Turn your students into wildlife rangers with this hands-on project-based learning unit! Create an Animal is a PBL resource that combines writing, design, and STEM challenges into one engaging project. Students imagine, document, and build a brand new animal — designing everything from its features and habitat to its diet and life cycle. Perfect for 2nd grade and up, this resource works across science, writing, and STEM.
 
Key Features:
Writing & Planning Worksheets: Students document their animal's name, description, features, habitat, diet, eating habits, life cycle, and important facts — building toward a final Animal Report.
STEM Challenges: Two hands-on build challenges — students create a 3D model of their animal and then build its habitat using everyday classroom materials.
Rubrics Included: Self, peer, or teacher assessment rubrics for both the Animal Model and Habitat Model challenges.
Extension / Early Finishers: Activity choice board with creative extension tasks, as well as a creative writing extension where students write and illustrate entries in their own ranger logbook.
Teacher Guide & Slides: Step-by-step implementation guide and teacher slides to introduce each stage of the project.
Individual or Group Work: Flexible enough to be completed independently or as a collaborative group project, making it easy to adapt to your classroom setup.
 
Students Will:
Design and describe a new animal, including its appearance, features, habitat, diet, and life cycle
Write an informational animal report summarizing their research
Build a 3D model of their animal and its habitat
Use planning, design, and problem-solving skills across writing and STEM
Reflect on their design choices and the building process
 
Perfect For:
Project-based learning (PBL) units
Science and STEM rotations
Cross-curricular writing and design projects
Substitute or cover days
End of term / end of year activities
Independent or small group work
 
Create an Animal gives students the freedom to imagine, write, design, and build — all in one resource. Add it to your classroom today and watch your students bring their wildest animal discoveries to life.