Animal Habitat & Biomes STEM Diorama Engineering Design Project

lesson overview

Animal Habitat & Biomes STEM Diorama Engineering Design Project

This hands-on project is an engaging design challenge that allows students to learn how to do research, apply the engineering design process, and connect to a real-world STEM career. Included are handouts and editable slides to teach about biomes, ecosystems, and habitats. The editable slides cover the biomes (temperate forest, rainforest, tundra, taiga, desert, freshwater, ocean, and grassland), what plants and animals live in each one, and some adaptations associated with the wildlife in that biome. Also included are 48 game cards to be used for reviewing biomes with a game of Memory, or other options.

Engineering Challenge: Students will construct a diorama of an animal habitat after researching their chosen animal. The habitat must also incorporate a design constraint such that their animal must be able to move in and out of their shelter without the student touching it with their hands.

STEM Career Connection: This project connects to the career of wildlife biology and its role in protecting and conserving animal habitats.

As with many STEM activities, this challenge can be tailored to students of various skill levels and abilities.

Included in this product:

• Detailed teachers guide with links to resources

• Photos of student examples

• Student handouts to guide them through the design process

• Editable slides about biomes

• STEM Career Connection on wildlife biology

• Memory game to review biomes

• Student recording sheets for research and preparing a presentation

Recommended Materials:

• Scissors

• tape

• Shoe box

• Moss, rocks, and plastic greenery

• construction paper

• Plastic animals (optional)

Looking for more STEM lessons? Find the Vivify resource guide here: bit.ly/VivifyResourceGuide

Need to pay with invoice? Contact us here.