Animal Projects

You’re Hired!

You have been hired

by the Jacksonville Zoo as their animal exhibit designer. A great deal of planning and research goes into creating a zoo habitat. The animal exhibit designer needs to research and be able to present, to the zoo board of directors, a plan for this new animal exhibit.

Assignment You will be given an animal

research packet to guide your research. Use different sources, such as encyclopedias, library books, magazine articles, or the Internet to complete this packet. Include the following information:

• Classification type• Where it lives in the world• Habitat – biome, climate, flora,

fauna• Diet• Adaptations/camouflage • Other animals that could coexist in

this same habitat

Be realistic! Then, use the information you found

during your research to create a three-dimensional model of the proposed zoo exhibit. In the zoo exhibit, you will need to recreate your animal’s natural habitat as closely as possible. Make sure you include a realistic model of the animal, realistic plant life, what they eat, and any other animals that could coexist within this environment. You will present this exhibit to the class. During this presentation, you are only allowed to use note cards. Presentation must be rehearsed and last between 3-5 minutes.

Oral Report

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Time-Limit Presentation is 3-4 minutes long.

Presentation is 2 minutes long.

Presentation is 1 minute long.

Presentation is less than 1 minute OR more than 5 minutes.

Volume Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members throughout the presentation.

Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members at least 90% of the time.

Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members at least 80% of the time.

Volume often too soft to be heard by all audience members.

Speaks Clearly Speaks clearly and distinctly all the time, and mispronounces no words.

Speaks clearly and distinctly most of the time, and mispronounces a few words.

Speaks clearly and distinctly some of the time. Mispronounces more than a few words.

Often mumbles or can not be understood OR mispronounces several words.

Comprehension Student is able to accurately answer almost all questions posed by classmates about the topic.

Student is able to accurately answer most questions posed by classmates about the topic.

Student is able to accurately answer a few questions posed by classmates about the topic.

Student is unable to accurately answer questions posed by classmates about the topic.

The Three-Dimensional Exhibit

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Accuracy of Content

All information in the exhibit is correct.

Most of information in the exhibit is correct.

Some of information in the exhibit is correct.

Little or none of information in the exhibit is correct.

Attractiveness

All of the models and graphics are realistic and have visual appeal.

Most of the models and graphics are realistic and have visual appeal.

Some of the models and graphics are realistic and have visual appeal.

Little or none of the models or graphics are realistic and have little or no color.

Knowledge Gained

The student could easily and correctly state many facts about the topic used for the exhibit without looking at it.

The student could easily and correctly state several facts about the topic used for the exhibit without looking at it.

The student could easily and correctly state 1-2 facts about the topic used for the exhibit without looking at it.

The student could not correctly state facts about the topic used for the exhibit without looking at it.

The Research Packet

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Quality of Information

Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.

Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.

Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given.

Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.

Organization Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings.

Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs.

Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed.

The information appears to be disorganized.

Amount of Information

All topics are addressed and all questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.

All topics are addressed and most questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.

All topics are addressed, and most questions answered with 1 sentence about each.

One or more topics were not addressed.

The Forest Biome

The Rainforest Biome

Water Biome