Evolution Project: Create a Creature
Objectives:
1) Demonstrate knowledge of how natural selection works.
2) Demonstrate knowledge of the taxonomic system.
3) Improve research skills by researching how specific selective pressures work to shape animals.
4) Develop presentation skills.
5) Use logic to come up with plausible adaptation for an animal that occupies a particular niche in a
specific ecosystem.
Assignment:
In groups of 3 you will create an imaginary animal that can thrive under specific conditions. Name your
animal using binomial nomenclature. Create a cladogram that includes your animal. One member of
your group will write a 5 paragraph paper about your animal in the style of a naturalist writing a letter to
a fellow scientist about a new animal he/ she has discovered. One member will create a powerpoint or
prezi about your animal and one member of your group will create a poster. As a group you will give a
Give a 5 minute presentation about your animal to the class. (You will be in the same groups of 3 all
year and do two more projects. You will rotate who is doing each part of the assignment i.e. if you do
the poster this time you will do the paper next time. You will be graded individually on your section of
the project and as a group on the oral presentation.)
You will pick at random: a type of land animal (mammal, reptile, bird, insect etc.), a type of consumer
(herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore), and an ecosystem (tropical, arctic, desert, etc.). Then you will have
to figure out what qualities it needs to survive. For example, an animal living the arctic has to be able to
survive the cold, so it might have thick fur. There are existing animals that are adapted to the conditions
you will be assigned, you may use them for inspiration, but your animal must be unique. You will
research the conditions that your animal will live under then you will design an animal that can survive
there. You will determine both its physical appearance and its behaviors. You will draw what it looks
like and give a written description of how it lives. You will need to explain how each feature is an
adaptation to its niche (how it lives in its habitat).
Research and design: You should use your textbook and online resources to find out about the
environment in which your animal lives and the types of adaptations animals have that already live
there. Find out about the ecosystem: temperature, availability of water, seasonal changes, types of
plants, any other conditions that would affect the survival of your animal. Then design your animal. Be
sure to include the following: size, what it eats, how it gets its food, how it escapes predation, if it is
social or solitary. What physical and behavioral adaptations does your animal have to deal with the
environment? Give your animal a scientific name and classification. Use the “Tree of Life” webpage or
the ‘dragonfly’ book to help you create your cladogram. Keep track of your sources as you collect
information so that you have a complete works cited in MLA format. All parts of your project must have
a works cited for all information and images used. In addition the paper must contain parenthetical
citations.
Project Components
The poster:
The poster must be 11X17 on poster paper, all text must be typed. The style must convey the ‘naturalist’
theme. The title should be viewed from across the classroom; the rest of the text should be viewed from
4-6 feet away. It will be graded on visual appeal, adherence to the theme, completeness of content, and
accuracy. The title must be the scientific name of your animal. It must include a hand-drawn a color
picture of your animal within its habitat. It must also have a cladogram to show how your animal is
related to its closest living relatives. It should include the class, order, family, and Genius species. You
make up the Genius species name, but the rest should be from a real cladogram with shared and derived
traits. It should have 4-6 branches and a common ancestor.
The Paper:
Must be 5 paragraphs and in the style of a letter (as described above). It should describe your animal and
how it is has adapted to its environment. Be sure to explain each key feature and behavior in terms of
how it is an adaptation to the conditions in which your animal lives. For example, it is a bird with a thick
bill to eat large seeds and green feathers for camouflage in a dense evergreen forest. 12pt font, 1 inch
margins, double spaced, Times New Roman font.
The PowerPoint/ prezi:
Your slide presentation should be a visual aid for your oral presentation. It should be 40% text, 60%
images. It should show the ‘naturalist’ theme. Each slide should have a title and 3-5 bullet points with
facts. All text must be at least 24 pt. font. Title slide: Background picture that illustrates your animal,
textbox with title/ name of your animal, textbox with your name, a dignified picture of your team.
Informational slides: At least 5, each with textbox with written information. Appropriate pictures/
graphs imported from web or other digital source. There should be a caption for each picture. One of the
slides should include the cladogram with your animal. Works cited: The last slide should include all
sources for information and pictures (goggle images does not count as a source.) All slides: Must use
“slide background” or “Slide color scheme”, must use “slide transition”, and must use “custom
animation”. Keep it simple, easy to read, and interesting.
The Presentation: The oral presentation should be from memory. All members of your group must
present equally. See grading rubric for details.
Evolution Project: Create a Creature brainstorming and information organizer
My group members are: ________________________________________________________________
I can contact them by:__________________________________________________________________
Creature’s scientific name:______________________________________________________________
Type of animal:
General information
Ecosystem:
Type of consumer:
Traits of this animal
Climate & plant life
How animal will eat (mouth parts,
behaviors…)
Specific information
Physical adaptations
Behavioral adaptations
Physical description: size, color, etc.
Sketch your animal on the back of this page