I-Search Turtle Journal Mind Mapping Technological Outcomes Checklist For Success Turtle Population Graph     Print this page

Student Activities

Now that you have a brief understanding of the Great Turtle Race and have seen some of the possible tasks, you can explore deeper and begin your journey of understanding the importance of saving leatherback turtles.

You may want to review all the activities to determine which one you or your group will be best suited to accomplish. One way for doing these activities is through the Jigsaw method. Your class divides into groups and each group selects an activity, completes the activity and presents their work at the end of the time allotted.

Have a conversation with your teacher to determine the level of participation and how much time you should dedicate to each activity from this webquest. Based on the following descriptions, determine a timeline for the 14 days that you have to participate in the race. Of course you can continue your work and research on leatherback turtles even after the race is over.

• Activity 1. Students as Scientists
  A scientific team is made up of many roles, such as ecologist, mathematician, veterinarian, biologist, technician, scientist and engineer. Find out about these roles as the race progresses. For example: play the role of a scientist during the race to determine what information you can collect to help leatherback turtles. In this activity you become the principal investigator for the race and find out all you can about what scientists do when they study a species. You can research on the Internet with approved sites from your teacher. You may collect and save information in electronic form or simply write down information as if you were keeping a scientific log. You may also consider researching other professionals related to this race. You decide.
  Get into the spirit of building your team! For this activity you may want to design a race patch just like Astronauts. The mission team designs a patch that is symbolic of their tasks, who they are, who they represent and their destination. What is it like to be an Environmental Scientists?

• Activity 2. I-Search …Go to I-Search page
  Conduct research on leatherback turtles using the I-search method.

• Activity 3. Essential Questions and Mind Mapping
  Brainstorm all possible reasons for leatherback turtles to be considered an endangered species. You can do this alone, in a small group or with the entire class. You may use paper or computer software to document your work. If you are unsure of what mind mapping is, do an Internet search or ask your teacher.

• Activity 3 Turtle Journal
  Keeping a journal for the information you collect on leatherback turtles is critical. Your journal is your opportunity to write about what you are gaining from the WebQuest  and other relevant information important to document or share with your instructor or classmates.  

• Activity 4. Timeline
  In this activity you can create a timeline demonstrating the history of leatherback turtles. Be sure to include important facts, the number of turtles coinciding with dates and any other information that would provide a snapshot of the leatherback turtles. You can accomplish this electronically or on paper. Determine your resources and begin. Timeline Generator at: teAchnology

• Activity 5. Predicting and Plotting
  Can you predict and plot the possible paths the turtles may take after leaving Indonesia? You need to know a little about geography (map maker)  and leatherback turtle behavior. You can use software, graph paper or other methods to predict actions of your turtle. You may also consider doing this in a narrative format with pictures that tell a story.
  This may also be a good time to learn about tagging animals for data collection. Also, you can learn how satellites and GPS are used for tracking and locating places on the earth. With your class and your teacher, locate areas outside of your school. Perhaps, as a class, take a hike to a designated location and use the trackback feature to return to your original location. What is trackback? That is for you to discover. How does tracking sea turtles by satellite work? Go to Caribbean Conservation Corporation and Sea Turtle Survival League.  For additional data and resources go to Tagging of Pacific Predators.   

• Activity 6. Mind Mapping…Go to the Mind Mapping page for an Example
  Create a mind map on the negative and positive effects humans have had on sea turtles. You can do this individually; however, it is usually better to do this activity in a small group or with the entire class. You can use mind mapping software, poster board, white boards or your standard classroom blackboard. Make sure someone takes notes.

• Activity 7. Conservation Survey
  Create a survey that will ask questions and help determine how much people know about leatherback turtles and perhaps other environmental conservation concerns. You can do this within your school or you may choose to ask community members. Have your teacher obtain permission from the principal prior to any document leaving the classroom. Determine the best way to design, create and document your results. Determine how this could be useful for this or other projects.

• Activity 8. Hometown Concerns
  In this activity you can investigate environmental problems in your hometown and how they are affecting ecosystems and the animals that live there. You can do this activity after school, form an environmental club or take this on as a main project in class to identify issues that usually go unnoticed until someone takes a closer look. Below are a few questions to start with.
  What is an ecosystem?
  How environmentally friendly is your community? Are there any environmental concerns in your community?
• Are there ecosystems right in your town that are being destroyed or altered?
  What is your town doing about environmental problems, such as: energy production that may contribute to global climate change, waste management, water contamination, transportation and the lack of green building methods?
  Is there a sustainability plan for your town?
  Are there species that have disappeared from your area?

• Activity 9. Ask the Expert
  Contact leatherback turtle experts or other experts related to the race. Draft a short letter with specific questions, have your teacher review and send your letter.

• Activity 10. Jeopardy Game
  Create a Jeopardy PowerPoint game about leatherback turtles to be played in class. Design the game rules and questions to be asked. Templates can be found online or you can make your own from scratch.
  You may also design another game that teaches people about leatherback turtles. You may consider inviting younger students into your class to play the game and learn about your project.

• Activity 11. Poster Design
  Create a poster or artwork that portrays leatherback turtles. It can also be about anything that you feel strongly about relating to endangered species, our environment or what the environment might look like 50 years from now.

• Activity 12. WebQuest Design
  With this activity you have the opportunity to create your own WebQuest using web design software. Share your WebQuest with your class or post online with permission from your school webmaster.

• Activity 13. Be the Turtle
  This is for creative writers. Write a story about the race or the journey of the leatherback turtles. Imagine you are the turtle coming back to the beaches. What will you find? What dangers await from the moment turtles crawl out of their nests? Be creative and use real facts and science whenever possible. Read an article on leatherback turtles.

• Activity 14. Scavenger Hunt
  Design an Internet Scavenger Hunt to be shared with you classmates. Make your own questions, rules and time frames to complete the activity.  Decide if you want to offer a prize for the person who finds all the items on the list first.