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KENYA The Magicland

Potential Kenya Olympic gold medalists compete in a national event

The stamina of Kenya's medium and long distance

WebQuest Focus Grade level: 5 - 8
Lesson: Conducting Research
Primary Subject Area Focus: Science:-with specific focus on Wildlife (both animals and birds), plant species and man's activities on the environment
Other Subject Areas addressed: Geography, Social Studies, Civics, and Economics

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Overview
Kenya is one of the three East African countries (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda). To the West is Uganda, Southwest is Tanzania, to the Northwest is Sudan, to the North is Ethiopia, and to the East is Somalia. To the Southeast is the Indian Ocean. Kenya is a land of diverse splendor with unique birds, animals and plant species. From the highest mountains to the great plains of Africa, the Rift Valley (the greatest fault in the world) with some of the most beautiful lakes, the serenity of the Indian Ocean. Visitors from all corners of the world throng this country to enjoy its beauty, game reserves and national parks which sustain an abundance of wildlife, birdlife, and plant species. These birds, animals and plants species are in many ways unique to this country. These natural endowments are punctuated by colorful cultures and traditional activities of communities living around and within the game reserves and parks.

Kenya is a country with many fascinating cultures from nomads, pastoralists, hunter-gatherers, spiced with the historic influence of Chinese, Arabian, Portuguese, English traders, explorers and settlers. Kenya is one of the first African countries to offer big game safaris, is also one the world's breeding grounds for the best medium and long distance track athletes from the time of the Kenyan legendary track athlete of late 60's, Kipchoge Keino. This country continues to dominate both medium and distance track athletics both for men and women.
In an attempt to generate interest and love for the conservation of the natural habitats while protecting the plants, wild animals, birds and endangered species of the same, this webquest attempts to provide an opportunity for the students to learn more about the great birdlife and wild game found in the Eastern Africa country of Kenya.

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Introduction

As stated in the overview section, Kenya is one of the best countries in the world for vacationing and many people take their vacations here especially for the game Safaris. This country has a lot to offer for it is a resident of thousands of animals and birdlife while blended with beautiful beaches, great plains, mountains, valleys, plateaus and flora. Also, Kenya has fascinating cultures that have great attraction for visitors as can be experienced from many communities who live around the major national parks and game reserves. In order to learn more about this country with its birds, animals and plant species, take an exhilarating virtual trip through Kenya's beautiful Rift Valley and join the KenyaQuest team as they experience the heat of the semi-arid and arid lands of north and north-eastern Kenya, roadside dangers of wild animals, rich cultures and amazing animals, birds and plant species of Kenya.

Plans are at an advanced stage for state governors to meet with the president to discuss the overseas development projects that the government will be funding in the coming fiscal year. At the top in the agenda is Kenya's animals, birds and plants conservation sector. Your governor will be making a case for increased funding for Kenya's tourism sector. In order for the governor to present a solid case for this cause, your class has been chosen to provide the governor with all the information he needs. The governor's secretary pointed out that the governor needs detailed information on the following fronts:

the nature and availability of parks (game reserves and national parks)
the most common wild animals and birds in each of the country's game reserves and national parks
a list of names of endangered animals, birds and plant species
the names of the communities living within and around these parks
the government's conservation efforts of game reserves and national parks

With KenyaQuest, your students will investigate the wild animals, birds and plant species found in Kenya's game reserves and national parks. As students meet ecologists, game wardens, provincial, district and local council administrators, strong-cultured people and the rest of the Kenyan people, the Quest team poses thought-provoking questions about the rapid growth in population, urban sprawl and conurbation and increased demand for land. The KenyaQuest team explores the coexistence of man and animals, the intricate and delicate balance of nature and the threats that plague Kenya's great animals, birds such as Elephants, Leopards, Hippos, Flamingoes and more.

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The Task

You have been assigned the task of collecting data of wildlife and birdlife from Kenya's eight administrative provinces. You will also be required to provide brief descriptions of the common communities living around the game reserves and national parks and how these communities coexist with the wild animals.
With the help of your group secretary, you will prepare detailed notes and presentation transparencies that your governor will present to the president, the budget committee and the president's overseas projects development advisors. In order to address the major areas your governor needs information on, your teacher prepared the following questions to guide you through your research project.

Name the main game reserves and national parks in your research unit (Province)
What are the most common animals, birds and plants species in your research unit?
Are there any endangered animals, birds, and plants? Which ones? What is the cause of this?
Which community(ties) live within and/or around these game reserves and national parks and how do they coexist with the wild animals?
Are there any administrative structures (by government or local authorities) put in place for the conservation of these game areas?
What is the biggest threat that these animals, birds and plant species face?
Are there any benefits that accrue to the local communities by virtue of their location with respect to the game reserves and national parks? What are these benefits (if any)?

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The Process

You will be working in groups of 3 with one member of your individual group given the responsibility of collecting and collating the group contributions. This position of collecting and collating views from the group members is rotational among the group members. In all, we will have 8 groups with three students in each group. The teacher will give each group one sheet of tracing paper titled Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi, North Eastern , Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western province. Each group will also be given a transparency with the same titles. Each of these sheets has an identical black outline map of Kenya with its eight administrative regions numbered 1 to 8. You will be provided with internet sites to explore the various birdlife and wildlife in various game reserves and national parks in each of the 8 provinces. Each group must become an expert in their assigned province in terms of animal and birdlife found in their respective research units. You will conduct your research utilizing game reserves and national parks in collecting your data. You will be responsible for at least two game reserves and/or national parks but extra credit will be awarded for exhaustive research on all available game reserves and national parks.

Each group will draw their province with symbols representing game parks and/or national parks where the research was conducted on the tracing paper. Each group will then trace their design in color on the transparencies and all will overlap them to form one Kenyan map with all eight provinces with game and national parks correctly labeled. All students will come together to provide a legend for the complete map of Kenya with an appropriate title.

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The Resources

Kenya National Parks and Reserves

Eco-Resorts

Online Travel Guide to Kenya

Adventure In Kenya

Living with Elephants- Discovery

Kenyaweb

Africaonline

Kenya '95, Safari & Lamu

An Introduction to Africa

Kenya's National Parks and Reserves

Kenya Association of Tour Operators

Kenya Tourism Information

Embassy of Kenya, Washington D.C.

Kenya's Provinces and Districts

National Parks and Reserves

Kenya - Factbook

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The Evaluation
Written:
Each group will receive a grade for the written work.
Presentation:
Since the final project depends on the contribution of each group, each presentation will be evaluated by all groups. You will use a scale of 1 to 3 where a scale of 1 represents weak, two represents good and three represents excellent. In awarding points, your consideration should be given to thoroughness, accuracy, creativity, and use of technology. The teacher will give her/his feedback to each group on both the written work and the presentation.
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Conclusion
Through this project, you have had an opportunity to learn something about the great wild game of Kenya. Along the way, you have learned about the intricate nature of the

coexistence of different animals, birds and plant species.You have also learned how delicate this nature can be if man's activities are not checked. There is need therefore to conserve our natural habitats and the unique animals, birds, and plant species that can easily slip into the endangered species list. Hopefully, you have gained experience with the technology as well and that you are more enlightened about the wild game of Kenya that you normally watch in the PBS and the Discovery TV channels and the Geographical Society print materials.

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Print References
Mohamed Amin, Duncan Willetts, & Brian Tetley (1988). KENYA, The Magicland. Westlands Sundries, Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya.

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WebQuest
Author: John Kipngeno Arap Rugutt
Last Update: November 30, 1999

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