HyperHomeschool

In this webquest, we will explore the wild world of bats while incorporating several of the web 2.0 techie tools.  Throughout the lesson you will be using: Wallwisher, Bubble.us, Wordle, Glogster, Animoto, Flickr and SchoolTube.  Get comfy and enjoy because you are in for a real treat!

Introduction: You will use the famous book, Stellaluna, as an introduction to our unit on bats.  Stellaluna got lost from her mother and finds herself "odd bat out" in a family of birds.  She never had the chance to discover who she was and from where she came.  Join us in this adventure as we help Stellaluna discover her "inner bat" and help her get reunited with her long, lost family.  Along the way, we will enter the nocturnal world of bats and explore these fascinating creatures. 

Task: After reading the book, Stellaluna , you will begin an investigation of bats. You need to find out the following things:

• the difference between megabats and microbats
• unique characteristics of bats
• how mothers care for their babies
• echolocation
• the importance of bats to the world

Throughout this quest, you will post "stickies" on our virtual wall highlighting the important information about bats you have discovered.  Check out our Wallwisher to get started!

Process:

1. Bats can be classified into two main categories: megabats and microbats.  Use the links below to research the differences between these two categories of bats.

• Bats...Creatures of the Night
• Wikipedia: Microbats
• Microbat Info
• BBC: Megabats 
• Wikipedia: Megabats
• Megabat Info
• Bat Conservation International

Upon completing your research, construct a Venn diagram highlighting the similarities and differences between the two types of bats.

2.  Stellaluna's mother loved her very much.  How does a mother bat care for her baby? Read the information from the link below and create a bubble map in which you address the following questions.  Oh, you are not limited to just this link.  Use this as a starting point for your research.

Bat families

• What is a baby bat called?
• What is a bat nursery?
• How many babies are usually born to a mother each year?
• How do mothers care for their babies?
• What other animals care for their young in a similar fashion?

Check out our Bubble Map!

3.  Stellaluna relies on her eyesight to "see" food.  Other bats navigate and find food using echolocation.  It's like their superpower!  Read the story of Echo the Bat on join him on his adventure to find his winter home.  Along the way, explore remote sensing and use false-color satellite images to locate Echo.  Don't forget to post "stickies" on our virtual wall highlighting what you discover!

4.  Bats are extremly helpful to humans in many ways.   Using the link below, investigate ways they benefit people and the world in general.  Display your findings on a bubble map or make a wordle including fun facts about bats.

• Bats4Kids
• Smithsonian: bats
• Bat Conservation and Research

Check out our Wordle!

5.  Throughout this exploration, you have discovered many exciting facts about bats.  In addition, you have probably come to realize there are close to 1000 species of bats in the world today.  With the guidance of your teacher or parent, select your favorite species and create an animoto movie showcasing them in their natural habitats.  You could begin by searching Flickr for usable images.  Upon completion, you will upload your video to schooltube and will use this later in your final project.

Check out our animoto movie!

6.  Now that you are a bat expert, you will create a digital poster to showcase your work.  To get started, collect your "stickies," bubble maps, wordles, movies and anything else you might want to include.  Login to Glogster and have fun! The sky's the limit!

**Check out our glog! **

Evaluation:  I have not assigned a point value to any part of this project.  I feel that can be left up to each teacher or homeschooling parent. 

Conclusion:  If you still have the thirst for more or for extension activities, check out these other interesting sites.  These resources are a great way to bridge to other disciplines or take the skill level higher for more advanced students.

• K-8 Aeronautics Internet Textbook: Bats (Awesome curriculum bridges!)
• Build your own bat house.
• Bats and robotics
• More Bat-Bots
• How Stuff Works: Bats
• Online bat quiz
• Creature Feature: Vampire Bats
• Listen to bats

Additional Reading: For additional literature selctions, check out Ye Olde Bat Book Shoppe for a list of resources.

Hopefully this has been a fun learning adventure!  I can't wait to post our kids final projects!  In the process of making this webquest, I have been inspired to develop other activities.  There is so much information available if you take the time to explore.  Go batty and never lose the desire to learn!

 Check out other Thirsty Thursday ideas!