Pathfinder:  Zoo Animals

Step 1: Define your task: Look at the assignment/essential question.

Step 2: What materials might be useful for the project?   Books, Encyclopedias, Online Encyclopedias, Websites.

Step 3: Find the material.

Books:  A number of books have been placed on the cart.  Use the indexes to find the correct pages.  It may be necessary to invert the animal’s name when looking in the index.  eg tiger, Siberian instead of Siberian tiger.

General Encyclopedias.  World Book.  R 031 Wor    Basic information is available for each animal on your list.

Suggestions for using  Subscription Research Databases:

• Grolier’s online encyclopedias:  good for basic information
• Gale’s Student Resource Center:  good for basic information :
• World Book Online: a great starting place

 

ebooks:

Endangered Species Most of the animals on your list are included in this resource.

Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. This e-book is arranged by broad topic, so it requires the use of the e-index. Use edit and find to find information about specific animals.

Grzimek's Student Animal Life Resource. This e-book is slightly easier than the one listed above. It is arranged by broad topic, so it requires the use of the e-index. Use edit and find to find information about specific animals.

Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America The only North American animal on your list is the Bald Eagle, which is included in this resource.

Websites:  There are numerous websites on animals.  Many are student projects or for-profit ventures posted by amateurs.  The following sites are good places to start:

 

• Animals at the Oakland Zoo:  http://www.oaklandzoo.org/meet_the_animals
• The National Zoo’s Website:  http://nationalzoo.si.edu/default.cfm
• The University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web:  http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html

·        Zoos Victoria:  Enter the animal’s name in the search box:  http://www.zoo.org.au/

 

Step 4: Use the material. Read it and take notes.  CITE YOUR SOURCES!!!

Step 5: Synthesize the information: Prepare and present the skit, poster, power point, song, poem, or other approved product. PREPARE YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Step 6: Evaluate: Does the paper you wrote answer the essential question? Have you met the requirements for the assignment?