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The Spineless Project

So now you have your invertebrate phyla. How are you going to show the class all of the fabulous things about these critters? It's really up to you the format it takes. As you can tell, I like the PowerPoint presentation but there are many other ways. Here are a few ideas:

• poster board presentations
• short movies
• plays or skits

What should your presentation include?

• pictures, pictures, pictures (with labels of course), or other graphics.
• labeled diagrams
• text/script that is not obviously clipped from the internet. I may choose to quiz you on the material!

The following information should be covered:

• The phylum (duh)
• representative groups within that phylum - What do most people [non-scientists] know them as?
• distinguishing features - Like Ringo's nose, what sets these critters apart from the rest?
• general habitat - benthic, pelagic, temperate, tropical, polar?
• level of organization - colony-like, tissues, organ system?
• symmetry - if present, bilateral or radial
• segmentation - present or absent
• digestive tract - complete/incomplete
• respiratory surface - gills, surface
• circulatory system - open/closed
• other cool things we should know - What makes them interesting?

Sometimes, adding a sub-plot to your presentation can make it less ordinary and boring. Perhaps you could make your presentation into a commercial or a spoof of a television show. DON'T LET YOUR SUB-PLOT TAKE OVER YOUR TOPIC. The most important part (and biggest part of your grade) of the project is how well you cover the topics!!