Wendell the Worm, host of
The Yuckiest Site on the Internet, is the
coolest science reporter around. He's got a nose for information and the answers to kids' science
questions. Wendell may not be a one-worm crawling encyclopedia, but he sure knows where to go to
get information from scientific authorities. Ask Wendell
can be a terrific resource for kids of all ages. And, you know, kids do have questions!
Digging Up Information
Send kids to Wendell's page often to check his latest topics (they're updated every other
week). Then, have them develop questions about the topic that they would like Wendell to answer
online. Since Wendell cannot respond individually to every question he receives, he digs out
questions that are well-written, of interest to many kids, and show some evidence that the writer
has already thought about the topic.
This is a terrific opportunity to have your students sharpen the skills that go into asking good
questions, such as research, critical thinking, analyzing and prioritizing. Here are some examples
to share with your students:
Q: What is a pimple?
This question doesn't show much thought on the part of the writer. It could be answered by reading
an encyclopedia article on pimples! And, most kids already know what a pimple is -- UGLY!
But look at this one:
Q: I've noticed that I always break out in new pimples just before a big
event like my cousin's wedding or my piano recital. It's SO annoying! Why does this happen?
Here, the person asking the question has clearly given some thought to the subject and has already
made some observations. Plus, most kids can identify with the situation in the question, increasing
its interest quotient. That's a question that Wendell might answer online!
When you include Ask Wendell as part of your overall science curriculum:
- Give students lots of practice in formulating good questions. It may seem obvious, but yes/no
questions don't make the most of Wendell's interactive format on the Web. Remind students of the
basic "5Ws and an H" -- Who, What, Where, When, Why and How -- that all good reporters and
investigators ask.
- Stick to Wendell's topic of the week. All topics are broad enough to encourage a very wide
range of questions.
- Consider Ask Wendell a collaborative activity, and have students work in groups to come up with
several interesting questions. Then, as a whole class, select two or three of the best questions
from all the groups to send to Wendell. Your students will have the added benefit of analyzing each
question first, and Wendell's mailbag won't be overloaded with individual questions from every student!
- Use Ask Wendell to build an interactive dimension into your use of The Yuckiest Site on the
Internet -- and in turn, to add a spark to your students' attitudes about science. Encourage
students to send questions often and check back for responses, but remember that Wendell can't
reply individually to every question he receives. A selection of responses to his questions will
appear online.
- Keep in mind that online experts and mentors are in abundance on the Web -- in science and
other areas, too. To find such opportunities for your students, ask at a local college or
university, or do a Web search for "mentors" or "telementors". Online interaction opens the walls
of your classroom to the world, no matter where you are!
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