NAME: _____________________________

You will select two or more living organisms to "mate" and form a new organism that exhibits a physical characteristic that would provide a benefit to humans or the environment. Based on the observable characteristics of this new species you will complete this survey about your new organism, describe how your new organism’s characteristics benefit humans and/or the environment, create a model of the new organism and complete the self assessment part of the Scoring Rubric at the end of this document. 

Physical Characteristics of “Parent” organisms
Complete the table.  Copy and paste a picture of the organism.  You can find pictures or clip art in your word processing program or search for freely available pictures and clip art from the Internet.

Name of Existing Organism 1	Name of Existing Organism 2	

Environment where Organism 1 Lives	Environment where Organism 2 Lives	

Picture of Organism	Picture of Organism	

	
List the Physical Characteristics of Organism 1	List the Physical Characteristics of Organism 2	
•		•		

(Complete the table below only if you are using more than one organism for your new organism.)
Name of Existing Organism 3	Name of Existing Organism 4	

Environment where Organism 3 Lives	Environment where Organism 4 Lives	

Picture of Organism	Picture of Organism	

	
List the Physical Characteristics of Organism 3	List the Physical Characteristics of Organism 4	
•		•		

Physical Characteristics of the “new” Organism
Complete the table describing your new organism. 

Name of New Organism	

	
Sketch of New Organism 
Use the electronic drawing tools of your word processing program to sketch your new organism, insert a digital picture of your completed model, or scan a drawing of your new organism into the document.

	
List the Physical Characteristics of the New Organism and which parent contributed the trait.
	
Characteristic(s)	Contributing Parent(s)	
•		•		
•		•		
•		•		
•		•		

For each of the physical characteristics listed on the previous table, describe how each helps your new organism benefit humans and/or the environment.  
Refer the New Species Rubric on the last page for specifications on how your response will be scored.

>>> TYPE YOUR RESPONSE IN THIS WHITE SPACE<<<

Scoring Rubric
Scale

Criteria	1	2	3	4	Self Score	Teacher Score	
Organism 
Survey Tables
(5 pts.)	The required tables are incomplete or missing.	Most but not all required sections of all tables are completed as directed.	All required sections of all tables are completed as directed.	All required sections of all tables are completed as directed and includes thorough descriptions of the environment and physical characteristics of the organisms. 			
Organism Model
(15 pts.)	The model does not show the new physical characteristics of the new organism and the model is not neatly constructed.	The model may show the new physical characteristics of the new organism but is not obvious, or the model is not neatly constructed.	The model shows the physical characteristics of the new organism and is neatly constructed.	The model clearly shows the physical characteristics of the new organism and how it would benefit humans and/or the environment and is neatly constructed.			
Description of New Physical Characteristics
(20 pts.)	The description of the physical characteristics describes only some of the new characteristics of the new organism, does not adequately address how the characteristics benefit humans and/or the environment and spelling and grammar are often incorrect.	The description of the physical characteristics describes most of the new characteristics of the new organism, somewhat explains how the characteristics benefit humans and/or the environment, spelling and grammar are mostly correct.	The description of the physical characteristics describes all new characteristics of the new organism and explains how the characteristics benefit humans and/or the environment, spelling and grammar are mostly correct.	The description of the physical characteristics describes all new characteristics of the new organism in great detail, comprehensively explains how the characteristics benefit humans and/or the environment, and is written using correct spelling and grammar.			
				Overall Score