Learning Goals
Students will be able to define the needs of a selected animal and the criteria and constraints for its model habitat by explaining how food, water, shelter, space, and warmth help the animal survive.
Students will be able to analyze observations from informational texts, images, and San Diego Zoo examples to explain how an animal’s fur, feet, color, body shape, or behavior helps it survive in its habitat.
Students will be able to generate and evaluate two habitat plans and an animal-inspired solution to a human need using picture-based criteria, constraints, and evidence rather than personal preference.
Students will be able to prototype, test, and improve an animal-habitat diorama by counting the criteria it meets and revising at least one feature in response to test results and San Diego Zoo feedback or examples.
Students will be able to communicate habitat research and design evidence through labeled drawings, pictures, writing or dictation, sequenced building instructions, and an oral explanation of how features keep an animal safe, warm, or fed.
Students will be able to collaborate in making and revising a habitat design by listening to peers, sharing materials and decisions, completing a role, and reflecting on how feedback affected the team’s solution.
Products
Animal Habitat Engineering Notebook and Design Explanation
Each student creates a picture-supported notebook containing research observations, two annotated habitat concepts, a simple comparison chart, an adaptation-inspired human solution, building steps, test evidence, and a revision reflection. The student uses the notebook to give an individual stop-and-think explanation of how the proposed features keep the animal safe, warm, or fed.
Tested Animal Habitat Diorama and Project Night Zoo Presentation
Teams build a scientifically accurate animal-and-habitat diorama from evaluated individual concepts, test it with a visible criteria checklist, and revise at least one feature after examining San Diego Zoo photos or a message. At Project Night, every student points to evidence in the model and explains its performance, design trade-offs, revision, and limitations.
No rubric has been generated yet.