Agricultural WebQuest Series

Missouri Farm Bureau and

Missouri State University

Wool--It Will Keep a Body Warm!

A WebQuest for 4th Grade Social Studies

Introduction

Throughout the world's history, wool has been an important fiber for making cloth. Wool is produced or grown by sheep. Most sheep in the United States grow from six to sixteen pounds of wool every year. This wool keeps them very warm. You have outgrown last year's winter coat and you will not be warm this winter without a new coat. You don't have any money to buy a coat and you cannot grow enough hair on your body to keep you warm. However, you do have a flock of 12 sheep on your small farm. Therefore, if you accept this quest, it is your responsibility to figure out how to get the wool from the sheep on your farm to a warm wool coat for you to wear this coming winter. Your comfort and your very life depends on the success of your quest!

Task

You will present a Sheep-to-Wool-to-Garment power-point or poster-board presentation to your class at a designated time. You might want to provide samples of wool clothing for display.

A Sheep Shearer at Work

Process

1. First you'll be assigned to a team of 4 students.

2. Choose the role you will be researching.

a. Sheep Farmer

b. Shearer

c. Wool processor

d. Garment maker

3. You will gather information about sheep and wool that will help you solve the problem of how to get the wool from a sheep and make it into a warm wool coat for you to wear.

4. You will prepare a glossary of important sheep and wool terms and their definitions to show that you understand the terminology you will be using in the next task. There must be a minimum of 12 terms.

5. You will prepare a set of step-by-step directions on how you accomplished this task. These steps will be placed in a power-point or poster-board presentation format. Provide pictures of each step, if possible, for clarification.

Resources

American Sheep Industry's "For Kids" Wool Page

American Sheep Industry's "For Kids" Sheep Page

American Sheep Industry's Wool Fact Sheets

Show Me Agriculture - Sheep & Wool

Wool Mill Tour

Off-site Resources

Warm as Wool by Scott Russell Sanders. New York: Bradbury Press, 1992.

Blackberry Booties by Tricia Gardella. New York: Orchard Books, 2000.

Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie (Thomas A.) de Paola. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1973.

A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1986.

Pelle’s New Suit by Elsa Beskow. Translated by Marion Letcher Woodburn. Germany: Floris Books, 1989.

Evaluation

You and your team will be evaluated using the following Collaboration Rubric.

Collaboration Rubric

Name __________________________________

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Contribute
Research & Gather Information	Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.	Collects very little information--some relates to the topic.	Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic.	Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
Share Information	Does not relay any information to teammates.	Relays very little information--some relates to the topic.	Relays some basic information--most relates to the topic.	Relays a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
Be Punctual	Does not hand in any assignments.	Hands in most assignments late.	Hands in most assignments on time.	Hands in all assignments on time.
Take Responsibility
Fulfill Team Role's Duties	Does not perform any duties of assigned team role.	Performs very little duties.	Performs nearly all duties.	Performs all duties of assigned team role.
Participate in Science Conference	Does not speak during the science conference.	Either gives too little information or information which is irrelevant to topic.	Offers some information--most is relevant.	Offers a fair amount of important information--all is relevant.
Share Equally	Always relys on others to do the work.	Rarely does the assigned work--often needs reminding.	Usually does the assigned work--rarely needs reminding.	Always does the assigned work without having to be reminded.
Value Others' Viewpoints
Listen to Other Teammates	Is always talking--never allows anyone else to speak.	Usually doing most of the talking--rarely allows others to speak.	Listens, but sometimes talks too much.	Listens and speaks a fair amount.
Cooperate with Teammates	Usually argues with teammates.	Sometimes argues.	Rarely argues.	Never argues with teammates.
Make Fair Decisions	Usually wants to have things their way.	Often sides with friends instead of considering all views.	Usually considers all views.	Always helps team to reach a fair decision.
				Total

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have succeeded in providing warm clothing for yourself! You will now survive a severe winter looming on the horizon.

Teacher Page

Credits

This WebQuest was created by teachers participating in Missouri's Agriculture in the Classroom program at Missouri State University through a USDA grant. The template on this site was adapted from a template from The WebQuest Page and the original was designed by Dr. Lyndon Irwin. Assistance for this project was provided by Mrs. Barbara Irwin, M.S. and Mrs. Diane Olson, M.S.

Teachers are encouraged to adapt this lesson for classroom use only. No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, recorded or published in any form without written permission from Missouri Farm Bureau.

Collaboration Rubric by Pickett and Dodge, 2002.

Pictures -- Compliments of Irwin Sheep and Wool Farm

This page was developed by Barbara Irwin, reviewed by Lyndon and Barbara Irwin and is maintained by Missouri Farm Bureau.

Please address questions to Diane Olson at Missouri Farm Bureau or Dr. Lyndon Irwin at Missouri State University.

Last revised on June 8, 2006