Title: My Own Personal
Zoo
Type of Teaching Unit: Lesson Plan
Grade Level: 7th Grade
Time Frame: 3-5 Days
Subject Matter: Science
Teacher
Information:
Travis Klein, Stacy Winfield, and
Carla Lasley
Grant Middle School
AAM Affiliation (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville)
kleint@stclair.k12.il.us
Lesson Plan
Description and Rationale:
Students
will have an understanding of the habitat needs of specific animals and their
behaviors. Both will be considered
when designing an enclosure for that animal. They will also be familiar with a zoo
in their area and some history behind the zoo.
State
Standards:
Middle
School Science (7)
11.B.3b Sketch, propose
and compare design solutions to the problem considering available materials,
tools, cost effectiveness and safety.
11.B.3c Select the most
appropriate design and build a prototype or simulation.
12.B.3b Compare and assess
features of organisms for their adaptive, competitive and survival potential
(e.g., appendages, reproductive rates, camouflage, defensive structures).
13.B.3c Describe how occupations
use scientific and technological knowledge and skills.
Objectives:
The students
will search several web pages from different zoos, including the St. Louis Zoo.
While searching these pages, they will observe how the different habitat
needs of the animals are satisfied and the designs of their enclosures. They will then work in groups of two or
three to design an enclosure for an animal they have chosen. All learned information must be presented
to the class.
Resources:
The
WWW Virtual Library:Zoos
www.mindspring.com/~zoonet/www_virtual_lib/zoos.html#related
St.Louis Zoo
www.stlzoo.org/
Methods:
Anticipatory
Set:
Students will be introduced to one of the few structures left in
St.
Louis from the 1904 World’s Fair, the bird enclosure
at the St. Louis Zoo. Teacher will
lead a discussion critiquing the enclosure and comparing it to modern zoo enclosures.
Other enclosures from the early 1900’s will also be viewed and discussed.
Day One
- Students
will use the internet to explore several zoos around the country, including
the St. Louis Zoo. While visiting
the assigned web pages, the student will list the habitat needs of a specific
animal and how the needs are satisfied.
- Students
will sketch one enclosure they have observed.
Day Two,
Three, and Four
- In
groups of two to three, students will choose an animal and sketch an enclosure
for that animal.
- The
group will include a list of the specific habitat needs being satisfied, label
all the features of the enclosure, make a list of possible building materials,
include a rough estimate of the cost, and note any safety concerns for the
animals and zoo patrons.
Extension-
For extra credit the student will design a 3-D model of their enclosure. The enclosure will not include real animals.
Day Five
- All
groups will present their information to the class in the form of an oral
presentation lasting longer than 3 minutes.
Evaluation:
The teacher
will use the following rubric to assess the group’s animal enclosure.
(10%) Internet
Research
(15%) Sketch
of Existing Enclosure
(15%) Habitat
Sketch
(15%) Label
Sketch
(15%) Materials
List
(15%) Estimated
Cost
(15%) Safety
Concerns
3-D Model
(extra credit)
Keywords
for the Lesson:
Habitat, 1904
World’s Fair, Zoos, Middle School Science.
