New England Flora and Fauna: The Assignment (Mr. Van Dolah)

• Adopt a Species Project
  
  Objectives:
  
  
• Students will research their organism using digital and print sources and cite those sources in proper APA format.
  
  
• Students will use a presentation application to create a slideshow of their research.
  
  
• Students will present their research to the class at the end of project/trimester.
  
  
• Students will understand better the terms and concepts related to what all living organisms have in common - based on universal genetic code, grow and develop, respond to their environment, reproduce, maintain a stable internal environment, obtain and use material and energy, made of cells, and evolve as a group/population.
  
  
• Students will understand how global climate change is affecting biodiversity and how that might apply to their species living in New England.
  
  Research:
  
  
• What are all of the taxa to which your organism belongs, and what are the characteristics of each taxon?
  
  
• Based on the characteristics of living organisms, explain in detail how your organism fulfills each criteria for being “living.” In other words, if all living things evolve over time, explain how your organism evolved over time. Remember that all living things:
  
  
  • are based on a universal genetic code
  • grow and develop
  • respond to their environment
  • reproduce
  • maintain a stable internal environment
  • obtain and use material and energy
  • are made of cells
  • evolve as a group/population

• In what environment would you find your organism?
  
  
• What niche does your organism occupy in its ecosystem? Note any known adaptations that your organism has made over time in its surroundings in order to occupy this niche.
  
  
• How is global climate change affecting your species, or how could it affect your species in the future? Keep in mind, that not all (potential) effects of climate change on species are negative.
  
  
• Any other interesting facts about your organism.

Presentation:

• Using presentation software (PowerPoint, Prezi, Google Slides), you will create a slideshow highlighting the above research about your species.
  
  
• The content of each slide should be an “outline” of the topic you want to talk about - as the expert, you have the details in your head.
  
  
• Individual slides should adhere to the “6 x 6 Rule” - no more than six lines per slide and no more than six words per line - remember that slides are a resource for you to talk about the details. DO NOT READ YOUR SLIDES TO THE AUDIENCE. Less is more.
  
  
• Each slide should have a picture related to the slide’s topic.
  
  
• Animations are fine to use, but that should be used carefully. They should be consistent throughout the presentation (not a new one each slide or each line on a slide), and they should not distract from the presentation.