A New Body
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, scientist, and inventor during the Italian Renaissance. He is considered by many to be one of the most talented and intelligent people of all time. The term Renaissance Man (someone who does many things very well) was coined from Leonardo's many talents and is today used to describe people who resemble da Vinci.
Click on his self portrait to the right to find out more about this remarkable man.
The Vitruvian Man was created by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1487. It is accompanied by notes based on the work of the famed architect, Vitruvius Pollio. The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, depicts a male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and simultaneously inscribed in a circle and square. The drawing and text are sometimes called the Canon of Proportions or, less often, Proportions of Man. It is stored in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, Italy, and, like most works on paper, is displayed only occasionally.
From Cells to an Entire Organism
Da Vinci's work helped us better understand human anatomy. As we learned about the various systems that make up the human body we learned that there are many systems and subsystems that work together to help us function in our day to day lives.
In this project you and your team will put your understanding of body systems, from cells to organisms, to the test as you design a new organism from the ground up!
A New Body
In this project you will create a brand new animal that does not exist. In this project you will need to include the following components:
Name
What is the name of your organism?
How did you decide what to call your organism?
Type
How would you classify your organism? Is it a mammal, bird, fish, reptile, or amphibian?
Environment
Where can your organism be found?
What is its habitat?
What adaptations does it have to help it survive in its environment?
Include a diagram or diagrams of its environment.
Structure
what does this organism look like?
Include a diagram or diagrams of what it looks like.
Systems
explain the various systems that make up your organism. Be sure to include a description of each of the following:
cells
digestive system
respiratory system
circulatory system
skeletal system
muscular system
nervous system
Include a diagram or diagrams of all of its systems.
Presentation
Your team must decide how you will present your new organism to the rest of the class.