Helpful websites for animal and biome research.
mbgnet.net
Denverzoo.org
blueplanetbiomes.org
kidsgeo.com
Groilers New Book of Knowledge acessed through the Sandburg Library webpage
enchantedlearning
User Name - Sandburg
Password - 6900
Sandiegozoo.org
Field Trip Information
Wildlife Experience - April 9th from 9:15 to 1:45 The cost is $8.75 for students and $5.00 for chaparons. Please pack an easy to eat sack lunch.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science - April 18th from 9:15 to 1:45. The cost is $3.50 for students. Chaparons are free. Please pack a sack lunch.
Denver Zoo - May 15th from 9:15 to 1:45. The cost is $8.50 for students and $5.00 for chaparons. If you are chaperoning and would like to go through the main gate with your child and use your pass please contact me. Please wear sunscreen and bring a sack lunch and water bottle. Please do not send any extra spending money as the students will not be aloud to purchas anything while at the zoo.
Class Projects
The students are currently learning all about the biomes of the world and doing research to write a feature article on their chosen biome. When done they will invent biome board games and will have the opportunity to make an ABC book on animal adaptations or an integrated biome art piece.
Each student has also picked an animal that lives at the Denver Zoo and will learn all about it.
While at the zoo,the students will lead their group to the animal they are an expert on and give a brief presentation about that animal. The presentation needs to be just 5 memorized facts about the animal, followed by a chance for the group to ask questions. They will write the facts at school and bring them home to practice so they are ready to share them at the zoo.
Our goal is to have the students do several writing pieces with their animal as the focus, or written from the animal's point of view as well. These will including an interesting fact paragraph, a zoo observation paragraph, a how to survive piece, and a couple of fiction pieces. For fiction pieces they will get to choose at least two of the following; a comic strip, a letter, a poem or a story.
We will also be doing a diorama project which will be created at home.
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The following elements must be included in the project either as models or pictures:
Your name
The animal’s name
The animal
Plants found in the animal’s biome
A food the animal eats
Shelter for the animal
A predator or prey
The world map (see below for details)
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Color the world map provided to indicate where their animal lives. Choose any color, other than green or blue, and color the land or ocean areas where the animal is found with that color. Color the rest of the land green. Color the rest of the ocean blue. The map should be attached to the side or back of the diorama.
Animal Research Diorama Project Rubric
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4 Advanced
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3 Proficient
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2 Partially Proficient
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1 Unsatisfactory
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Animal Name
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The name is neat and displayed in a creative way.
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The name is neat and easy to read.
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The name is hard to read.
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No name included.
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The Animal
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The animal is the main focus of the project and is creatively displayed.
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The animal is the main focus of the project.
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It is hard to recognize the animal in the project.
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The animal is not included.
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Plants in Biome
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At least 3 different plants from the biome are displayed.
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At least 2 different plants from the biome are displayed.
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1 plant from the biome is displayed.
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Plants from the biome are not included.
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Food Source
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The food fits into the project in a clear and meaningful way.
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The food source is clearly displayed.
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There is no clear food source displayed.
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A food source is not included.
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Shelter
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The shelter fits into the project in a clear and meaningful way.
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The shelter is clearly displayed.
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There is no clear shelter displayed.
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Shelter is not included.
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Predator or Prey
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The predator or prey fits into the project in a clear and meaningful way.
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The predator or prey is clearly displayed.
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There is no clear predator or prey displayed.
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Neither predator nor prey is included.
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World Map
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The map is neatly colored showing the animal’s biome, additional areas are labeled.
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The map is neatly colored showing the animal’s biome.
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The coloring makes it difficult to tell where the animal’s biome is.
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The map is not colored or is not included
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Biome Feature Article Rubric
4 3 2 1
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I have all 10 required elements of the project plus an optional unique hand drawn diagram that was thoughtfully chosen and enhances the project.
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I have all 10 required elements of the project.
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I am missing 1-2 required elements of the project.
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I am missing more than 2 of the required elements of the project.
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I have an engaging lead paragraph that includes a hook that excites my reader. I also have a meaningful concluding paragraph that sums up my research in a thoughtful way.
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I have a lead paragraph and a concluding paragraph.
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I have a topic sentence and a concluding sentence.
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I am missing a topic sentence or a concluding sentence.
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I have 4 thoughtfully written paragraphs about 4 different topics of my choice.They are formatted correctly and I did my best to make sure there were no errors.
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I have 3 paragraphs about 3 different topics.
I teach about climate and plant and animal adaptations.
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I am missing 1 paragraph that was required.
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I am missing more than 1 of the required paragraphs.
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I have 4 or more photos with captions that share new information.
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I have 3 photos with captions.
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I only have 1- 2 photos with captions or captions are missing.
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I did not include any photos.
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I included my bibliography in the correct format.
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I included my bibliography but did not follow the format.
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I have an incomplete bibliography.
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I did not include my bibliography
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I have a computer generated timeline, graph, or chart. It really shows that I put thought into what I wanted to tell in this type of format and possibly did further research.
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I have a computer generated timeline, graph, chart, or picture. I had a draft and did my best to format the design to look right in my project.
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I have a computer generated timeline, graph, chart, or picture, but it is unclear what information I am trying to explain.
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I do not have a computer generated timeline, graph, or chart.
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My project is neatly done. You could tell I took my time and put in my best effort to make it a project I am really happy to show-off.
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My project is neatly done. There are some elements that seem rushed or I did not take the time to draft the layout before I glued.
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I did not use my best effort to put together a project I am really proud to show-off. I rushed at the end instead of mapping out my goals.
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I did not use my best effort to put together a project that I am really proud to show-off. I rushed to get it turned in.
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