A hippo for a pet : A WebQuest

a WebQuest for 1st Grade

By: Miss Wadsworth

Introduction

You have been chosen to receive a hippopotamus (hippo) for a pet. You will learn what country hippopotamuses come from, what they eat, and whether or not they prefer to sleep in bed with you or some where else. You will also have to name your pet and tell us why you think you were chosen to become a proud hippo owner.

Task

We are going to find out what country hippos come from, what they like to eat, where they like to sleep, what kind of feet they have, what the long word hippopotamus really means, what the 8 characteristics of a hippo are and whether or not a hippo would really make a great pet.

1. Process

2. Read the book THERE'S A HIPPOPOTAMUS UNDER MY BED by Mike Thaler
3. Print out a WebQuest answer sheet.
4. Find out what country your hippo comes from.
5. After you have found out the country locate it on a world map.
6. What ocean did it have to cross to get here?
7. What does your hippo like to eat? Will he eat hotdogs and pizza and still remain alive?
8. Where does your hipp like to sleep Maybe in a barn, your bed, in water or in a car?
9. Does your hippo have feet just like you or is there something special about his feet?
10. What does the word hippopotamus mean?
11. Find out whether a hippo prefers to be awake during the day or at night?
12. What are the 8 characteristics of a hippo?
13. Print out a picture of your hippo and label those characteristics .
14. What name are you going to give your new hippo?
15. Why do you think that you were chosen to receive a hippo as a pet and do you think that you would really want a hippo as a pet??

Evaluation

• On a typed form the students will answers questions numbers1-8 in complete sentences. They will be graded on the information as well as sentence structure.
• The student will label a diagram with the 8 characteristics of a hippopotamus.
• The student will write a story starting with: My hippo's name is.........I think I was chosen to be a hippo owner because.... The student will be evaluated on letter formation, sentence structure and creativity.
• The student with a partner will use the hippo hand puppet and act out a short skit about the life of a hippo.

Conclusion

You have now completed the requirements to become a hippo owner.Please click on the hippo owner license and print it out.

HIPP HIPP HIPPO HOORAY.

Enrichment Activities

1-Hippo and friends Word Search

2-Color page of a hippopotamus

Non-Internet Resource

There's a Hippopotamus under my bed written by Mike Thaler