This document provides instructions for students to design a habitat for an endangered animal as part of a zoo exhibit. It outlines the challenge to help protect animals from extinction and constraints for the habitat design. Students will research their assigned animal, brainstorm habitat designs, create a prototype using the engineering design process, and present their final design. The engineering design process steps of asking, imagining, planning, creating, improving, and sharing a solution are defined. Students are also assigned project roles and the document provides materials for researching their animal. The overall goal is for students to design realistic habitats that could help endangered species in zoos.

1. WELCOME TO STEAM
MS. REID

2. What do you
see?
Explain in writing, what is
happening and why?

4. INTRODUCTION
Daily there are plants and animals
that are seriously at risk of
becoming extinct. Why? Humans
are largely responsible for
endangered animals. There are
reasons such as destruction of their
habitat, pollution, and hunting and
fishing.

5. CHALLENGE
How can we protect animals from
becoming extinct?
Zoo Atlanta is bringing some
endangered animals to the zoo in
efforts to help keep the species from
becoming extinct. As a Zoo Exhibit
Designer, you have been asked to
create a habitat for your endangered
animal.

6. CONSTRAINTS
 You will have to research your animal’s
natural habitat.
 The habitat must include: a water
source, food source, at least 1 plant, 1
predator, 1 prey
 You must follow the Engineering Design
Process
 It must be creative and realistic.

7. MATERIALS
Make a list of the
materials you will need to
make your device.

8. ENGINEERING
CONNECTION
For this project you will be Zoo habitat
designers are responsible for designing
animal exhibits and overseeing their
construction. To be an
Zoo Habitat Designer you will need an
architecture. You will need 3D computer
design experience. You will also need to
know about the animal you are designing a
habitat for. As a Zoo Habitat Designer, you
can make up to $101, 850 per year.

9. PROJECT
JOBS
Choose your jobs
 Team Captain: Manages the project.
 Materials Manager: Requests the
materials from the teacher.
 Time Keeper: Keeps the group on task so
the project can be done by project day.
 Scribe/Illustrator: Completes the final
Engineering Design Brief.
 Reporter: Will be responsible for
explaining your project.

10. ENGINEERING
DESIGN
PROCESS

11. ASK
Ask yourself: What is the problem?
Our problem is that animals
are becoming extinct.
What are you being to do?
Our solution is to design and
create a natural habitat for a
zoo exhibit to help save our
animals.

12. ASK
What are your constraints (or
limitations?)
 We have to research our animal’s natural
habitat.
 Our habitat must include: a water source,
food source, at least 1 plant, 1 predator, 1
prey
 We must follow the Engineering Design
Process
 Our habitat must be creative and realistic.

13. IMAGINE
Do your research!
Draw a picture of your animal.
What is it’s Size?
What is the color?
It has fur/skin/feathers?
What does it eat?
Where does it live?
What are its predators?
What is its prey?
How long does it live?

14. IMAGINE
What are some solutions?
Brainstorm some ideas with your
team.
 Come up with a design for your
habitat. What does it need?
Choose the best one!

15. PLAN
 Draw a diagram
 Draw a picture of how you want your final
design to look.
 List your materials
 What materials will you need to make a
prototype?
 Plan the steps you will take to get your
solution
 Draw the steps that EVERYONE need to take
in your group. Who does what? So when you
get your materials everyone will know what
they are doing.

16. CREATE
Follow your plan
Make adjustments as needed
Create a product
Test it
Does it look like you planned.

17. IMPROVE
Did it work?
If it doesn’t look like what you
imagined, make some
improvements.
How can you make it better?
Modify your design.

18. SHARE
 Find a creative way to present your
device. Remember your constraints.
 The presentation must include: A drawing of
our car, a name and slogan for our car, Labels
of the cool features, a written explanation of
how our car will reduce pollution and/or
increase efficiency, and why our car is the
best?
 Explain your results.
 Write your presentation up for people to
read.