Download Click here for a copy of the New Species

Name _______________________
Initials of parent or
guardian due by Oct. 14
Check in #1 ____________ Check in #2 ____________
Good copy and picture due ________________
Poem About Your New Species
My Learning Skills Goals
1. Responsibility (ability to meet deadlines): E
G
S
N
To reach my goal I will
2. Independent Work Habits (ability to use time well in class): E
G
S
N
To reach my goal I will
My Academic Goal (Circle 1): 4
3
2
To reach my goal I will
Task: Write a poem about a new species you discovered in an old lunch bag at the bottom of your
locker. You will be assessed on your ability to use the science terms to write your poem and your
ability to use the proper meter for the poem. The rough copy will be completed in class. You may
work on your picture or finish the good copy at home.
It’s October and that means Halloween is coming. It is a time when strange discoveries can be
made. But nothing could be as strange as the discovery you make at the bottom of your locker. You
have just cleaned out your locker and found an old lunch bag containing an unidentified organism.
The organism is like none you have ever seen. In fact, it could be a new species. What does it look
like? What does it eat? What is its habitat? Only you can answer these questions. This is the
perfect opportunity to use your knowledge of grade 7 science.
If you have trouble getting in the mood to write your poem, try writing under a full moon in a pumpkin
patch with a black cat at your feet. Have fun and I look forward to reading your poem.
SCIENCE VOCABULARY TO USE IN YOUR POEM
Include words from the following list in your poem. Underline or highlight each word the first time
you use it in your poem.
Make sure you use enough words in your poem to reach your goal.
Level 4: 10-12 different science words
Level 3: 7-9 different science words
Level 2: 4-6 different science words
ecosystem
producer
invasive species
stewardship
abiotic
consumer
native species
prey
biotic
herbivore
nutrients
carnivore
niche
food web
omnivore
predator
food chain
scavenger
energy flow
decomposer
photosynthesis
detritivore
succession
species
individual
organism
population
energy pyramid
organic matter
habitat
community
cycling of matter
sustainability
limiting factor
bioinvasion
primary consumer
secondary consumer
tertiary consumer
detritus
glucose
Use the space below to write down other science words you would like to use in your project. Write
your own meaning of the word. Show the word(s) to Mr. McKinley and have him initial the words to
indicate they have been approved.
Other science
words I’d like
to use in my
poem
Use the word in a sentence to show
what it means
Can the word be
counted as a
Teacher’s
science word?
initials
YES
NO
Name _____________
CRITERIA
SCIENCE
Rubric for the Poem about Your New Species
Level 4
10-15 science words
used correctly to create
a poem that is very
engaging and/or
entertaining.
Use of science
words
Meanings of all or
almost all science words
are clear from their use
in the poem
LANGUAGE
Writing Style
(rhyme
scheme and
beat pattern)
LANGUAGE
Use of
Alliteration
VISUAL ARTS
Picture
LANGUAGE
(Media)
LEARNING
SKILLS
Independent
Work Habits
LEARNING
SKILLS
Responsibility
Level 3
7-9 science words used
correctly to create a poem
that is usually believable
and/or entertaining
Meanings of most science
words are clear from their
use in the article
Level 2
4-6 science words used
correctly
Meanings of words are
not always clear from
their use in the poem
Excellent use of 6, 7, or
8 stanzas along with the
proper rhyme scheme
(ABCB) and beat pattern
(8-6-8-6) throughout the
poem.
The poem flows very
well and is written in a
powerful voice to tell an
engaging story about the
discovery of a new
species
Excellent ability to use
alliteration to create an
imaginative title that
relates to the poem
Strong use of 5 or 6 stanzas
along with the proper rhyme
scheme (ABCB) and beat
pattern (8-6-8-6) throughout
the poem.
Most of the poem flows well
and does an effective job of
telling the story about the
discovery of a new species
Satisfactory use of 3, 4,
or 5 stanzas, rhyme
scheme (ABCB) and beat
pattern (8-6-8-6).
Parts of the poem flow
well and do a good job of
telling the story about the
discovery of a new
species while other parts
of the poem are difficult to
understand
Solid ability to use
alliteration to create an
imaginative title that relates
to the poem
Some success using
alliteration to create a title
but the connection to the
poem is unclear
Outstanding ability to
draw and colour a
picture of the new
species in its habitat.
The picture includes
many of the details
about the species and
habitat mentioned in the
poem.
