Introduction:
You are an explorer. Your task and that of your team will beTask:
to go back in time and find out about prehistoric Nebraska. You
will go back in a virtual time machine. As a time traveler, you
will take notes about what you experience, then share your
information with others.
Each member of your team of time travelers will have a job. YouProcess:
will explore Internet web sites and other references available. You
will be looking for information that will allow your team to make
a presentation, a graffiti board (poster), news story, or an other
teacher approved activity about prehistoric Nebraska.Job Descriptions:
Job Description Anthropologist The anthropologist will find information about prehistoric Nebraskans. Information about homes and tools should be included. Anything having to do with these people would be facts that should be collected. Climatologist The climatologist finds information about the prehistoric and modern climate and weather of Nebraska. Anything that affects the weather would be important to collect. Botanist/Zoologist The botanist/zoologist finds information about prehistoric plants (botanist) and animals (zoologist) found in Nebraska. Anything having to do with plants or animals should be collected. Geographer/Geologist The geographer will find any information about the geography and geology of prehistoric Nebraska. The geographer/geologist should track the changes in the land over time, volcanic eruptions that affected the land and animals, glaciers, droughts, etc. The geographer/geologist would learn about the rocks, minerals, and soil of prehistoric Nebraska
Using the Internet sites and your other references selected for your job,Resources:
you will find information to fill in your data sheet. At the bottom of each data sheet, you find additional space to write any information you find about prehistoric Nebraska. When all the data is collected, your team will make a presentation to the class. This can be a poster, PowerPoint or Hyper Studio presentation, a group book, or any other way that your teacher finds acceptable. The web sites and other resources can be found in the tables below .
Anthropologist Site(s):
Site Address Description Paleo-Indians More information about ancient Native Americans in Nebraska http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/hvn/books/nbstory/
nbstory1.htmlInformation about early Nebraska http://www.usd.edu/anth/epa/paleo.html Paleo-Indian Site http://www.visitnebraska.org/reports/
kids-newspaper.htmlInformation about early Nebraska (came from News Paper in Education Committee
Site Address Description Early Nebraska Climate A Fourth Grade description of Climate Changes http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/hvn/books/
nbstory/nbstory1.htmlInformation about Nebraska's early climate http://www.usd.edu/anth/epa/paleo.html The First Peoples site has much information about the early weather and climate of Nebraska http://www.accessomaha.com/Living/climate.html Omaha's climate now. http://hpccsun.unl.edu/nebraska/ Climate in Lincoln and other cities
Site Address Description Biology of Ancient Nebraska A story of ancient Nebraska http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/hvn/books/
nbstory/nbstory1.htmlStory of earliest Nebraska http://ngp.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/ashfall.html Prehistoric animals of Nebraska http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/vertpaleo/
ashfall.htmlAshfall Museum- information about ancient animals and how they died http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/vertpaleo/
skaffsto.htmThis site has a description of how the animals at Ashfall died. It is very well written and answers many questions. http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/land/meta/m2325.html Forest Coverage in the US today http://ngp.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/critters.html About 20 different kinds of wildlife in Nebraska today http://ngp.ngpc.state.ne.us/sounds/sounds.html Sounds and pictures of about 7 different animals of today http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/botany/botany.html Click on Paleobotany
Conclusion:
Site Address Description GeoNeb.htm The story of the geology of Nebraska http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/hvn/books/
nbstory/nbstory1.htmlInformation about prehistoric Nebraska
how it formed, plants and animals that livedhttp://ngp.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/ashfall.html Ashfall Fossil Beds State Park Books:
The Cellars of Time: Paleontology and Archaeology in Nebraska. Nebraskaland Magazine. Publisher: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Vol. 72, NO. 1, January/February 1994. ISBN:0028-1964.
Nebraska Wildlife: Ten Million Years Ago. Author: Dr. Michael R. Voorhies. Published by NEBRASKAland Magazine.
The Visual Dictionary of Prehistoric Life. Published by Dorling Kindersley: London, New York, Stuttgart, 1995 ISBN 1-56458-859-9.
Periodicals:
"Anglers' Guide to the Niobrara Sea", Omaha World-Herald, Science and Technology section, pg. 19,
November 25, 1999.
You have explored prehistoric Nebraska. Your team has created a project to share with the class that will help the whole class learn more about early Nebraska and early Nebraskans.Evaluation:
Below you will find a table that will be used by your teacher to evaluate your quest. There is a total of 12 points that are possible.
|
|
|
|
|
| Team Effort | Team showed little cooperation. | Team worked together most of the time. | Team worked together all the time. |
| Organization of Project | Project has little organization. | Project has some organization. | Project has very good organization. |
| Quality of Information | Project information is very brief . | Project has some good information . | Project has excellent information. |
| Structure of project:
Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and correct use of words |
Project has many spelling, grammar, punctuation, or incorrect word use. | Project has 5 or less errors of spelling, grammar, or incorrect word use. | Project has 2 or less errors of spelling, grammar, or incorrect word use. |
| Sources | Used only one kind of source: Internet, books, pamphlets, encyclopedia, or others | Used two kinds of sources: Internet, books, pamphlets, encyclopedia, or other | Used three kinds of sources: Internet, books, pamphlets, encyclopedia, or other |
| Sharing the Research | Presented by only one member of team | Presented by some team members | Presented by all team members |
Data Sheets and Teacher Resources
Anthropologist Data Sheet Climatologist Data Sheet Geologist/Geographer Data Sheet Botanist/Zoologist Data Sheet Teacher Resource Page