Zoo Habitat Design: Collaboration Project

Math and Science Integrated Problem Based Learning Project

Created By: Amy Mirlisena

Next Gen Science:

3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some
survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. [Clarification Statement: Examples of evidence could include
needs and characteristics of the organisms and habitats involved. The organisms and their habitat make up a system
in which the parts depend on each other.]

3-LS4-4. Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the
types of plants and animals that live there may change.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of environmental
changes could include changes in land characteristics, water distribution, temperature, food, and other organisms.]

Common Core:
Geometric measurement: recognize perimeter.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.D.8
Solve real world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of polygons, including finding the perimeter
given the side lengths, finding an unknown side length, and exhibiting rectangles with the same perimeter and
different areas or with the same area and different perimeters.

Section Overview
The Cincinnati Zoo is getting renovated and they have asked Ms. Dixon/Ms. Mccoys class for their
expert help! Students will use their knowledge of animals needs and habitats and their knowledge of area
and perimeter to create a brand new Zoo for the city!

Section Breakdown:
Part 1: Habitat Area and Perimeter Measurement
Students collaborate and create their own zoo. Ms. Hunt and Ms. Mirlisena will cut out irregular shapes
from a large piece of grid paper. Ms. Hunt and Ms. Mirlisena will section the teams of animal
specialists and give each team will be given one of the irregular shapes off the giant grid. Each group

will be responsible for one piece from the grid. Their first mission is to figure out the area and perimeter
of their land for their exhibit.

Part 2: Animal Research and Habitat Creation

The animal specialist team will use resources provided to choose an animal to inhabit their section of the
zoo. The team will plot out important aspects of its habitat. Teams will discuss things like: Does their
animal live in the Arctic, forest, grasslands or rain forest? Students think about what colors to use to
correctly match their animal's habitat. They must make their animal feel at home in its exhibit. Does their
animal play in the water, hide in a cave or roll around in the mud? Students must section off their habitat
according to the needs of the animal and report the perimeter and area of each of the sections. Once the
students have finished coloring and labeling their animal habitat they can add details to the exhibit. The
students take a picture of their chosen animal (provided) and glue it into the habitat they made.
Part 3: Collaborate
When all of the students are finished, they work together and create a zoo!
Together the class should collaborate and discuss in order to problem-solve where each animal should go.
Students should use their expertise about the animal habitats and their needs for survival to construct
the zoo layout. Once the final layout is decided students will glue the final product down onto a large
sheet of paper.
Part 4: The Product
The students will submit proposed names for the zoo and the class will vote to name their zoo. The
students will present the project school by displaying their project on the bulletin board in the hallway.