Outstanding ability to
recite the poem from
memory with excellent
expression and eye
contact
Solid ability to draw and
colour a picture of the new
species. The picture
includes many of the details
about the species mentioned
in the poem.
Satisfactory ability to
make a picture of the new
species. The picture
includes some details
about the species
mentioned in the poem
Solid ability to recite the
poem from memory with
good expression and eye
contact
Some ability to recite the
poem with expression
and eye contact
Always on task and
making strong progress
(Usually does not need
reminders in a period)
Usually on task and making
good progress (Usually
needs 1 reminder in a work
period)
Satisfactory ability to stay
on task and make
progress (Usually needs
2 reminders in a work
period)
Both check-ins and final
deadline are met with
excellent attention to
detail
Both check-ins and final
deadline are met with most
sections containing the
required detail
One deadline is missed
and some sections are
not done or need more
detail.
Success Criteria
Hand in your work when each item has been completed and checked off.
____ Your achievement goal is included.
____ Each science word is underlined or highlighted once (the first time it is used).
____ The poem is neatly written or typed.
____ The title includes an alliteration.
____ The poem follows the ABCB rhyme scheme and the 8-6-8-6 beat pattern for each stanza in the
quatrain
____ the food web is included and is mentioned in the poem
____ the picture of the new species matches the description in the poem
____ the rough copies are handed in with the good copy to show the writing process
Looking Back
Complete this section before handing in your assignment.
1. Write a paragraph to compare a real species to your new species. Include 2 similarities and 1
difference.
2. What did you find most enjoyable about this assignment? Why?
3. In your opinion, did you make good use of your class time? Explain.
4. Describe two things you did that helped you to make the deadlines.
Helpful Hints about the Assignment
1. An alliteration is a series of words that start with the same letter. (ex. Big, blue boat)
2. A stanza is a group of lines within a poem. In this assignment, a stanza is 4 lines and is repeated
a number of times until you have told your story.
3. Your poem must use the 8-6-8-6 beat pattern in each stanza. Clap out each line or count the beats
on your fingers to make sure you have the right number of beats for each line.
4. The rhyme scheme is ABCB. Lines that rhyme are represented by the same letter. This means
the second and fourth lines rhyme in each stanza. Line #1 and line #3 do not rhyme. That’s why they
are represented by different letters.
5. Choose short words for your rhyming words. They are easier to rhyme than longer words.
6. Begin each line with a capital letter.
7. Include at least one science word in each stanza.
8. Include details about one main idea in each stanza.
Here is a sample of an unfinished poem. It only has two stanzas. Your poem will have more stanzas.
There are notes about the poem written to the right of the poem.
My Magnificent Milli
*The title is capitalized and uses alliteration
Ehh Gad! I found a new species.
Habitat?-- My locker.
The teacher frowned and said to me,
That news is a shocker.
*Science words are underlined to stand out
*Each line begins with a capital letter
Milli is a green omnivore.
She feeds throughout the day,
On old lunch scraps and crumbs galore
And tiny bits of hay.
*Notice that locker and shocker rhyme
*This line has 8 beats
*this line has 6 beats
*This line has 8 beats
*This line has 6 beats
Brainstorming
1. Describe the magical event that took place that created your new species.
2. Make a list of the features (form and function) of your new species and include a sketch.
3. Describe the habitat of your new species.
4. How does it get energy?
5. What other creatures prey on your species?
6. Draw three food chains to show how your new species interacts with other organisms in order to
survive.
Storyboard for my Poem
Use the boxes below to create an outline for your poem. Include notes about the main idea of each
stanza and the science words that you plan to use. Make sure you include enough stanzas and
science words to reach your goal.
Level 4:6-8 stanzas and 10-15 science words
Level 3: 5-6 stanzas and 7-9 science words
Level 2: 3-5 stanzas and 4-6 science words
Stanza #1
2
3
Main idea:
Main idea:
Main idea:
Science words:
Science words:
4
5
6
Main idea:
Main idea:
Main idea:
Science words:
Science words:
Science words:
7
8
Main idea:
Main idea:
Science words:
Science words:
Science words:
Draft of My Poem
Stanza #1 A ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
C ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
Stanza #2 A ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
C ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
Stanza #3 A ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
C ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
Stanza #4 A ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
C ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
Stanza #5
A ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
C ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
Stanza #6 A ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
C ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
Stanza #7 A ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
C ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
Stanza #8 A ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________
C ____________________________________________________________________
B ____________________________________________________________________