Maker Project: 3D Printing

Grade 4 - Science Habitats and Communities

Animal Research Project

Weve been studying animals and habitats for a few weeks now and its time for you to be an
animal researcher. You will have to choose a wild animal, do a research about its habitat, build
a diorama using 3D printing to represent its habitat, and present your project to the class. You
will be working in groups of five. You can choose any WILD animal you want and get it
approved by the teacher before your start your project.

When doing your research, remember to think of the big ideas:

What is a habitat?
What does an animal need in its habitat to survive?
How does your animal adapt to its environment and the temperature?
How does your animal protect himself from threats (ex: preys, humans) in his environment ?

This project will allow you to show what youve learned about animals and habitats by
presenting your animal's habitat. In your diorama, everything your animal needs to survive
should be present. When presenting your project, you will have the chance to explain in more
detail what you included in your diorama. Think of what weve learned; what is needed in an
animal's habitat, food chains, preys (is it an omnivore, carnivore, or herbivore?), predators,
shelters, impact of humans, and adaptation to temperature changes, should all be addressed in
your diorama and/or your presentation.

Using your 3D printing, you will be creating what is needed in your animal's habitat. You will
use a cardboard box to be the base of your diorama, and a plastic or playdough animal for your
animal, everything else will be created and 3D printed. Think about what theyre environment is
composed of (ex: trees, water, plants), their food, their shelter, and their preys. Make a plan with
your group of what each of you will be creating to bring your habitat together, create it using
Ultimaker, print it, and put it together to present your research. You will be printing a maximum
of 10 items per group so your plan is very important.

In your presentation, you will:

explain what you put in your diorama and why its important;
describe your animals place in the food chain (remember the terms producer, consumer,
decomposer);
explain if he your animal is a carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore;
explain how your animal adapt to changes in temperature or threats.

Step by Step Guide:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPWP0Kl3dp4
Curriculum Expectations

Grade 4 Science and Technology, Understanding Life Systems

Overall expectations:

investigate the interdependence of plants and animals within specific habitats

and communities;
demonstrate an understanding of habitats and communities and the relationships
among the plants and animals that live in them.

Specific Expectations

use scientific inquiry/research skills to investigate ways in which plants and

animals in a community depend on features of their habitat to meet important
needs;
use appropriate science and technology vocabulary, including habitat,
population, community, and food chain in oral and written communication;
use a variety of forms to communicate with different audiences for a variety of
purposes;
demonstrate an understanding of habitats as areas that provide plants and
animals with all the necessities of life;
identify factors that affect the ability of plants and animals to survive in a specific
habitat and;
identify animals that are carnivores, herbivores, omnivores.
 Assessment

Evaluation of Habitat Diorama and Presentation (35 points)

Diorama (20 points)

Animal shelter present (5 points)

Presence of all living things in your animals food chain (5 points)
Environment represented adequately (ex: its evident in your diorama that the fish is in a
source of water) (5 points)
Items appearance (a tree looks like a tree) (3 points)
Work distributed equally between group members (2 points)

Presentation (15 points)

Use of appropriate scientific vocabulary (3 points)

Description of diorama items and their importance (5 points)
Description of animal adaptation to temperature and threats (2 points)
Description of animals place in the food chain (2 points)
Description of their type of food (carnivore, omnivore, herbivore) (2 points)
Voice (audible, pacing, tone) (1 point)

Total: ________

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