Lights! Cameras! Adaptations! A Life Science PBL

Transcription

1 A Life Science PBL Group Name Planet Chosen Group Members:

2 THE SITUATION Lights! Cameras! Adaptations! You have been hired as a member of the newest (and the youngest) cinema design team for the next Hollywood blockbuster movie! The movie plot involves teams of astronauts visiting different alien planets in search of a habitable world. Following the success of science-based movies like Avatar, the movie director wants to create realistic ecosystems of plants and animals for each planet. The movie script also includes major events happening that will change each planet, so the design team must be aware of how environmental changes will affect the fantasy organisms. Your design team will choose one of the fantasy planets and learn about its environment. You will use your knowledge of natural selection, adaptations, and coevolution to design three organisms (a producer, an herbivore, and a carnivore a mini food chain) that could survive in the planet s ecosystem. You must consider the adaptations that each organism has; what the adaptations are for; and how they help the organism to survive. You must also brainstorm how a major change to the planet s environment might change each organism s adaptations. Once you have created your organisms, you and your team will collaborate and create a presentation for the director. Only the best (and most scientifically accurate) organisms will be selected for the movie! GUIDELINES Read, understand, and follow all Rubrics & Expectations Read the 4 planet descriptions. Choose one. Complete the Organism Planning Sheets o Develop / describe each organism s adaptations o Draw a detailed diagram with labels for each adaptation Complete the Environmental Change Planning Sheets o Describe one adaptation change for each organism o Draw a detailed diagram with labels to show the changed organism Complete the Writing Planning Sheet o Draft the writing piece o Revise/edit writing with a teammate o Publish writing in electronic format Complete the Presentation Planning Sheet o Create your presentation (OPTIONAL): Complete one of the two Extend activities for extra points Present to the director EXPECTATIONS Attentive listening Active learning Active and equal participation from all group members Use all planning pages Follow all rubrics Know and meet deadlines Best effort from everyone! Let your imagination take flight and have FUN!

3 Organism Planning Sheet: Producer 1. Name of producer 2. What adaptations does your producer have for making food? 3. What adaptations does your producer have for the temperature / climate of the planet? 4. What adaptations does your producer have for protection from being eaten? 5. What adaptations does your producer have to obtain water? 6. What type of seeds will it make? How will it disperse (spread) its seeds? 7. What adaptations does your producer have for pollination/reproduction? 8. Describe one behavioral adaptation your producer has. Why does it have this behavior? 9. Describe another behavioral adaptation your producer has. Why does it have this behavior? 10. What is the most unique adaptation your producer will have? On a separate sheet of blank paper (no lines), carefully draw a detailed scientific diagram of your producer. Label ALL adaptations and what they are for (food, protection, reproduction, etc.)

4 Organism Planning Sheet: Herbivore / Prey 1. Name of herbivore 2. What adaptations does your herbivore have for the temperature/climate of the planet? 3. What adaptations does your herbivore have for movement? 4. What adaptations does your herbivore have for obtaining food? 5. What adaptations does your herbivore have for obtaining water? 6. What adaptations does your herbivore have for protection from predators? 7. What adaptations does your herbivore have for attracting a mate / or for reproduction? 8. Where will your herbivore find shelter? 9. Describe one instinctive behavior your herbivore has. Why does it have this adaptation? 10. Describe one learned behavior your herbivore has. Why does it have this adaptation? On a separate sheet of blank paper (no lines), carefully draw a detailed scientific diagram of your herbivore. Label ALL adaptations and what they are for (food, protection, reproduction, etc.)

5 Organism Planning Sheet: Carnivore / Predator 1. Name of carnivore 2. What adaptations does your carnivore have for the temperature/climate of the planet? 3. What adaptations does your carnivore have for movement? 4. What adaptations does your carnivore have for obtaining food? 5. What adaptations does your carnivore have for obtaining water? 6. What adaptations does your carnivore have for protection from its prey or from other predators? 7. What adaptations does your carnivore have for attracting a mate / or for reproduction? 8. Where will your carnivore find shelter? 9. Describe one instinctive behavior your carnivore has. Why does it have this adaptation? 10. Describe one learned behavior your carnivore has. Why does it have this adaptation? On a separate sheet of blank paper (no lines), carefully draw a detailed scientific diagram of your carnivore. Label ALL adaptations and what they are for (food, protection, reproduction, etc.)

6 Audience: Movie Director Lights! Cameras! Adaptations! Writing Planning Sheet STEP ONE DRAFT INTRO: Discuss your purpose. Introduce your planet. Introduce your organisms. PARAGRAPH 1: Describe your planet and what elements of the environment your plant and animals have to adapt to. PARAGRAPHS 2, 3, 4: Discuss each plant and animal. Describe the adaptations that allow it to survive in the planets environment/habitat. Why do they need these adaptations? PARAGRAPH 5: Describe your planet after the major environmental change, and what NEW elements of the environment your plant and animals have to adapt to. Describe each organism s new adaptation(s) in response to the environmental change. CLOSING: Sum up your writing by explaining why you think your plant and animals should be chosen for the director s movie. Turn in your first draft document to the group folder. Draft document written by STEP 2 REVISE Proofread together with a second group member. Look for mistakes, spelling and grammar errors, things that don t make sense, etc. Make sure all required information was included. Turn in your revised document to the group folder. Draft document revised by STEP 3 PUBLISH: Produce your writing in an electronic copy. The third group member should proofread carefully and look for mistakes and spelling/grammar errors. Make sure all required information was included. The electronic document will be turned in with the final product. Final document checked by

7 Presentation Planning Sheet What type of digital presentation will you utilize? Why do you feel that is the best choice for your presentation? Include: Name Planet and Description (please draw the planet) What do you think was the most important environmental aspect that the organisms had to adapt to, and why do you think this? Labeled illustration of producer and a brief description of its adaptations What is your favorite adaptation for your producer, and why? Labeled illustration of herbivore and a brief description of its adaptations What is your favorite adaptation for your herbivore, and why? Labeled illustration of carnivore and a brief description of its adaptations What is your favorite adaptation for your carnivore, and why? Description of major event and the way it changed the planet s environment New illustrations and brief description of new adaptations for each organism Coevolution explanation (optional/extend activity for extra points see last page) Show models of your organisms (optional/extend activity for extra points see last page) Why you feel the director should choose your organisms for the movie

8 Optional Extend Activities worth extra points. You may choose ONE of the activities below. Each activity is worth up to 5 extra credit points on your final grade for the project. OPTION 1: Coevolution For this extend activity, you will explain a coevolutionary relationship between any two of your organisms. Think about how your two organisms depend on each other, and which adaptations they might develop in response to one another. Then do the following: 1) Write a detailed description of the coevolution between the two organisms. Include their relationship, a description of the factors that caused their coevolution, and an explanation of how the organisms developed their coevolutionary adaptations over time. 2) Include a detailed scientific diagram that shows the change in each organism over time. You should have three drawings of the organisms: the beginning adaptations, a diagram that shows the adaptation slowly changing over time, and a diagram showing the final adaptations as a result of the coevolution. If you choose this option, this information should be included in your final presentation. OPTION 2: Organism Models You may create a 3D model of each of your organisms. The models should be as anatomically correct as possible. Adaptations should be labeled and described in some way. Behavioral can be described in writing. If you choose this option, your models should be included in your final presentation.