Tasks |
Teams will sign up for their topic phylum or class using sign up sheets on counters around the classroom. Once the topic is chosen your team will choose roles for the day. One will be the research specialist and the other will be the recorder. These roles will be switched every day to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to operate the computers. The research specialist's job is to operate the computer and browse the Internet. The recorders job is to take notes in the groups scientific notebook.
Your team will start researching your phylum/class characteristics. Identify a minimum of five major characteristics of your phylum or class. The links page provides useful links to Internet resources for animals and classification. Remember, all notes need to be made in your scientific notebook using the specified format.
Here you are to find at least three examples of organisms in your phylum/class. Make sure you can identify each organisms habitat and niche.
Habitat = where the organism lives
Niche = what the organisms does to survive in its environment (biotic and abiotic interactions may include behavior, relevance to humans and relationships in nature)
Note: While researching this information keep in mind that you will have to be very specific in explaining one of your three organisms (the focus species). Now would be the time to start deciding which organism offers the most information for further research.
Choose one of your three example species to research further. Here are some things to look for:
Taxonomic outline:
Be able to identify its kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.
Characteristics
Describe its physical characteristics.
What are its sources of food?
What special adaptations does the organism have that enable it to survive in its environment?
Habitat
Where in the world does it live?
Identify the biome or ecosystem the organism lives in.
Where specifically does it live in the biome or ecosystem?
What are the non-living factors that make up its environment?
Community
What other organisms make up its community?
Identify at least ten and make a food web showing where your particular organism fits in.
Why is your organism important to the community?
Relevance to humans or endangered species or mythological lore
How does this organism affect humans, directly or indirectly? How do humans affect this organism, directly or indirectly?
or Is this an endangered species? Explain why and what is being done about it.
or is there any mythological lore associated with this organism? (example: mermaid stories are based on the endangered manatee)
Once you have all the necessary information for your project, it is time to make a prototype of your project in your scientific notebook. Your team needs to design a logical layout for your project. Make a visual layout that shows the order that information will be presented in your project. Which pictures will you use, where will they go, and where will you include text?
Then, starting on the next page, write out the exact text to be included in your project. If you are creating a visual display, you will also need to include a list of materials needed.
Finally, create a works cited document. In your notes, you cited the sources you used to find your information. In your works cited document only cite those sources you actually used for your rough draft. This must be included in your final draft to receive a grade.
Click here to view an example of a works cited document. Note: This example only shows works cited for online sources. Use MLA format for all other types of citations. This can be found in your student handbook. Or look at the links page for some useful sites that help with MLA formatting.
When your rough draft is complete, submit it for grading.
If your final project is a website, see Task 7a.
If your final project is a visual display, see Task 7b.
Finally the fun part. Using Microsoft Publisher, you will create your website. Start by opening Microsoft Publisher and choosing the option create web page. We have used this before, but it may be useful to use the project wizard in publisher to develop your site.
Saving your website:
In Microsoft Publisher click on the File menu. Then click on Create Web Site From Current Publication. This reformats your document to make it into a web page. When this process is complete enter the File menu again and click on Save as Web Page. Skip to Task 8
Using your materials and rough draft, create your final draft.
Use the appropriate rubric to grade your project as a team. When you are finished, give the form to another group and have them evaluate your project. Be open to suggestions. If the other group does not like something, make sure you get suggestions on how it can be improved. Use these suggestions to improve your project.
Turn in your team's rubric with both your team evaluation and peer evaluation completed. If your project is a website, I will then download your website onto my memory device and upload it to the class website.
Click on your class to view completed projects. Only the submitted phyla or classes will be activated.
Note: Completed projects will be located here once they are submitted to the instructor.