Gray Bats in Tennessee

WebQuest for 9th Grade

Biology I
Designed by:
Mary Margaret Ulderich

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Credits Learning Objectives

Curriculum Standards

Introduction
In the United States, there are 496 animals and 735 plants that are threatened
or endangered. In Tennessee there are 90 endangered plants and animals.
How does human activity contribute to the problem of threatened and
endangered plants and animals?
Imagine you are a scientist working to preserve Gray Bats in Tennessee.
For you to complete the task, you must have an understanding of Threatened
and Endangered species.
Threatened Species: a species likely, in the near future, to become an
endangered species within all or much of its range.

Endangered Species: A species present in such small numbers that it is at

risk of extinction.
Home Task Process

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Task
Your group will research the gray bat and determine the proper
habitat, niche, abiotic and biotic factors needed to sustain a
healthy population. You will also discover the dangers to the
ecosystem if the gray bat becomes extinct. You will research
human activities that caused gray bats to become endangered.
After research data has been collected, you will present your
findings to your classmates in the form of a PowerPoint
presentation. You will then perform a Persuasion Task by writing
letters to the Tennessee General Assembly outlining your research
and asking for changes in the law to promote a healthy gray bat
population. You will also participate in a field trip to Dunbar Cave
in Middle Tennessee to observe gray bats in their natural habitat.

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Process
Use the following worksheet. Human Impact on Gray Bats
WebQuest Worksheet.doc
Research the gray bats habitat, niche, abiotic and biotic factors
needed in order to have a healthy population.
Discover human activities that interfere with gray bat populations.
Summarize what will happen to the ecosystem if the gray bat
becomes extinct.
Prepare a 7 slide persuasive PowerPoint presentation.
Write 2 letters to the Tennessee General Assembly to promote ecofriendly laws.

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Resources
The following is a list of websites that you may find helpful during
your research.

Dunbar Cave State Park

Endangered Species
Endangered Species Guide sheet: Gray Bat
Gray Bat
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Gray Bat Fact Sheet
World Wildlife Fund
Physorg: Gray Bats Making a Comeback
Letter Writing Guide
Business Letter Format
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Curriculum Standards

Evaluation Rubric
Task

None
0

Beginner
1-3

Developing
4-6

Accomplished
7-9

Exemplary
10

10 Abiotic
Factors
10 Biotic
Factors
Niche
Description

Does not list any

abiotic factors
Does not list any biotic
factors
Does not describe the
niche

Lists 1-3 abiotic factors

Habitat
Description

Does not describe the

habitat

Attempts to describe
the habitat

Lists 7-9 abiotic

factors
Lists 7-9 biotic
factors
Describes the niche
with much
accuracy
Describes the
habitat with much
accuracy

Lists 10 abiotic
factors
Lists 10 biotic
factors
Describes the niche
with exact
accuracy
Describes the
habitat with exact
accuracy

Human Impact
on Gray Bats

Does not describe the

human impact on Gray
Bats

Attempts to describe
the human impact on
Gray Bats

Describes the
human impact on
Gray Bats with
much accuracy

Describes the
human impact on
Gray Bats with
exact accuracy

Does not make a

PowerPoint

Prepares a 1-2 slide

PowerPoint with
somewhat accurate data
Writes 1 letter with
many grammatical
errors

Lists 4-6 abiotic

factors
Lists 4-6 biotic
factors
Describes the niche
with somewhat
accurate data
Describes the
habitat with
somewhat accurate
data
Describes the
human impact on
Gray Bats with
somewhat accurate
data
Prepares a 3-4 slide
PowerPoint with
accurate data
Writes 2 letters
with many
grammatical errors

Prepares a 5-6 slide

PowerPoint with
accurate data
Writes 2 letters
with few
grammatical errors

Prepares a 7 slide
PowerPoint with
accurate data
Writes 2 letters
with no
grammatical errors

PowerPoint

Letters to the
General
Assembly

Does not write 2 letters

to the General
Assembly

Lists 1-3 biotic factors

Attempts to describe
the niche

Score

0-10
0-10
0-10

0-10

0-10

0-10

0-10

Final Grade ____________

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Conclusion
You have successfully completed the WebQuest and learned about gray
bats in Tennessee and how humans impact their survival. You have also
determined the proper habitat, niche, abiotic and biotic factors needed for
the gray bat to survive in a healthy population. By writing the letters to
the Tennessee General Assembly, you have a direct impact on their
survival in Tennessee.

Now that you have learned about Gray Bats in Tennessee, you will
participate in a field trip to Dunbar Cave, near Clarksville, TN to observe
Gray Bats in their natural habitat.
In your research about Gray Bats, you may have encountered other
endangered plants or animals you are interested in researching. You may
want to learn how you can become involved in protecting them around the
world. There are many organizations that work to protect plants and
animals from extinction that would welcome your help.
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Credits
Internet Websites for students

Dunbar Cave State Park

Endangered Species
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Gray Bat Fact Sheet
World Wildlife Fund
Physorg: Gray Bats Making a Comeback
Letter Writing Guide
Business Letter Format

Dunbar Cave

Pictures/Clip Art
Dunbar State Park
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Microsoft Office software

WebQuest Template
Dr. Glenda Rakes, University of TN-Martin

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Introduction Task

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Curriculum Standards

Learning Objectives
At the end of this WebQuest the students will:

Home

Using the Web sites provided in the WebQuest, the student will record
information about the habitat, niche, and at least 10 abiotic, and 10 biotic
factors of the gray bat.

Using the Web sites provided in the WebQuest, the student will record
information about the relationship between human impact on the environment
and the gray bat being placed on the Endangered Species list.

Create a persuasive PowerPoint presentation for the class with at least 7

slides using the data collected through the WebQuest project with the
purpose of outlining their research and proposals for changes in Tennessee
law to promote a healthy gray bat population to the class.

Write at least two grammatically correct letters to members of the

Tennessee General Assembly outlining their research and asking for changes
in Tennessee law to promote a healthy gray bat population.

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Curriculum Standards

Curriculum Standards
Tennessee Curriculum Standards
Biology I
SPI 2.4 Investigate an outdoor habitat to identify the abiotic and biotic factors, plant and
animal populations, producers, consumers, and decomposers.
SPI 2.5 Conduct research on how human influences have changed an ecosystem and
communicate findings through written or oral presentations.
SPI 2.4 Predict how various types of human activities affect the environment.
SPI 2.5 Make inferences about how a specific environmental change can affect the
amount of biodiversity.

SPI 2.6 Predict how a specific environmental change may lead to the extinction of a
particular species.
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