Animals project update

Today, students are bringing home the project description, a list of helpful web sites, and the rubric (marking scheme).

For now, students are tasked with CHOOSING THEIR ANIMAL by Thursday of this week. They are NOT to begin the project. The written portion of the project will come home in chunks as homework.

In case your child loses the documents coming home... here it all is:

Grade 2 Science Project – Animals

Project is due in class on Monday, December 12^th.

As part of our unit on animals, the students will be making a diorama in class. The purpose of this activity is that they begin to understand the process of inquiry (research) and that they develop and share some knowledge about a particular animal.

For this project, you are to research an animal of your choice (I will approve the animal and let you know what it is).

Part 1 – Report (Do NOT use translation tools)

Your report must include:

Cover Page

Your cover page needs to have the following:

1. Title
2. Illustration of your animal in its natural habitat in colour (your own artwork only).
3. Your name and the date.

Main Report (to be completed at HOME)

1.             Introduction – explain why you chose this animal (1 or 2 lines).
2.       Research about your animal under the following headings:

·       Appearance (including to which animal group it belongs – mammal etc.)

·       Habitat

·       Diet

·       Life Cycle

·       Adaptation to the Environment

·       Interesting Facts

Your report should be 1 to 2 pages long. You may use library books, class books and the internet to research your animal.

Part 2 - Presentation to the class

Short presentation (2-3 minutes) telling us what you have learned about your animal. Don’t read your research, just tell us what you know.

Part 3 – Diorama (to be completed at SCHOOL)

Students will be given class time over the next few weeks, to create a diorama.  Each student must bring in a shoe-box.  Please help your child gather materials (e.g. a fish might need items to represent shells, seaweed, other marine animals etc. and a lion might need items to represent a savannah, rocks, grasses, sand etc.  Nature images cut out from magazines could make for a lovely background.) I can supply paper, paint, glue, and a few additional materials.  Each important element of the diorama needs to be labeled. These elements include:

•      The animal
•           Items of importance in its habitat (e.g. ice, or rainforest).
•         Prey
•        What preys on the animal

Students will create a title for their diorama e.g. Zebras by Jimmy Carson, Grade 2. This title will be pasted to the front of their diorama so that we may all appreciate each student’s hard work!

Below are some examples of what a diorama looks like:

Useful websites:

FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/

http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/

http://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/amazing-animal-facts-for-kids/

FOR TRANSLATING WORDS:

http://www.wordreference.com/

www.reverso.com

Please remember not to use translation tools such as (but not limited to) Google Translate. It is important that your child try to make sentences him/herself. I am not looking for perfection but for effort. Thanks!

Grade 2 Science Project – Animals

RUBRIC

	Level 1      (D)	Level 2      (C)	Level 3      (B)	Level 4      (A)
Knowledge of content	Demonstrates limited knowledge of content.	Demonstrates some knowledge of content.	Demonstrates considerable knowledge of content.	Demonstrates thorough knowledge of content.
Understanding	Demonstrates limited understanding of content.	Demonstrates some understanding of content.	Demonstrates considerable understanding of content.	Demonstrates thorough understanding of content.
Creativity	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with limited care or creativity.	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with some care or creativity.	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with considerable care or creativity.	Produces works of art that express ideas inspired by observations of nature with great care and creativity.
Written communication TRANSLATION TOOLS ARE NOT PERMITTED!	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with limited effectiveness.	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with some effectiveness.	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with considerable effectiveness.	Uses conventions, vocabulary, and terminology about animals with a high degree of effectiveness.
Written presentation	Written work is not neat and tidy or well-organized, and does not demonstrate that a good effort has been made.	Written work is somewhat neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates some degree of effort.	Written work is neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates a good effort.	Written work is extremely neat and tidy, well-organized, and demonstrates a great deal of effort.
Research	Little evidence of research.	Some evidence of research. Research is accurate/some categories are complete.	Project is researched and accurate. Most categories are complete.	Project is researched and accurate. All categories are complete.
Oral presentation	Presentation is not serious and/or very little information is shared with the class.	Presentation is serious but little information is shared with the class, or vice versa.	Presentation is serious and some information is shared with the class.	Presentation is serious and much information is shared with the class.
Attentitive listening/ respect	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with limited effectiveness.	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with some effectiveness.	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with considerable effectiveness.	Demonstrates appreciation appropriately as an audience member, with a high degree of effectiveness.