introduction | task | process | resources | conclusion | evaluation

Process

1. Background Information

You and your group need to become more familiar with the rain forest in general. Go to the Enchanted Learning web site to learn more. Each of you will answer the questions on the study guide to guide you through the web site. Study these questions carefully. You will have a quiz on these items a little later.


2. Choose a Job

Now that you know a little bit about the rain forest, each of the members in your group will need to choose an “expert” job. During this web quest, you will become a specialist in your area. Thinking as an expert, you will need to decide whether:

Outsiders should be allowed to use the rain forest,

or

The rain forest should be completely protected.

The expert job choices are:

Zoologist	the animal expert
Botanist	the plant expert
Geographer	the land expert
Anthropologist	the people expert

Meet with your group to choose which jobs you will have. Report back to your teacher. Remember, the rest of your work in this web quest will be from the eyes of an expert.


3. Get Information

Now that you know what your specialist job will be, you will need to do some research. Start by clicking on the research link below that has your expert’s job on it. There you will find some links that will give you information. Use those web sites to answer the questions on your expert’s question sheet.

Zoologist Botanist Geographer Anthropologist

After you finish your questions, you will need to fill out the answer sheet. This will help you understand both sides of the issue. To find the vocabulary list and all the resources at any time click on Resources.

4. Write a Letter

Your first assignment as an expert is to write a letter to the government. You will be responsible for writing a short paragraph from your expert’s point of view. After you write your paragraph, your will meet with your team to combine all of your ideas into one group letter.

You will try to explain to the government if:

a) Outsiders should be allowed to use the rain forest. Who, how and why?

b) The rain forest should be completely protected. How and why?

Write this letter as if you are the real expert. See letter requirements for a description of what should be in your letter.


5. Meet with Your Group

Now, as a group you will prepare for your debate. In the debate, your team will be trying to explain your point of view about the rain forest.

Meet with your team to share what you have learned.

Take turns explaining your point of view. Talk with your team members as if you are experts—try to ask good questions, so that your team members can explain things to you if you don’t understand.

See the debate requirements for a description on what your team will do in your debate.

Have a Debate!