Ecology Final Project

For this project, you may work alone or in groups of two.  This project will make up a large portion of the final six weeks grade.  Make sure that you follow the instructions and complete each task.  Good luck!

The world around us is full of exiting creatures; and it is up to us to make sure that todays living animals are still here tomorrow.  With this project, you will research different animals of your choice, and will explore the life that they live.  There is a lot of work that will need to be done, and some of the work will take several days even weeks to figure out, but if you put your mind too it, I know this will be done well, and on time.

ADVICE:  Whenever you use a book, magazine, Internet, etc., Make sure that you copy down all of the information for that source then, so you will not have to do so later on.

Step one:  (Quiz Grade)

• Make a list of five animals that you find interesting.  (Mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, amphibians)  Hint.  Domestic animals are very hard to research.   You will generally find more information on wild animals.
• Look up the Scientific name for each
• Look up the general distribution and habitat of each
• Make an index card for each of the five animals you chose and the information that you gathered. 
• Place the name of both students working on this project on each card.
• A suggestion will be made by the teacher as to the animal you should choose

Step Two:  (Quiz Grade)

• Answer the following questions about your animal using books and magazines only.

1.      What is the Family Genus and species of your animal?

2.      Give a full description of your animal (color, size, markings, etc.)

3.      What is the status of you animal (game species, protected, endangered, threatened, etc.)?

4.      What is the Birthrate of your animal?

5.      What is the habitat of your animal?

6.      What animals are closely related to your animal (will have the same Family and Genus but not species)?

7.      What are the natural predators of your animal?

8.      What is your animal a natural predator to?

9.      What other information can you find on your animal?

10.  What impact to the world would occur or has occurred if your animal became or has become endangered or extinct?

Step Three:  Lab Grade

Create a report, sharing the information that you found.  The report must meet the following criteria

• 1200 1500 words for a one person group, 1500 1800 words for a two person group (use the tool button and word count to help)
• Must be Typed (a font of 12 is the best)
• All questions in step two must be answered in the paper
• The paper must either have a bibliography or a works cited page, giving credit to the authors that assisted your research
• Must have at least 4 book sources, one magazine or newspaper source and 3 Internet sources.  You may not use any more than 5 Internet sources
• MUST BE HANDED IN ON THE ASSIGNED DATE.  Fifteen points will be subtracted from the grade that you received on your paper for each day after the due date up to three days.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  To avoid any problems, TURN THE PAPER IN EARLY.

Step Four:  Test Grade

Create and present a PowerPoint presentation for the class to see

• Must have 18 slides for one person groups and 36 for two person groups
• Slide one must have the names of the students who did the project, and the topic.
• You need to have 10 slides with pictures of your animal for groups of one, and 20 for groups of two.  In the presentation you will need to explain what the picture is showing.
• Each group must have graphs that they created showing changes in food, population, habitat, territory etc.  5 slides for groups of one and 10 slides for groups of two.
• The remaining slides can be filled with information about the animal

You will be given the equivalence of two-90 minute blocks in the library and two-90 minute blocks in the Computer lab for research.  You will also be given a block and a half to be used for time to type.

Several assignment checks will be given for homework grades, to make sure that you are keeping up with the project.