Design your own super-species!
In this issue, you’ve read about the science of interspecies breeding. If you could create the ultimate species, what would it look like and how would its physical traits help it to survive?
Science World invites you to use your wild imagination and science know-how to tackle this challenge. Ten students with the most imaginative and scientific creations will win a chance to publish their work in Science World, along with a prize pack from the award-winning PC game Zoo Tycoon.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
CHALLENGE
1. Create your ultimate super-species out of no more than three existing animal species.
2. Draw one picture of your super-species on an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of paper.
3. Write a 300- to 500-word essay explaining your creation. You must address the following points:
* Explain why you picked the species you used to create your super-species.
* Describe your creature’s habitat; i.e., where does it sleep, what does it eat, etc.
* Describe how each physical trait contributes to the overall fitness of your species.
* Give your super-species a common and scientific name.
MAIL ENTRIES TO Science World, 557 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10012-3999. Attn: Super-Species Contest. Only one entry per person, please. Contest open to U.S. residents currently enrolled in grades 6 through 10. Entries must be received by February 14, 2003. No e-mail entries accepted. For complete rules and guidelines, see this issue’s Teacher’s Edition.
About Zoo Tycoon: Love to take care of animals? Zoo Tycoon is an educational and fun PC game that puts players in command of creating the ultimate zoo. Besides providing great entertainment, this game offers players of all ages a review of global ecosystems, challenging them to flex research and critical-thinking skills to solve problems involving conservation, habitat building, and zoo management. Two expansion packs–“Marine Mania” and “Dinosaur Digs”–increase the challenge (and imagination!) by adding an aquarium or prehistoric dimensions to the zoo. To learn more about this cool game, check out: www.zootycoon.com.
Design a Super-Species Contest
Science World invites students in grades 6 through 10 to create the ultimate species! Ten winners with the most scientific and imaginative entries will win a chance to publish their work in Science World, along with a prize pack from the award-winning PC game Zoo Tycoon.
Challenge:
1. Create your ultimate species out of no more than three existing species.
2. Draw one picture on an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of paper.
3. Write a 300- to 500-word essay to explain your creation. You must address the following points:
* Explain why you picked the species you used to create your super-species.
* Describe your creature’s habitat; i.e., where does it sleep, what does it eat, etc.
* Describe how each physical trait contributes to the overall fitness of your species.
* Give your super-species a common and scientific name.
Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
1. To enter, submit a 300- to 500-word essay on creating a super species; one original artwork or illustration no larger than 8.5″ x 11″; and print your name, age, address (including zip code), telephone number, e-mail address, school name, and teacher’s name on a separate piece of paper and mail to Science World, Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10012-3999. Attn: Super-Species Contest
2. One entry per person. Entries must be received by February 14, 2003. No mechanically reproduced or photocopied entries, or e-mailed entries permitted. Neither the Sponsor, its affiliates, nor any of its agencies are responsible for illegible, lost, late, damaged, incomplete, postage-due or misdirected mail or entries. All materials submitted, and rights in winning entries, become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned.
3. Winners will be selected based on overall presentation, creativity, writing skills, and fulfillment of scientific requirements by a panel of judges including Science World editors, whose decisions are final in all matters relating to this contest. Winners will be notified by mail by April 15, 2003. Only one winner per family or household. Winner may not substitute or transfer prizes but Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prizes with prizes of equal or greater value.
4. All prizes will be awarded. Any prize notification or prize returned to the Sponsor or its agencies as undeliverable will result in disqualification and the awarding of that prize to an alternate winner.
5. Contest open to United States residents who are students enrolled in grades 6 through 10 in the 2002 to 2003 school year. Employees, and the immediate families of employees, of Scholastic Inc., their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies are ineligible. This contest is void where prohibited by law, and is subject to federal, state and local regulations. Taxes on prizes, if any, are the responsibility of individual winners.
6. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission to use winner’s name, biographical information, and/or likeness, and submitted work for purposes of advertising and promotion without further notification or compensation.
7. Prize Details: 10 winners receive a Zoo Tycoon prize pack containing one copy of Zoo Tycoon and one copy of “Marine Mania” expansion pack. Total estimated retail value: $60.
8. By accepting a prize, winner agrees to release and hold Scholastic Inc. harmless from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind resulting from acceptance, possession or use of any prize, including without limitation, personal injuries, death and property damage. By participating in this contest, participants agree to be bound by all the Official Rules of this contest and decisions of Sponsor shall be final and binding with respect to all matters related to this contest.
For a list of winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Science World-contest winners, Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway 4th Floor, New York, NY 10012-3999 by May 1, 2003.
Sponsor: Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
Dear Teacher: If you wish to conduct your own classroom super-species challenge, here’s a reproducible Certificate of Merit for you to award to your students. Just fill in the student’s name in the blank provided. And for added fun, give an award title, for example, “Most Unusual Beak Usage.” We’ve also created a space for you to sign your name. Hope you and your students find this activity enjoyable and educational.–The Editors
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COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group
