WHO: You are a zookeeper.

WHAT: As a zookeeper

As a zookeeper you are

responsible for creating
habitats.

you must create an ideal

habitat for an animal that
either has a behavioral or
physical adaptation. You
will present your habitat to
the National Zoo
Smithsonian Conservation
Institution members from
the Front Royal campus.
Your goal is to convince the
National Zoo Smithsonian
Conservation Institution
members to use your
specific habitat for the
animal.

HOW:
Create a poster with pictures and descriptions of the zoo
habitat to aid you in your presentation to the National Zoo
Board.
Answer the question how is the animals adaptation made
for its specific habitat.
The poster must have clear and vivid descriptions of the
habitat. You must describe the type of terrain, plants or
trees in the habitat, other animals in the habitat, and the
shelter. Pictures must be included in the poster matching
the descriptions.

Dear Parents/Guardians,
For the past couple of weeks, we have been learning all about
physical and behavioral adaptations. In addition to our students
learning the factual information about adaptations, we are also
learning through higher level thinking assessments. We have been
building these skills through class activities and discussions.
I wanted to take a little bit of time to explain a recent
performance based assessment I have assigned your student to
complete. A performance-based assessment is a beneficial tool to help
me gather evidence to assess your students knowledge,
understandings, and skills for the unit. Through completing a
performance-based assessment students will be interpreting the
information they have learned so far throughout the unit to complete
the assessment.
For this performance-based assessment students will take on the
role of a zookeeper. As a zookeeper students will have to create an
ideal habitat for an animal with a behavioral or physical adaptation.
Students will have to create a poster that describes and illustrates the
animals habitat. Students will present their posters to the National Zoo
Smithsonian Conservation Institution members from the Front Royal
campus. The goal of the presentation is to convince the National Zoo
Smithsonian Conservation Institution members that the habitat, which
the student created, is an appropriate habitat for the animals. Students
must be able to explain how is the animals adaptation made for this
habitat. This assessment will demonstrate that students are making
the important connections between what they learned and applying
the information to a real life scenario.
I have attached the assignment description and the rubric that
the students will receive. You can see what elements of the
assessment students will be graded on. The entire assessment will be
completed in class, but you can to support your student in many ways.
Have your student review the material needed to complete the
assessment, help your student practice their presentation, or even go
to the zoo to look at animal habitats. Thank you for reading the letter
and taking a part in your students learning. Feel free to contact me if
you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
missm@dukes.jmu.edu
Miss M
8990

Email:
Phone Number: 540-454-

Create A Habitat Rubric

Checklist

Turned in assignment on time.

Used my class time wisely.
Followed directions.
Proofread your poster.
Practiced your presentation.

___ YES
___ YES
__YES
___ YES
___ YES

___
___
___
___

___ NO
NO
NO
NO
NO

Rubric:
Value
20 points

Dimension

Component

Adaptation and Habitat

Content

You have designed a poster that accurately displays an

appropriate habitat for an animal with an adaptation. You
described the habitat you created vividly. You identified the
type of terrain, plants or trees in the habitat, other animals
in the habitat, and the shelter. Pictures are included in the
poster matching the descriptions.
During the presentation you explained why the habitat you
created is best option for this particular animal. Your
explanation matches the information described and pictures
on the poster you designed.
During the presentation you spoke clearly and at a steady
pace. You kept eye contact with the audience.

15 points

Explanation of the
habitat

10 points

Presentation

5 points

Professionalism

Your poster is free from spelling and grammatical errors. You

created a well-organized and visually pleasing poster. Your
presentation and poster are of the highest quality.