webquest

The Copycat Fish
a WebQuest for 2nd Grade

Based on the Best-Selling Books by Marcus Pfister

by Gail Donovan

Introduction
"Quit copying me!" We have all said this or had someone say this to us. In the book The Copycat Fish, a younger fish named Tug copies everything Rainbow Fish does, even his super duper, loop-the-loop flip! Rainbow Fish just cannot lose his new shadow, and Miss Cuttle even makes them work together as a team. Will Tug ever quit copying Rainbow Fish? Will they be able to work together as a team? Well, if you want to know the answers to these questions, you will have to tune in below and complete the following tasks.

Rules: You will be working with three other classmates on this quest, so you will have to act like a team. This means that your team will not reach the finish line, unless everyone works hard and together!

Positions:

RAINBOW FISH: One person is selected by the team to read all the words said by Rainbow Fish.

TUG: One person is selected by the team to read all the words said by Tug.

NARRATOR: One person is selected by the team to read all the words not said by Tug or Rainbow Fish. Don't worry, you can do it!

SECRETARY: One person is selected by the team who will have the very important job of listening extra carefully to the story and, using a blank sheet of paper, writing down all the characters names and just a few words to describe each character. For example, when Rainbow Fish first appears in the story, write down Rainbow Fish and then a word or two that tells something about him. This will be very helpful to refresh the group's memory for future tasks. The Secretary will also help out with any words that are hard to say or understand.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Oh no! There's trouble up ahead! Your team might be having trouble with selecting parts. What if two people want to be Rainbow Fish? Since there is only one Rainbow Fish, this might be a problem. It is up to you to work together as a team to solve any problems you might face. Good luck!!

Before looking up a word in the dictionary, use all of your brains as one, gigantic brain. By smushing all that each of you know into one whopper of a brain, you just might be able to come up with the meaning on your own! If you still cannot come up with the answer, click below for an on-line dictionary. If you still are not having any luck, ask your helpful teacher.

Click HERE for an on-line dictionary.

Task 1

Steps:

1.: On a blank sheet of paper, write down what you think makes someone a copycat. You can simply write down words that come to mind or real life examples that have happened to you.

2.: Pass your paper to the teammate to the right of you, so he/she can read your thoughts about what makes a copycat. Keep passing and reading each teammate's paper until your paper lands back in your hands.

3.: On another blank sheet of paper, write how you would feel if someone was copying you.

4.: Repeat the directions for Step 2.

5.: On another blank sheet of paper, write how you would feel if someone called you a copycat.

6.: Repeat the directions for Step 2.

7.: Save all your comments, because you will be needing them later!

Task 2

After reading The Copycat Fish aloud, use each teammate's brain, your gigantic group brain, and the secretary's notes about the characters to refresh your memory on what happened and in what order. Now, some parts may seem really important to some members, while other members might think they are not so important. CLICK HERE and complete the form. It only has a certain amount of space, so you must all work together to decide which parts are the most important and where they go on the chart.

Task 3

Now it's time to walk in the shoes of both Rainbow Fish and Tug. Wait just a second--fish don't have shoes, and they sure can't walk! Let's change that. Now it's time to swim in the fins of Rainbow Fish and Tug. That's better.

CLICK HERE and complete the form about each character's beliefs/feelings and how each acted to show these beliefs/feelings. For example, how do you think Rainbow Fish felt when Tug was copying him, and what did he do to make you think that? Include the other characters in the story, like Miss Cuttle and Spike, and tell about their beliefs/feelings and actions.

You've almost reached the finish line! Just a few more strokes to go!

Task 4

Steps:

1.: Pair up within your group, and have one pair be Rainbow Fish and one pair be Tug
(Hint: 1 pair =2 teammates)

2.: Each pair is to write to the other describing his/her feelings about what happened in the story. For example, if you're Tug, write a letter to Rainbow Fish about why you copied him, how you felt when you were called "copycat," and how you feel now.

3.: Exchange letters with your other teammates and take turns reading them aloud to each other. You can have one person from each pair read the letter or get wild and crazy and have both people from each pair read it together!

Task 5

Do you remember the papers you were supposed to hang on to from Task 1? Well, it's time to whip them back out.

Steps:

1.: Grab your old papers and take turns reading them aloud to your teammates.

2.: Discuss with your teammates any new thoughts or feelings you have about the story.

3.: CLICK HERE to complete a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast your old thoughts or feelings with your new thoughts or feelings. Compare your results with your teammates' to see whose thoughts or feelings are most alike and whose are different.

4.: The Secretary should turn in all paperwork and the diagram to the teacher.

Task 6

Each of us has a special gift or talent that we can share with the world. Someone might know a cool handshake, and someone else might know a funny joke.

Steps:

1.: Think of something special you can do and would like to share with your group.

2.: Teach it to your teammates.

3.: After you've learned one another's special talents, use your gigantic brain to choose one talent to share with the entire class.

Hint: Use what you have learned so far about teamwork to decide on one talent. This might be hard to do, because they are all so great. You can only choose one, and you must all agree on the choice. Good luck and most importantly HAVE FUN!!

Self-Evaluation

So how did you do? Were you a team player? Let's find out. CLICK HERE and complete the form. Remember to be honest!

Teacher Evaluation

Teachers should CLICK HERE to use the Scoring Guide, along with the results from the students' self-evaluation, to measure each student's progress.

Conclusion

If reading The Copycat Fish was an enjoyable experience for you, check out the following books that might be fun for you to read:

Scaredy-Cat Fish by Gail Donovan (based on the best-selling books by Marcus Pfister)

Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister