups to share their findings with the class. They should report on a) what they were researching b) what resources they used and c) what answers they found.

As a self-evaluation tool each member of the group should report on how they worked together and if they felt that they had done a good job. Use a paper with Happy Face (I worked well with my group and did my best) Unsmiling Happy Face (I worked OK with my group and did an OK job) Unhappy Happy Face (I did not work well with my group and I could have done better) - young children are usually very honest with these types of self evaluation.

After all the reports have been shared the answers should be written up on the original chart. The reports will give you information on how the students researched, what understanding they had of the assigned task, and the areas that will need to be focused on for the next web quest or other type of research.

One of the answers will tell of the koala's food of eucalyptus leaves and you could tell your students that the koalas smell like cough drops. Have on hand some cough drops so that the students may have an idea of the scent of eucalyptus .

To complete their activity demonstrate an easy way to draw a koala. Go to How to Draw a Koala