Animal Research Project
Guidelines and Components
ANIMAL RESEARCH (30 points, Formative)
 Using the graphic organizer, you will collect information about your animal.
 Classes will visit the library and computer lab at school to gain information,
but you are welcome to use the internet and the public library to gather
necessary information on their own as well.
 You are required to have at least 3 sources, 1 of which must be a print
source. Print sources can include things such as books, encyclopedias,
magazine articles, etc. You are welcome to have more than 3 sources if
needed to gather your research.
ANIMAL REPORT (40 points, Summative)
 Report should include these parts in this order:
1. Title Page (animal name, student name, science period, picture of
animal)
2. Report – Informational Essay
 Use the graphic organizer you completed for your research for the
format of the report
3. Bibliography – list of sources in alphabetical order.
 Use this citation engine to format your sources:
http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-book
 As you gather information, write down the bibliography information
on the bibliography graphic organizer. Remember, if you are going
to include it in your essay, you must have a source for it!
***You will be typing your report at school***
The report and bibliography should be in a 12 point font
with one inch margins. The title page, report, and
bibliography should be stapled together.
Animal Speech (31 points, Summative)
Students will be giving a speech about the animal they researched. Guidelines
regarding what to include in the speech will come from the original graphic organizer.
You should plan out your speech by writing your main points out on index cards. It is
highly recommended to practice your speech with someone at home before your
assigned speech time in class. Speeches should be between 3-5 minutes long.
Animal Visual (10 points, Formative)
Students will be responsible for creating a visual to display during the speech portion of
the project. This part of the project will be done at home; no specific class time will be
set aside to complete the visual display.
This visual MUST include the following:
 A realistic visual of the animal (picture, model, drawing, sculpture)
 Appropriate biome in which the animal lives
 Other organisms
o At least 1 other animal
o At least one plant
 Nonliving Feature
o At least 2 nonliving features from that environment
 Animal name
 Student’s name
There are several different visuals that students could explore for this portion.
Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Power point slide
- Poster board display
- Movie maker
- Diorama
If you have other ideas, please share with your teacher. We are excited to see your
creativity at work.
If at any time you have questions or concerns, please talk with your teacher.
Keep on pace with the calendar and pace yourself appropriately so you are not
cramming the project in at the last minute.
Here are some websites that have information on animals in general.
If you find other sites that are good, please let me know and
I will add them to this list.
1. http://www.tigerhomes.org/ (Don’t let the name of the web site fool you, they do have
research and link to other animals besides tigers)
2. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/
3. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/coloring/
4. http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/
5. http://sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/
6. http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/
7. http://animal.discovery.com/guides/atoz/atoz.html
8. http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html
9. http://www.defenders.org/index.php
10.http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/mon2.htm
11.http://www.eol.org
12.http://switchzoo.com/animallist.htm great site for scientific names, biomes, life span
13.http://www.worldbookonline.com (you need the username & password to access it from
home)
14.http://earthsendangered.com/
15. http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com
16.http://www.sharks-world.com/
17.http://www.animalfactguide.com/
18.http://worldwildlife.org/
19.http://acsonline.org/education/fact-sheets/ (Whales and Dolphin information)
20.http://crocodilian.com/
21.http://a-z-animals.com/animals/
Research Paper Graphic Organizer
Introduction (Paragraph #1)
Thesis
Statement
The life of the ______________________ is characterized by
its biome, habitat, and survival in its environment.
1.
2.
3.
Describe your
animal. Use
at least 5-6
details and/ or
characteristics.
4.
5.
6.
Description of Biome (Paragraph #2)
Biome
Location
Name and
describe the
biome;
including
locations
and climate.
Climate
Habitat
Describe the
animal’s
specific
habitat.
Survival (Paragraph #3)
What does the animal eat? What type of consumer is the animal?
What type of consumer is the animal?
Diet/ Prey
How does the animal find food?
Enemies
(Predators)
How does the
animal protect
itself?
Family Life (Paragraph #4)
Reproduction and Stages of Life
Reproduction:
Explain the
animal’s
lifecycle and
life span.
How long does it live? (including the animal’s family or pack relationship)
Conclusion (Paragraph #5)
Is the animal endangered and what is being done about it?
Explain at least two other interesting facts about your animal.
Other
interesting
facts
Closing Statement
Bibliography Graphic Organizer
As you get information from different sources, fill in the appropriate bibliography information. Then, use this
page to create a bibliography page. This page should be separate from the essay. Use the following link to
format each individual citation: http://www.citationmachine.net/apa/cite-a-book
Remember:
 You must have at least 3 sources
 At least one of the sources must be a print source
Book
Author’s name:
Title:
Publisher:
Copyright date:
Book
Author’s name:
Title:
Publisher:
Copyright date:
Encyclopedia
Article title:
Encyclopedia title:
Publisher:
Copyright date:
Internet
Author’s name:
Date of website creation:
Title of website:
Web address, URL:
Internet
Author’s name:
Date of website creation:
Title of website:
Web address, URL:
Magazine
Author’s name:
Article title:
Title of magazine:
Date of magazine:
Page numbers:
Name ______________________
Animal Research Rubric
Animal description
Biome named
Biome described
Biome Location(s)
Biome climate (temperature and
precipitation)
Animal’s habitat
Animal eats
Type of consumer
Enemies
Protection
Reproduction
Stages of life
Endangered? What is being done?
2 interesting facts
3 sources (at least 1 print source)
_______/5
_______/1
_______/2
_______/1
_______/2
_______/2
_______/2
_______/1
_______/2
_______/2
_______/1
_______/2
_______/2
_______/2
_______/3
TOTAL _______/30
Animal Research Paper Rubric
Student Name:______________________________________Period:________________
CATEGORY
4 - Above
Standards
3 - Meets
Standards
2 - Approaching
Standards
1 - Below
Standards
Title Page
Title page included without
errors.
1 error in title page
2 errors in title page
No title page included.
The introductory
paragraph includes a
strong attention grabber,
Introduction
details about the animal,
and a thesis statement.
1 part of the
introduction is weak or
missing.
2 parts of the
3 or more parts of the
introduction are weak or introduction are weak
missing.
or missing.
The body paragraphs have The writer has made
followed the correct
1 – 2 errors with
Organization organization: topic
organization
(Paragraphs) sentence, main idea
sentences, and
elaboration sentences.
The writer has made
3 – 4 errors with
organization.
The writer has made
5 or more errors with
organization.
Strong and relevant details Relevant details give
give the reader important the reader important
Elaboration
information and go beyond information.
the obvious.
Weak details give the
reader minimal
information
Details are irrelevant
and/ or lack quality.
A variety of thoughtful
transitions are used
Transitions between sentences and
paragraphs.
Transitions are used
between sentences (but
not a variety) and
between paragraphs.
Transitions are used
There are not enough
only between sentences transitions used.
or paragraphs and not
both.
Conclusion includes
rephrasing of the thesis
Conclusion statement and main idea
and keeps the reader
thinking.
1 part of the conclusion 2 parts of the conclusion 3 or more parts of the
is weak or missing.
are weak or missing.
conclusion are weak or
missing.
Focus
Writer has stayed on topic Writer has strayed from Writer has strayed from
throughout the entire
the topic 1 time.
the topic 2 times.
paper.
Writer has strayed from
the topic 3 or more
times.
Shows personality
Shows personality but
without addressing the addresses the reader.
reader.
Frequently addresses
the reader.
Voice
Engaging word choice
shows personality without
addressing the reader.
(Doesn’t use “In this
paper, I will tell you…”, “I
hope you…”, “Now you
know…”)
Writer makes 3 - 4
errors in grammar,
spelling, capitalization,
or punctuation.
Writer makes 5 - 6
errors in grammar,
spelling, capitalization,
or punctuation.
Writer makes more
than 7 errors in
grammar, spelling,
capitalization,
or punctuation.
2 errors in
documentation or
desired format.
3 or more errors in
documentation or
desired format.
Writer makes 1 – 2 errors
in grammar, spelling,
Conventions capitalization, or
punctuation.
All sources are accurately 1 error in
Bibliography documented in the desired documentation or
format.
desired format.
Total
Point
Earned
____/40
Name ______________________
Animal Visual Rubric
Visual format __________________
0
1
Animal displayed
Animal realistic
Animal not displayed
Animal displayed
Non-realistic aspects of
animal
Biome
Incorrect biome
Living organisms
Nonliving
features
Animal name
Student name
No other animals or
plants present
No nonliving features
present
Animal is
realistically
dislplayed
Biome attempted,
but not all parts
accurate
Only 1 plant or
animal present
1 nonliving feature
present
Animal name not
present
Name not present
Animal name
present
Name present
2
Appropriate biome
Another animal and
plant are present
2 nonliving features
present
Total ______/10
Animal Research Project
Speaking Expectations
Total:
_______/31
Name ________________________________ Animal_________________________________________
I can…
Engagement
___/2

