Introduction

I need your help 6th graders! I am a scientist and I love to learn about different animals. One day I was walking along the beach and I saw this huge animal but I can't figure out what kind of animal this is. I need to tell the world about my new discovery! Will you help me? I need to know the phylum and the species of this animal. I also need to know things like what it likes to eat and where it lives. Who big does it normally get? And any other information that you can find! I am sorry I can’t be much more help but I did manage to snap a picture of it.

I know that is a crab can you help me with the rest?

Task

This operation will require three members in a group working together. One member of the group identifies the crab’s class and phylum. The second member of the group will find out the crab’s diet and preferred habitat. The third member will find out how big this particular crab normally gets and how long the crab normally lives.


Process

Using the resources listed below the members in your group will work together to search the web in order to discover all the required information about this particular crab. Once you have found all of your information about the crab then your group will get back together and share all the information with the other members. Once each member will then become an expert on the crab. Then your group will compile all of the information together into one presentation. The presentation will need to have visuals whether that is a power point, poster board, or something else. It will be presented as if you were a professional scientific team that has just discovered and classified this crab yourselves. Once your presentation is completed it will be presented to a group of real scientists in the community so do your best work!

Websites that will be helpful:
http://www.factophile.com/show.content?action=view&pageid=1
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/arthropod.htm
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/coconut-crabs.html
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coconut+crab
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761576967/Coconut_Crab.html
http://news.worldwild.org/strange-living-animals-coconut-crab/

Evaluation

Your presentation will be evaluated on how much work you put into the project, how through your research and information are, and the creativity of your project. You will receive a grade on your individual contributions to the group as well as the group's final presentation.

Conclusion

Imagine if you were a scientist and your job was researching a brand new animal that had never been discovered and you had to classify it yourself and study all about it to tell the world. That would definitely be a challenge! By completing this project you have learned about this particular crab and the species of arthropod. You have also learned more about the Animal Kingdom divisions and some of its divisions. You have successfully researched an animal and learned all about it and helped the other scientist in the process. I am sure they appreciate your help!!