Introduction

ATTENTION all scientists!! The planet Earth is in need of new animal species, and your expertise is needed! Your mission is create a new animal that can live anywhere on the planet Earth. You will need to research an animal, and learn as much information about the animal adaptations as you can. Your animal will need to meet the 5 basic needs of survival requirments, which are: getting food/water, oxygen, maintaining body temperature, protection/defense, and making/finding shelter. As you create your animal you will need to make sure that your animal has all the parts necessary to meet the five needs. You will be sharing your animal with the class at the end of the webquest.
Task
Your task is to create a new animal and explain in detail how all adaptations are being used for the animal
- Choose an animal to research adaptations.
- Visit various sites to research animal's diet, behavior, appearance, structures and habitats.
- Get with your group and brainstorm a new animal species using what you have learned from your research.
- Create a visual of your new animal species
Process
1. First you'll be assigned to a team of four students
2. You will each be responsible for one of the roles that follow as you research an animal.
- The nutritionist will research the diet of the animal
- The psychologist will study the animals’ behavior and appearance.
- The engineer will study the structures of the animal and how these allow it to live in its habitat.
- The environmentalist will study the habitat of the animal.
3. When you are researching, choose an animal that you all agree upon and that has the same habitat as the animal your group will create.
4. Now that you have learned about an animal and its adaptations that help it survive its habitat, it is time to get together in your group and become creative and create a new animal species based on what you have learned!
5. Create a visual of your new animal.
Websites for research
http://www.switchzoo.com/zoo.htm
Create your own animal, see descriptions of animals, make
up a story about your animal creation.
http://www.buildyourwildself.com/
Make yourself into an animal and put yourself into an appropriate habitat.
http://www.switchzoo.com/games/habitatgame.htm
Pick an animal and match to correct habitat and landscape.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/paintandmake/indexpaintandmake.htm
Create your own environment. Paint the landscape, drag in animals, plants, sun, clouds etc. Build your own desert, forest, ocean or jungle.
http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/index.html
Create your own eeko creature. Animated voice is really
annoying!
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=28208
How do I (animal) survive lesson.
Evaluation
|
Fair 1 |
Somewhat 2 |
Good 3 |
Exceptional 4 |
Score | |
|
Recording Of Information |
Student barely researched animal and did not have enough detail | Student researched the animal and had little detail | Student resarched the animal and had great detal |
Student researched the animal fully and had great detail |
|
| Cooperation in group | Student did not work well, and did not contribute | Student worked with group, but did not contribute as expected | Student worked with group, and contributed fully | Student worked well in group and contributed to making the project the best it could be |
Conclusion
CONGRATULATIONS!! You have completed your mission! By completing your mission you have helped save the planet Earth! You have shown your understanding of adaptation by creating a unique animal for Earth!