THE ANIMAL ADAPTATION/BIOME PROJECT
In class we have been learning about how organisms are classified, how animals interact in their environment,
and how organisms have various adaptations to survive. Your job will be to CREATE AN ORIGINAL
ANIMAL and PLACE IT IN A REAL BIOME ENVIRONMENT.
Pick from the following biomes: temperate deciduous forest; chaparral; taiga (coniferous forest/boreal); tundra;
temperate grassland, savanna; tropical rainforest; desert; saltwater (pick a zone), freshwater or estuary
THERE WILL BE A WRITTEN PAPER, AN ART PART, AND AN ORAL PRESENTATION IN THIS
PROJECT.
The paper is worth 100 points and will be graded for content and writing mechanics.
The art part (the drawing) is worth 100 points and the oral presentation is worth 25 points.
PAPER DIRECTIONS:
• Regular writing skills, grammar, and spelling will apply and will be graded along with the content and
your ideas.
• Use of introductory and concluding paragraphs, a “hook”, and transition sentences between paragraphs
will be expected. Introduction and conclusion paragraphs are separate from the body paragraphs.
• Paper should be typed in a “normal” font in size 12 type double spaced (not bold)– black ink. (If you
cannot print a copy see me three days before the due date and I will tell you what you need to do in that case.)
• A separate title page will be required. It must have the animal’s common name and biome and continent
where it lives, your name, core, and a colored illustration- can be hand drawn.
• A reference page will also be required at the end of the paper. Make sure as you do any research you
accurately record your sources. Use the format in your planner.
• I will be collecting your notes at set due dates to check your progress. This will be for a grade.
• Use the note sheets provided for your research. If you need more space attach your own paper.
• We will work on the introductory paragraph in class. Make any corrections for the final paper copy.
• Correct and fix any missing or inaccurate information from your notes in your final paper
BEGINNING STEPS:
•• Make up an imaginary animal and give it a common and scientific name.
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The scientific name of the animal including the genus, and species. You will make up the genus and
species but I will give bonus for actual Latin or Greek prefixes or suffixes and/or root words. An
explanation of terms in your final biome paper must be included in order to receive bonus.
Decide what biome and what continent that biome is located. If an ocean creature, which ocean and zone.
On Notes Part One – make up the information about your imaginary animal. Make sure your write
complete descriptions. See me if you have a question over a part.
Sketch out what your animal looks like and point out the adaptations and their function (what they are
used for)
NEXT STEP:
•• This is where you need actual true information. You will need to do some research. Remember to cite your
source when you find the information. (For your reference page)
•
Animal’s habitat – where specifically does it live in that biome (ex: by a stream, in the canopy. etc.)
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The climate (temperature and precipitation – actual numbers, and seasons-name the ones they have)
(water biomes- zone and water temperature in that zone)
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Terrain (what the land looks like) of the biome. Characteristics of that biome.
(If a water biome, characteristics of that zone.)
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Common SPECIFIC WILD plants found in the same biome area. Need specific species name. (Bonus for
each real scientific name spelled correctly) If not specific will need to redo it. I will check!
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Common SPECIFIC WILD animals found in the same biome area. Need specific species name. (Bonus
for each real scientific name spelled correctly) If not specific will need to redo it. I will check!
ART PART DIRECTIONS (100 points):
You will be making a drawing of your animal in its habitat. You must:
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Color your drawing. Regular drawing rules apply – no regular pencil anywhere.
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The drawing must fill the page and include its habitat/biome as the background- no “white space”.
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Title your drawing with the common name and scientific name of your animal and its biome name.
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Label the 5 adaptations and draw an arrow to which body structure (part) is used for that adaptation.
Include the name of the body part in the label.
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Draw, color, and label the 3 specific plants and 3 specific animals you included in your paper
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Neatness, completeness, creativity
SPEECH DIRECTIONS: (25 POINTS)
You will be giving a speech about:
• animal’s common and scientific name and its biome and habitat in the that biome (introduction sentences)
• 3 adaptations of your animal – form and function
• 2 real plants and 2 real animals that actually share your animal’s biome
• introduction and concluding sentences as per the single page speech direction/rubric sheet – to follow
A speech of 2” in length is fine. You can have one (1) 3” X 5” note card for reference. You may use Art Part
during the speech if you wish. Content and presentation will be graded.
