Baltimore Zoo Endangered Animal Exhibit

Scenario 

 As a result of your success in science class, you and your classmates have been chosen as the grand prize winners of the contest, “Creature Features.”  Now, you will become consultants to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.  You call the director of the zoo for help with the exhibit.  You have the following phone conversation with the director:

Director:   “Yello.”

You:          “Hello, my classmates and I have been chosen to design a new exhibit at the zoo.  I’d like to gather your ideas for the exhibit.”

Director:  “Well, kiddo, have you ever walked like an insect?  Digested food like a bird?  Grown like a Black-eyed Susan?  Have you ever wanted to?”

You:          “Ummm, no?”

Director:  “Well, kiddo, I want visitors to have the opportunity to do that for a variety of organisms.  I want to call it, “Walking in Their Shoes.”  I don’t care how you do it. Just get the job done!  I’ll call you in a couple of weeks with the zoo’s requirements for exhibitor reports. ”

Staring at your cell phone, you realize that the director has hung up and you are probably not going to get any more help.  You begin your walk home feeling confused and bewildered.  As you walk, your creative mind begins working.  Aha!  You come up with a plan, and start running.   Arriving home, you scribble the plan into your notebook and go from there.  

• The entire exhibit will be a series of stations that will showcase the many similarities among living organisms, including human
• All stations will be shared with visitors. 
• One organism will be featured in each station.

Station Requirements 

Each station must include:

• The classification of the featured organism based on: external features, behavior patterns, internal features.
• Examples of how complex systems of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems interact to effectively carry out the organism’s vital functions.  These vital functions include: obtaining and providing energy, defense, reproduction, coordination of body functions.
• An explanation of how cells within the organism carry out life functions.

You will share your organism’s information with your classmates in a gallery walk of the stations.  You may use a multi-media presentation, a booklet, a model, poster, or written station cards.  As required by the director, every station must also include an exhibitor’s report detailing the information outlined. 

Research & Citation  

Research

• Use this Symbaloo Webmix to Assist with your research.  
• You may also use the BCPS Databases.

Creating a Works Cited Page

• When you find a valuable resource, make sure you CITE YOUR SOURCE and include it into your Works Cited List.
• Remember that even images need to be cited on your works cited page.
• Use EasyBib to help you generate citations.
• Here is a step-by-step EasyBib tutorial.