Extra! Extra!
A New Creature Is Revealed!!
What makes a mammal a mammal? What makes a reptile a reptile? In order to answer these questions you will be creating a fictional creature that would fit into one of the groups of vertebrates. You will write about your creature as well as construct a 3-dimensional model (to be done at home). You will reveal your new creature by creating a newsletter to share with the class.
Step 1
You will need to identify the following information about your animal:
| Classification (which group of vertebrates to which your animal belong) |
| Habitat/Biome |
| Adaptations necessary to live in your choice of habitat |
| An example of a food chain including your animal (The other animals must be real ones!) |
| A physical description of your animal |
In order to organize your data, use the Create A Creature Data Sheet
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Mammal Characteristics:
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| Monkeys |
To find out more about mammals, visit the following website:
| Earthlife Mammal Characteristics |
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Reptile Characteristics:
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| Komodo Dragon |
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Bird Characteristics:
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| Parrot |
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Fish Characteristics:
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| Fish |
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Amphibian Characteristics:
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| Tree Frog |
To learn more about vertebrates, visit the following websites:
| Kidport Animal Index-Vertebrates |
| Enchanted Learning Vertebrate Index |
| McGraw Hill Textbook Info. |
| FactMonster |
Step 2
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Once you have created your animal, choose a habitat for your fictional animal to live in. To explore all the biomes of the world, visit some of the these websites:
| Enchanted Learning Biomes |
| Earth Floor: Biomes |
| Earth Observatory Biomes |
| Blue Planet World Biomes |
| Biomes of World |
Step 3
As you are exploring the biomes, be sure to consider what adaptations your animal will need to live there. Also, collect information about what other animals live in this biome so that you can complete the food chain. Use the links below to get explanations, ideas, and examples of both adaptations and food chains.
| McGraw Hill Adaptations |
| Adaptation Information with Examples |
| Enchanted Learning Food Chains |
| McGraw Hill Food Chains |
| Information, Definitions, and Examples for Food Chains |
Step 4
Once you have explored all the information in creating your animal and have completed the Create A Creature Data Sheet, use the newsletter template to write the article about this new animal.
Remember...
Remember to follow your teacher's directions to save your work as a new document in the correct folder.
Be sure to check over your work to make sure you have followed all of the directions. You may look at the rubric your teacher will use to grade your project.
Are you done?
When your newsletter is complete, raise your hand so your teacher can check your work. Once you have done this, you may use the links below to test your knowledge of vertebrates.
| Classifying Critters- Test Your Knowledge |
| Food Chain Games |
Be Creative and Have Fun!
Last Updated June 25, 2007
Created by:
Kim West k_swest@comcast.net
Julia Zimmerman jjzimmerman@loyola.edu
Kristin Milito stingray8888@hotmail.com
| Class PROJECTS |