Internationalizing Curriculum.WebQuests

Mi llama se llama...
A WebQuest for Teachers
Internationalizing the Curriculum

Introduction
Llamas are friendly, calm and gentle animals that were first domesticated in South America by the Incas. They are still used in Peru for meat wool and as workers. Recently they have been imported to the United States where they are used for wool and also as pets.

Task
You are going to have your students work in groups to write a story about their own llama. The title of the book will be ìMi llama se llamaÖî (My llama's name isÖ) and they will add a name. They can choose to write the story in English, in Spanish or in both languages. The story must be illustrated.

Process
Begin by having each group of students visit different websites from the extensive list below. Note that some of the websites are in Spanish and you may want to challenge students who are learning Spanish. Each group will write their story and present the finished product to the class.

Resources
Questions and answers about llamas are presented on this website.
http://personal.smartt.com/~brianp/

Everything you need to know about raising a llama in the United States can be found at this website of the Llama Lifestyle Marketing Association.
http://www.llama.org/

The Canadian Llama and Alpaca Association was formed in 1987 in order to provide a network through which camelid enthusiasts could share experiences and develop a fully recognized, Canadian livestock association for their unique llama and alpaca friends.
http://www.claacanada.com/

This site from New Zealand has lots of information about fun they have with llamas there. http://www.llamas.co.nz/

Basic facts about the Camelid family are presented in Spanish.
http://www.damisela.com/zoo/mam/artiodactyla/camelidae/

This website in Spanish discusses the aspects of raising llama in Peru. http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/econeg_llama.htm

This site includes sound! It is in Spanish and gives a brief description of the llama.
http://es.encarta.msn.com/media_461514550_761563800_-1_1/Llama.html

Other resources:

Is Your Mama a Llama

The board book version of this popular recitation of animal characteristics is equally as delightful as other editions, with one key improvement: it's inedible. This robust reissue follows lovable Lloyd the llama on his quest to find out what percentage of the baby animal population has llamas for mamas. The rhymes are original and infectious, and the riddles are sure to have children shouting out the answers in anticipation of turning the page.

by Deborah Guarino, Steven Kellogg (Illustrator)

Stop Spitting at Your Brother!
Life Lessons of a Rocky Mountain Llama

A humorous look at life as seen through the eyes of Dudley , a young Rocky Mountain llama with an attitude. Learn all about llamas, as well as lessons about caring, sibling rivalry and tolerance toward others who are different. Illustrated with over eighty drawings, “Stop Spitting At Your Brother!” is being enjoyed by children and animal lovers of all ages, and it is also proving to be a great family and classroom read-aloud book.

by Diane White-Crane

The Llama's Secret

This is a Peruvian legend which parallels the story of Noah and the flood in which a llama warns the people and animals to seek shelter on a mountain. Great illustrations, your children or grandchildren will love this one.

by Argentina Palacios, Charles Reasoner (Illustrator)

Conclusion
Did your students enjoy writing and illustrating their llama book? Did they learn some interesting facts about llamas?

Evaluation

	Good	Better	Best
Personal growth and knowledge of topic	You learned 2 or 3 interesting new things about llamas.	You learned 4 or 5 interesting new things about llamas.	You learned more than 5 interesting new things about llamas.
Appropriateness of finished product	Some of your illustrations matched your fact.	Most of your illustrations matched your facts.	All of the illustrations in your groups book matched!
Overall information about llamas	Your group had only one or two facts that no other group had found.	Your group had three or four facts that no other group had found.	Your group had more than four interesting facts that no other group had found.