ANIMAL ADAPTATION/BIOME PROJECT Due Dates (student/parent copy)
Part One:
Notes for part one due (30 points): _______________
Part Two:
Notes for part two due (30 points): __ _____________
FINAL PROJECT:
Final written portion due (100 points): __ _______________
Drawing picture due (100 points): ___ ______________
Speech (25 points): __ ______________________________
ANY PART MAY BE TURNED IN SOONER THAN THE DUE DATE- except
the speech
NOTES WILL BE GRADED AND RETURNED TO HELP WRITE THE
FINAL PAPER- make any corrections for the final products
Child’s name (print)___________________________________________
Parent Signature______________________________________________
(5 points bonus)
NAME_________________
BIOME PAPER
_____________A. TITLE PAGE (5 POINTS)
(Animal’s name & biome/cont (or ocean/zone). •Student name •class/core •Colored illustration)
_____________B. BODY STRUCTURE - (15 POINTS - description)
• Skeleton type
• Body Covering
• Temperature regulation
• Obtain energy
• Growth and development
• Interactions – (symbiotic relationship? and within species)
_____________C. CLASSIFICATION - Scientific name. correct form(5 points)
_____________D. ADAPTATIONS - (15 POINTS - 5 required)(• form• function • description)
_____________E. CLIMATE (10 POINTS)
(Land biome name: •Seasons •Temperature Ranges (numbers) •Precipitation (numbers) •Terrain)
or (Water biomes: biome name • zone • water temperature at that zone • Characteristics of zone)
_____________F. SPECIFIC HABITAT in biome (2 POINTS)
____________ G. WILD PLANTS in that specific biome (9 points) (3 required)
• _____ Specific Plants
• Content quality
____________ H. WILD ANIMALS in that specific biome (9 points) (3 required)
• _____Specific Animals • Content quality
_____________I. NEATNESS and TYPING (5 points) Title Page and Paper, double space,
size 12, “normal” font, no bold
____________ J. OTHER ITEMS (20 POINTS)
• SPELLING
• GRAMMAR/PUNCTUATION
• CORRECT PAPER FORMAT
•• PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT
•• INTRODUCTION STEPS, “hook”
•• TRANSITIONS between each paragraph
•• CLOSING SUMMARIZING PARAGRAPH
_____________K. REFERENCE LIST (5 points)-CORRECT FORMAT-use planner
TOTAL POINTS:___________/100 POINTS
Bonus:_________
ART PART
NAME_______________________________
TITLE
(Biome & continent or ocean & zone, animal’s common name and scientific name)
0_______1_______________2_______________3_______________4_______________5
None
ALL part
SPELLING
0_______1_______________2_______________3_______________4_______________5
No labels
Many mistakes
2-3 spelling mistakes
No words missed
ADAPTATION REPRESENTATION
(complete adaptation part named, use for part, arrows)
0_____ 1______2______3______4______5______6______7______8______9______10
None shown Little evidence
Adequate
Strong evidence
Number of Appropriate Animals (three plus your created animal)
(4 required)
0__1___2____3___4___5___6____7___8___9___10___11___12__13__14___15
Correct Wild Animal Labels
(label each animal-label the wild animals that live with your created one- 3 required)
0___1______2______3______4______5______6______7______8______9____10
Number of Appropriate Plants
(3 required)
0 __1____2____3___4____5___6___7___8___9____10___11___12__13__14___15
Correct Wild Plant Labels
(label each - 3 required )
0 ___1_____2______3_____4______5_____6_____7______8______9______10
NEATNESS
1______2______3______4______5______6______7______8______9______10
Little evidence
Adequate
Strong evidence
COLORFUL
(including no “white space”)
1______2______3______4______5______6______7______8______9______10
Little evidence
Adequate
Strong evidence
CREATIVITY
1______2______3______4______5______6______7______8______9______10
Little evidence
Adequate
Strong evidence
Total points _______________/100 points