WebQuest Modifications

I really like the concept of the WebQuest I chose, but I want to make some changes to it to fit my science methods unit on living things in West Virginia.  First,  I want to add more pictures to the WebQuest.  It only has a picture on the first page, and I think students would be more excited about the project if they could see the pictures of all the animals they are going to be studying.  I am going to change the introduction to make it more relatable and exciting to the students; I also need to add an essential question.  In the introduction I am going to set up the focus of the lesson and what I want the students to learn from doing the WebQuest; I will relate this to the standards.  Next, I am going to change the task/process that the students are doing.  I want them to create something instead of just retelling information.  I am going to have them research their animals and their adaptations, but then I am going to have them create their own unique species of animal; where they have to think about the adaptations and the environment that species will need.  I am going to add more detailed steps and change the roles a little from how the original WebQuest is set up.  I want to make sure that the students know exactly what to do and what their role is.  I am also going to remove some of the resources from the original WebQuest.  They are really good sites, but there are so many I'm afraid it would overwhelm the students.  Finally, I will need to modify the rubric to fit the changes I have made in the WebQuest.

These are the CSOs I am using in my WebQuest:

SC.O.3.2.3
Compare physical characteristics and behaviors of living organisms and explain how they are adapted to a specific environment (e.g., beaks and feet in birds, seed dispersal, camouflage, or different types of flowers).

SC.O.3.2.4
Observe and describe relationships among organisms and predict the effect of adverse factors.