Come to presentation prepared

Be an active speaker
I can field questions to…
Fielding
questions
___/3

Allow for deeper understanding

Maintain focus

Clarify information
I can…
Organization
___/2
Discussion
Animal
Description
Animal
habitat
___/3
___/3
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
State main points of the topic
Yes
No

Organize the information/thoughts
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No

Make eye contact

Use an audible voice

Use proper grammar
I can…
1
Yes
No
Give at least 3 descriptive details about my animal
2
Yes
No
3
Yes
No
I can describe…..
___/3

The biome(s) where the animal lives
Yes
No

The climate where the animal lives
Yes
No

The specific habitat of the animal
Yes
No
I can….
Survival
___/3
Family life
No

I can…
Collegial
Yes

Identify the type of consumer
Yes
No

Give some examples of what the animal eats
No

Identify the enemies
Yes
Yes
No
I can…
___/3

Describe how the animal reproduces
Yes
No

Describe the animal’s stages of life
Yes
No

Identify the animal’s average life span
Yes
No
I can…
Other facts

___/3

Identify if the animal is endangered and what is
being done about it
Yes
Identify at least 2 interesting facts about the
1
Yes
No
2
Yes
No
animal
No
I can....
Visual

Create and display a visual that shows the
animal
___/3

No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Create and display a visual that shows the
biome the animal lives in

Yes
Include my name and the animal name on the
visual display
Comments: