This lesson was developed to help primary grade teachers integrate educational technology into the English-Language Arts curriculum.

This lesson will allow students the opportunity to learn about five endangered animals of the cat family using the internet in a storybook style format.  The first portion (purple ink) is the backtracking of Bookworm's journey.  The second portion (black ink) is reasons for animal endangerment.  The third portion (pink ink) is animal facts. 

Students will be made aware of how animals of the cat family are in danger and critically think ways to help save the animals.

Students will have the opportunity to be advocates in saving the lives of endangered animals.

Bookworm's Journey: The Case of the Missing Book is a literacy WebQuest designed for primary grade students.

Students should know basic computer skills (clicking and scrolling) and how to use the Internet (using links, clicking next and back, etc.)

Students will need to know how to read.  They should know how to record and map information. 

Teachers are recommended to read with students portions of the WebQuest (introduction, task, process, evaluation, and conclusion) if so determined by students' reading proficiency and comprehension level. 

English-Language Arts Content Standards, Grade 1

• Concepts About Print (1.1, 1.2, 1.3): The students match oral words to printed words; identify the title and author of a reading selection; and identify letters, words, and sentences.
• Reading Comprehension (2.3, 2.6): The students follow one-step written instructions and relate prior knowledge to contextual information.
• Writing (1.1, 1.2, 1.3): The students select a focus when writing; use descriptive words when writing; and print legibly and space letters, words, and sentences appropriately.
• Written and Oral English Language Conventions (1.1): Write and speak in complete, coherent sentences.
•  Listening and Speaking (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4): The students listen attentively; ask questions for clarification and understanding; give, restate, and follow simple two-step directions; and stay on topic when speaking.

English-Language Arts Content Standards, Grade 2

• Reading Comprehension (2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.8): The students state the purpose in reading; use knowledge of the author's purpose(s) to comprehend informational text; restate facts and details in the text to clarify and organize ideas; and follow two-step written instructions.
• Writing (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2): The students group related ideas and maintain a consistent focus; create readable documents with legible handwriting; write brief narratives that move through a logical sequence of events; and write a friendly letter complete with the date, salutation, body, closing, and signature.
• Written and Oral English Language Conventions (1.2, 1.4): The students recognize and use the correct word order in written sentences and use commas in the greeting and closure of a letter and with dates and items in a series.
• Listening and Speaking (1.5, 1.6, 1.9): The students organize presentations to maintain a clear focus; speak clearly and at an appropriate pace for the type of communication; and report on a topic with supportive facts and details.

English-Language Arts Content Standards, Grade 3

• Reading Comprehension (2.7): The students follow simple multiple-step written instructions.
• Literary Response and Analysis (3.4, 3.6): The students determine the underlying theme or author's message in fiction and nonfiction text and identify the speaker or narrator in a selection.
• Writing (1.1): The students create a single paragraph that develops a topic sentence and include simple supporting facts and details.
• Written and Oral English Language Conventions (1.0): The students write and speak with a command of standard English conventions appropriate to this grade level.
• Listening and Speaking (1.3): The students respond to questions with appropriate elaboration.

This lesson has been designed for primary grade students.  The time spent on this project will vary according to student ability and grade level.  It can take 30 minutes for two days or more, depending on student interest.

The implementation of this lesson requires computer(s) with internet access.  Computer project and books about endangered animals are optional resources.  The lesson was designed to use in a station format within the classroom.

Students will have a chance to work in cooperative groups to learn interesting information about five endangered animals.  They will benefit from learning how to be change agents that will benefit others.