Who We Are Summative Assessment Task; Creative Creatures

Creative Creatures

Who We Are - Summative Assessment Task

Examples of adapted birds created by students

Your task is to create a new species of animal/organism to meet the needs of a specific environment/habitat.

You will need to...

1. Create an A4 'habitat information sheet' with all relevant information. To do this you need to choose a habitat/environment and research its conditions i.e. climate, temperature, resources available, air, gravity, pressure, what lives/grows there, rainfall, sun, day length, challenges etc.

2. Create a 3D model of your new creature/species which clearly shows the structural features/adaptations which allow it to survive in its environment.

Include with your model the following:

(You may choose how you wish to display this information)

- A map/image/photo/drawing showing the location of the new species/creature.

- An explanation of each structural adaptation and how it helps it adapt to its environment and survive.

- A description of the living creatures/new species behavioural (something the living thing does) and/or physiological adaptations and an explanation of how each of these help the creature survive. Eg. - we’ve learned that deserts can be hot and dry. Because it lives in the desert, my pigurtle has adapted to the hot, dry climate by sleeping during the day and coming out only at night when it is cooler. It does this to help it survive.

- A name and short description of your animal, along with a brief rationale for the name.

- A brief explanation on how the animal meets its basic needs and performs the life processes (MRS C GREN)

Things to consider:

• Predators , prey/food (at least 3 sources), and symbiotic relationships (What other animals/organisms live in that area that it would/would not work well with)

• What animals can you name that live in your habitat?

• What structures does this animal have on its body that help it to MRS C GREN

• How does this animal escape from predators?

• Does this animal hunt for its food? How does it get/eat/ catch etc its food?

• What structures help it to catch or eat its food?

• Can you think of another structure that could help this animal be a better hunter, or help it to protect itself better?

• Think about the types of animals that already live in that environment or how their adaptations help them in certain environments

• Give careful consideration to adaptations that ensure its basic needs of food, water, shelter/temperature, air, sun and predation are met (be sure to provide at least 3 food sources).

• Can all the adaptions work together/be on the same creature?

• What are the benefits/negatives of each adaptation?

• What could harm this creature? How could this creature reduce the risk of being harmed? e.g. mimicry, camouflage, poison etc

Marking Rubric

Level 2	Level 3	Early Level 4	Level 4	Level 5+
Basic descriptive sentences. Covers only a few aspects of lifestyle. Lifestyle features may not make logical sense when compared to each other. May provide one or two adaptive features. No explanation of how physical or behavioural features help the creature to survive. Little or no linking of creature to other animals in the ecosystem.	Creature is described using simple and compound sentences. Variety of lifestyle aspects covered although coverage is incomplete. Sentences contain many unnecessary words. Some attempt to create a creature which is credible. Inconsistent and illogical links between lifestyle features. Attempts to explain adaptive features Little explanation of how adaptive features help the creature to survive. Little use of scientific terminology.	Some complex and compound descriptive sentences evident. Covers many lifestyle aspects. Occasional use of concise sentence structures although still wordy in many places. Many aspects of creature and its lifestyle are credible. Some attempt to make logical connections between features and how they help the creature to survive. One or two types of adaptive features are identified and classified/explained. Evidence that creature is linked to greater eco-system. Some attempt to use scientific terminology.	Complex and compound descriptive sentences evident. Mostly full coverage of lifestyle aspects. Evidence of concise factual sentences and attempt to write in scientific style. Creature is mostly credible. Logical connections between features. Two or more types of adaptive features are identified and classified. Some attempt to make links between adaptive/ behavioural  features and how they help the creature to survive. Creature is explained as part of ecosystem. Scientific terminology evident throughout report.	Full descriptive sentences. Covers all relevant aspects of lifestyle. Writes in concise scientific style (avoids unnecessary words and focuses on facts). Creature very credible and convincing. Features relate logically from one to the other. All 3 types of Adaptive features are covered. (Structural, Physiological, Behavioural) Careful links made between adaptive features and how they help the creature to survive. Creature is explained as part eco-system. Creature is explained as part of scientific classification using a taxonomy. Scientific terminology is extensively used.