First Trimester Homework Project:

Animal Report, Diorama, Presentation

Final Due Date: October 23rd, 2017

Part One: Research and Graphic Organizer

Each student has selected or been assigned an animal to research. Focusing on their animal,
students will research and complete their graphic organizer at home. Students will write and
publish their report in class. Each week students will work on part of the graphic organizer. Please
follow the due dates on the graphic organizer. Each section will be checked by the classroom
teacher following the dates provided.

Part Two: Diorama

DIRECTIONS

Objective: To help students learn about animals, their habitats, and adaptations they need to survive.

Project: Each student will create a diorama (a scenic representation in which sculpted figures and lifelike
details are displayed) showing their selected species of animal in a three dimensional representation of its
habitat. To create the diorama project a shoe box or other small box may be used as the space for the
animal’s home or territory. Students may use a plastic or vinyl toy for their animal, or mold one from clay.
Materials such as magazines (for photos), silk or plastic plants, Popsicle sticks, toothpicks, glue, construction
paper, and other craft items may be used. Creativity is encouraged!

Diorama: “a life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature”

HOW TO MAKE A DIORAMA
1. Find a box at least as big as a shoe box - a slightly larger box works even better. Cover the outside of
the box with construction paper.
2. Decide on a scale. This is key, because a diorama becomes believable to the extent that it looks
"real." If you've got a focus (plastic animal), use that scale.
3. Collect your materials - animal figures, palm trees or sugar cubes to build an igloo, for an interior
scene.
4. Decide on a background - you can paint or draw your own or use wallpaper or wrapping paper (or
anything else you can find). Remember, though, that the background images should be consistent
with the scale you've chosen. Decorate the Walls: Most every diorama has three walls or views, a
ceiling or sky and a floor, ground or base. You need to decorate these inside walls first. There are lots
of ways to do this. You can paint them or color them with markers, crayons or paint. You can
measure them, cut construction or other paper to fit on them, and glue that on. Or you can go to
your computer and design something to look more realistic.
5. Build your diorama working from the back to the front - start with the background (don't forget the
sky/ceiling and ground/floor). Then place large objects such as trees. The smallest objects should go
farthest forward. Use glue or putty to secure the objects. Objects such as birds, clouds, balloons, and
airplanes can be hung from the top using black thread. Tape or tie the thread to the object and to
the box.
6. Attach a title to the box where it can easily be seen.
 ANIMAL HABITAT DIORAMA RUBRIC

Student Name ___________________

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Some parts of
Display is
Display is the display are
uninteresting,
interesting and interesting.
Display is interesting and not tidy.
attractive. Some materials
attractive. Materials are Materials are
Style & Materials are are complete
complete and well organized. incomplete and
Organization complete and organized.
Presentation has sequence and not organized.
organized to Presentation has
plan evident. Presentation has
present the ideas some sequence
no sequence or
well. and plan
plan evident.
evident.
Topic Topic chosen in Topic concerns an element of Topic concerns Topic does not
accordance with animal habitat animal, not apply.
directions. studied.
Project is Little attempt to
Some attempt
excellently add color or
Good creative effort. Project is made to add
Creativity & presented originality.
neat and shows evidence of color and
Appearance reflecting Project has
time spent on it. originality.
creativity and a sloppy
Project is neat.
lot of thought. appearance.
The diorama The diorama The diorama
demonstrates a demonstrates demonstrates
The diorama demonstrates
thorough some very little
Knowledge good knowledge of the subject
knowledge of the knowledge of knowledge of
investigated
subject the subject the subject
investigated investigated. investigated.
The project The project
content is content is The project
exemplary and The project content is good and fair/poor and content poor
Content suggests the suggests the student has suggests the and suggests the
Facts student has discovered most of the student has not student has not
discovered the important facts of his/her topic. discovered most done sufficient
important ideas of the important research.
of his/her topic. facts.
Diorama has
Diorama has title clearly No name
name clearly Diorama has
Housekeeping displayed, name is attached visible, no title.
displayed, and name, no title.
somewhere. 0 Points.
title.
Part Three: Presentation

The week of October 23rd students will present their animal and diorama to the class.

The presentation should include:

1. The name of the animal and its habitat
2. One behavioral adaptation the animal uses to survive in its environment
3. One structural adaptation the animal uses to survive in its environment

Standards included in this project:

Next Generation Science Standard:

3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can
survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

Writing:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.A
Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to
aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.B
Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.C
Use linking words and phrases (e.g., also, another, and, more, but) to connect ideas within
categories of information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.D
Provide a concluding statement or section.

Literacy:
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.4
Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and
relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.