Introduction

You have recently moved to the Mojave Desert and have been hired as researcher to discover how animals adapt to the desert habitat. The information you find will help planners in the Las Vegas area to determine how to best conserve natural resources to preserve animal habitats. You will need to complete research to write a report and develop a slide show presentation that will help city and county planners understand the biological, ecological and behavioral needs of your animal.
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The Task

After groups have chosen animals, each student will be assigned a role of biologist, behaviorist or ecologist. Each role will have the responsibility of finding specific information related to his/her field of study. Below you will find questions to guide you in your research.

Biologist


Ecologist



Behaviorist

Each student will be required to compile his/her notes into a written report to share with his/her group. Once the group has shared their findings, students will evaluate the information found and determine what information needs to be included in the slideshow presentation to help city planners understand the needs of different animals in the environment and how to protect them. Students will work together to design the overall layout of the slideshow. Each student will be required to create at least one slide for the class presentation. Students will give an oral presentation to along with the slide show.
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The Process

1. Each group will choose one animal from a teacher created list.

2. Students will find information about their animal from a variety of sources. Students will need at least one Internet source and one book, magazine, or newspaper article.

3. Students will need to keep track of their sources on a source recording sheet. Notes will be kept on student note page. Notes, resources and all work related to this project will be kept in a research folder.

4. Students will have time to complete research in the library and in the computer lab during the week. Please take notes answering all questions for your role and record any other exciting things you learn about your animal.

5. After completing your notes, each students will write a report describing what they have learned. You will work with your teacher to edit your report.

6. You will share your report with your group, and as a group, decide what information is the most important for your presentation to the city planners. What information about your animal will help the city planners the most in planning construction in undeveloped areas?
Highlight this information so you will remember it for later use.


7.Your group will work together to design the slide show. Each student will need to create at least one slide for your slide show.

8. Your group will present your slide show and present a short oral presentation along with it.

Below are some Internet sites you may use for your research.

Useful Sites for all animal groups are:
Desert Animals Wildlife Index
Habitats
Mammals

Animal Sites:

Desert Tortoises	Bobcat	Bats	Bighorn Sheep	Kangaroo Rat	Gila Monsters
Tortoise Tracks Tortoise Facts Diagram and Facts Desert Animals	Bobcat Facts The Living Desert Desert Animals Enchanted Learning	Enchanted Learning Facts and Video Bats	Enchanted Learning Bighorn Institute	Desert Animals Enchanted Learning	Desert Animals Gila Monster Site Fact Sheet

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Evaluation

You will be given an individual report card based on the rubric below that will tell how well you completed your task.

	Not Yet 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Completes and turns in both a written report and visual assignment	Does not turn in either assignment	Both assignments are late	Student fails to turns in one assignment or one is incomplete	Hands in both assignments on the date they are due, completed
Completes a report that is neatly written using writing conventions (punctuation and paragraph organization).	Report is messy and few writing conventions are used	Report is neatly written but few writing conventions are used	Report is neat and use of writing conventions is evident	Report is neatly written and writing conventions are used habitually
Presents an informative oral presentation and slide show to the class	Does not present material from written report	Oral discussion does not support slide show.	Oral discussion supports slide show but doesn't focus on environmental needs of animal.	Focus is on environmental needs of the animal.
Creates an age-appropriate slide show on assigned animal	Slide show isn't related to the to the desert animal.	Slide show is incomplete.	Slide show is finished.	Project is creative and age-appropriate.
Student enjoyed learing about animals.(Student to circle one)	I didn't like learning about desert animals.	I enjoyed this project somewhat	I liked this project.	This project was great

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Conclusion

After completing this project, you should have a better understanding of animals and their interactions with the environment. You will have developed your ability to find and use information on the Internet and from other sources. You will also have further developed your ability to communicate through written and visual formats.Did working with live animals in the classroom help you understand structures and behaviors of the animals you were researching?

Credits and References

Websites:
Desert USA: http://www.desertusa.com
Foto Clipart: http://www.fotoclipart.com

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