Introduction
Mallory Falkner
4th Grade Science Teacher
Parsley Elementary School
Wilmington, NC
252-425-4991
Hello Zookeepers!
We are in the market for a new animal here at the zoo, but it is up to you zookeepers to do research on different types of animals that we can get. I need you to do research about the animal of your choice and find as many details about it as you can, such as the way it lives(environment), what it eats and how it interacts with other animals, etc. You will get to research the animal of your choice, as it may be the animal the zoo chooses to adopt.
Task
We will learn how your animal lives in its natural environment.
Where does your animal live? Desert? Rainforest? Mountains? etc
Does it travel alone or in a pact?
What does your animal's average day look like? Active or docile?
We will learn what your animal likes to eat.
Does your animal eat meat, vegetables or a combination of both?
How does your animal gather food?
Where is your animal on the food chain?
We will learn how your animal interacts with other animals.
Does your animal get along with other animals? Does it keep to itself?
Your task is to pick any animal of your choice and find out information about how it lives, what it eats and how it interacts with others. You may provide extra information about your animal if you wish, as it will help you in our decision for when we pick a new animal for the zoo. You will take notes on your findings about your animal. After everyone has completed their research, we will present our information to the class and you will try to persuade the class as to why we should pick to put your animal in the zoo.
After you choose an animal, you will create a KWL chart about what you know about your animal, what you want to learn about your animal and what you learned after doing research on your animal.
Process
Student's will complete each step to create this project.
Step One: Students will pick an animal of thier choice. (Must get teacher approval to prevent duplication in the classroom.)
Step Two: Students will conduct research about their animal and the minimum questions about how it lives, what it eats, and how it interacts with other animals.
Step Three: Students will find pictures of their animal.
Step Four: Students will compile all of their research into either a powerpoint or a poster.
Step Five: Students will present thier powerpoint or poster to the class.
You may use these websites to help you get started:
http://animals.about.com/od/zoologybasics/a/animalsenvironment.htm
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/foodchain.htm
http://animals.about.com/od/ecology/f/speciesinteract.htm
Evaluation
This assignment carries a total of ten points. For each of the categories, the student either has the task completed or not. The student will earn one point for each number.
1. Student has found an animal.
2. Student has made sure the animal was okay to research by the teacher.
3. Student has found out how the animal lives.
4. Student has found out what the animal eats.
5. Student has found out how the animal interacts with others.
6. Student has found pictures of the animal.
7. Student has created a powerpoint or poster.
8. Student's powerpoint or poster is creative and colorful.
9. Student has few spelling and gramatical mistakes on their powerpoint or poster.
10. Student presents their powerpoint or poster.
Conclusion
The students have learned primarily about the animal that they researched but they will also get an opportunity to learn about other animals that other students have researched as each student will present their information.