Biology Research Project
Task : Ms. Winter wants to learn more about the many diseases & abnormalities that can occur in
humans, and how they affect various organs & systems in the body. It is your job to choose a
disease / abnormality that can occur in humans, research & learn about it, and then present
your information in a creative way. Choose a topic that truly interests you (or you have been
affected by), but be sure to do some research first to be sure you can cover all components of
this project well.
Your goals are to:
A. Research health problems related to tissues, organs & systems in humans and communicate your
findings
B. Describe the interaction of systems in the human body
C. Explain how different systems within the human body are affected (impacted) by disease /
abnormality
D. Express information and ideas in a creative and original manner
How to do it:

Choose a disease or abnormality: …………………………………..
GALLERY PIECE: Create a visual to help explain your topic


Use any material that you want (play-doh, papier maché, recycled items, etc.) to create your
piece
Be creative, colourful, & original --- use unusual materials to create your work of art
INFORMATIONAL PIECE: Explain your disease and how it affects human organs & systems

Make a brochure, a poster, a Powerpoint presentation, a scrapbook, a collection of songs, do
an oral presentation, etc. to convey your info
 background info about your disease & the systems it affects
 cool/unusual facts that make your disease / abnormality stand out from others
 name at least 2 organ systems affected by your disease
 explain how your disease impacts each organ system
 name any organs that are affected in each system you investigate

Be short, concise & specific (no full sentences or paragraphs, point form only)
Be creative & original! Make your info piece interesting and unique


All facts & info must be in your own words

Submit a reference list with your project
o title of website, URL, date of viewing or book title, author, year of publication
Feedback:
Did I start my project at least two weeks before the due date?
Did I refer to the rubric at least 5 times to complete my project?
Did I add creativity and variety for each part of the project?
Am I happy with my work?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Project choices:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
cancer (be specific)
diabetes (type I or II)
(coronary) heart disease
sickle cell anemia
cystic fibrosis
tuberculosis
meningitis
hypothyroidism
Crohn’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
muscular dystrophy
spina bifida
Student
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
multiple sclerosis
osteoporosis
hepatitis
cerebral palsy
asthma
kidney disease (failure)
mononucleosis
Huntington disease
Down’s syndrome
hemophilia
epilepsy
Turner syndrome
Tay-Sachs disease
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
atherosclerosis
congestive heart failure
chronic traumatic
encephalopathy
PKU
fetal alcohol syndrome
liver disease / cirrhosis
Klienfelter’s syndrome
Marfan’s syndrome
Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease
Hodgkin’s disease
Raynaud’s syndrome
Lupus
Disease / Abnormality
Biology Research Project: Rubric
Name : ______________________________
Criteria
F
Knowledge of
disease
Medical
technologies
used to
diagnose &/or
treat disease
T & I  gallery
piece, graphic
organizer,
reference list
Planning &
Organization
Incomplete
piece description,
graphic organizer
Does not meet minimum
expectations (Incomplete)
K & U  gallery
Referencing of
sources
C  gallery piece
& description,
graphic organizer
Colour
Creativity
Incomplete
Express ideas
in written &
visual form
Use of
scientific
vocabulary
A  gallery piece
Ethical issues
surrounding
diagnosis/
treatment of
disease
Organs &
systems
impacted by
the disease
Incomplete
description,
graphic organizer
Disease/abnormality: _______________________
Level 1
Level 2
Student:
- gives vague
background info
- states 2 ‘cool’ facts
- identifies 2 disease
symptoms
- gives vague,
general treatment
for disease
- gives some relevant
background info
- states 3 ‘cool’ facts
- identifies 3 disease
symptoms
- gives a brief
treatment for the
disease
- gives examples of
medical technology
related to diagnosis
or treatment of
disease
Level 3
- states 4 ‘cool’ facts
- identifies 4 disease
symptoms
- gives examples of
treatment for
disease
- gives examples of
medical tech. and
briefly explains
them
Level 4
- gives relevant
background info
- states 5+ cool facts
- identifies 5+
disease symptoms
- gives several
possible treatments
for disease &
assesses risks of all
- gives examples of
medical tech. for
both diagnosis &
treatment and
explains all
- poorly-organized,
somewhat untidy
- project is organized,
but untidy
- project is wellorganized & tidy
- well laid out, tidy, &
reference list is
attached (i.e. glued)
- consults 3 sources
- references are not
in APA format
- consults 4 sources
- references are in
APA format, but out
of alphabet. Order
- consults 6 sources
- references are in
APA format & in
alphabetical order
- consults 7+ sources
- includes some nonInternet references
- ideas are often
unclear
- weak link between
art piece & disease
- ideas are at times
unclear
- vague link between
art piece & disease
- ideas are mostly
clear
- clear link between
art piece & disease
- lacking colour
- uses 1 unusual
material
- some colour used
- uses 2 unusual
materials
- uses 3 unusual
materials
- ideas are always
clear and concise
- obvious link
between art piece
& disease
- colourful
- uses more than 3
unusual materials
- little use of scientific
vocabulary
- some scientific
vocabulary used,
but terms are
obscure (random)
- scientific vocabulary
used, but some
terms are obscure
(random)
- accurate, frequent
& purposeful use of
scientific vocab.
- glossary of terms
defined in own
words attached
- weak analysis of
ethical issues
- ethical issues
explored, but not
focused on topic
- ethical issues
explained, but in
little detail
- analyses ethical
issues accurately &
in depth
- alternatives/
solutions to ethical
issues identified
- identifies some
affected systems
- attempts to explain
impacts on
systems, but is
inaccurate
- explains impacts on
one system
accurately
- explains impacts on
most systems
accurately
- identifies all
affected systems
- explains impacts on
all systems
accurately