Ecology Student Choice Project, Rubric & Teacher Guide

Bring ecology to life in your classroom with this creative, student-centered Ecology Differentiated Student Choice Project! Designed as a culminating assessment for your ecology unit, this project empowers students to explore key ecological concepts through choice, creativity, and real-world connections.

Why Teachers Love This Project:

• Student Choice = Engagement – With over 25 project options at varying point levels, students can showcase their understanding in ways that align with their interests, talents, and learning styles.
• Covers Core Ecology Topics – Every project is rooted in foundational ecological concepts—from biomes, food webs, and population dynamics to migration, symbiosis, and environmental impact.
• Real-World & Environmental Connections – Students investigate current ecological issues, design conservation solutions, and connect classroom learning to real ecosystems and global challenges.
• Easy to Implement & Grade – With a detailed Teacher Guide and an editable rubric, you’ll have everything you need to launch and manage the assignment with confidence.

What’s Included?

• Teacher Guide – Full implementation support, tips for pacing, and detailed grading criteria.
• Student Project Menu – 25+ project choices across four point categories (5–10, 10, 15, 20 points). Students choose their path to 50 points!
• Clear Student Directions – Easy-to-understand instructions that emphasize creativity, professionalism, and content accuracy.
• Editable Rubric – A detailed grading rubric covering scientific accuracy, effort, originality, presentation, and topic understanding.

Use This Project To:

• Wrap up your ecology unit with a flexible, creative summative assessment
• Differentiate for diverse learners with multiple formats and access points
• Support NGSS-aligned instruction with hands-on, meaningful learning experiences
• Build critical thinking, research, and communication skills in a real-world context

Perfect for middle and high school life science or environmental science classes, this project invites students to think like ecologists, conservationists, and changemakers. Whether they’re designing a biome escape room, crafting a migration comic, or developing a conservation campaign, your students will gain a deeper understanding of how life on Earth is connected—and how their choices matter.

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Jessica