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CREATE-A-CLADOGRAM POSTER
Directions:
You are a scientist who has discovered a group of 8 new animal species, none of which have scientific
names as of yet. You are working with a group of other scientists in your field (your table groups) to
name these 8 species and show their relatedness to each other using their derived traits. You are
expected to present your results through a cladogram to researchers from other parts of the world (your
classmates) on a poster.
PHASE 1: Create your own DATA TABLE
EXAMPLE Data Table:
Shark
Species
Bullfrog
Kangaroo
Human
Characters
Vertebrae
X
X
X
X
Two Pairs of Limbs
X
X
X
Mammary Glands
X
X
Placenta
X
1. Create a list of at least 8 derived characters (traits) in the data table below.
2. Using those 8 characters, you will develop 8 hypothetical animals. Your animals will have different
numbers of those derived characters or traits. For each species, mark the data table with an X if
that species has that characteristic.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure that all 8 of your species share one character in common. Then make
sure 7 of your species have 7 characters in common. Six of your species should have 6 characters in
common and so on. (Refer to the Example Data Table above to see the pattern).
Your DATA TABLE:
Species
Derived
Characters
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
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PHASE 2: Create your own VENN DIAGRAM
Example VENN DIAGRAM
3.
Use the Venn diagram template below to transfer your characters from the data table and organize
your own Venn diagram. Start with the character that is shared by all the animals on the outside,
then make smaller circles inside the diagram, moving towards the character that is shared by the
least amount of animals. Inside each box, write the animals that have only that set of characters.
(See example above).
Your VENN DIAGRAM:
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PHASE 3: Create your own CLADOGRAM
Example CLADOGRAM:
4. Transfer your Venn diagram into the cladogram template below and share it with the teacher (see
example above). When approved, copy your cladogram onto a larger piece of paper to create your
poster.
Your CLADOGRAM:
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PHASE 4: Create your POSTER
5. Give proper scientific names to your hypothetical animal species – be sure to develop at least
three different genuses in your group of 8 animals. Format the scientific names correctly
(capitalization, italics). See the chart in your OneNote for Latin and Greek words that may describe
your animals.
6. Illustrate your animals on separate sheets of paper, either by drawing or finding images on the
Internet (must be large enough to see traits used for your cladogram). When finished, glue them to
the front of your poster on the cladogram.
7. On your poster, you will include a paragraph for each animal species that explains how the traits
may have changed in each different species of animal, according to relatedness in your cladogram.
Write a description of for each of your animals that includes their characters and how they have
changed.
In addition to the character descriptions, include the following information in your descriptions
for each animal:
a. What kinds of foods do your animals eat (prey)?
b. What other animals eat your animals (predators)?
c. Where do your animals like to live (habitat)?
d. What special role, if any, does your animal’s trait have on its survival?
8. Glue the description paragraphs for each animal species on the back of your poster. Be sure to
include the scientific names on your descriptions!
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Names:_________________________________________
Period__________
Group Members You Are Scoring:___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cladogram Poster Rubric (Total out of 50 pts):
Category
Paragraph
Descriptions
(10)
Excellent (10 pts)
Good (7 pts)
Fair (5 pts)
Most to all paragraphs describe
how characteristics have changed
Paragraphs describe how
Most paragraphs are incomplete in
characteristics have changed between species. Paragraphs
describing how characteristics
may be lacking in descriptions of
between species, and also
have changed between species.
include detailed descriptions of what their animals eat, their
Descriptions of what their animals
predators, their habitat, and if
what their animals eat, their
eat, their predators, their habitat,
predators, their habitat, and if characteristics serves a special
and if characteristics serve a
characteristics serves a special role.
special role are incomplete.
role.
All traits are present and on the
Work contains a few technical
cladogram. Work is clear,
Cladogram
errors, is hard to understand, is
complete, and easy to
Accuracy (10)
slightly incomplete, and/or is
understand and contains few
missing traits
technical errors.
Clear drawings of the animals Illustrations are clear, but a few
Animal
are present, demonstrate strong animals are missing, effort is
Drawings (10) effort, and clearly show the traits inconsistent, and/or some traits
corresponding to the cladogram. are missing from the drawing.
Creativity,
Originality,
Work is neat, creative and
Work demonstrates effort, but is
Neatness,
demonstrates strong effort.
slightly messy and rushed.
Effort (10)
Scientific
Names (10)
Work is understandable, but is
incomplete and contains many
technical errors.
Poor (0 pts)
Paragraphs
are absent
from
cladogram
Cladogram is
completely
inaccurate.
Illustrations are significantly lacking Illustrations
in completeness and effort, are not are absent.
understandable, and are missing
traits.
Work is
Work looks rushed, unfinished or missing,
messy.
illegible or
was copied.
Names are significantly lacking in
Names are written correctly and Names are present, but lacking in
Names are
correctness or completeness.
are present for all organisms. correctness or completeness.
absent.
Comments: