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Looking for something to spice up a creative writing assignment? How about add a little meaningful sci-fi to a biology class? Maybe get an art project involving animals ruminating in a little different direction?

You’re in luck! A fascinating new piece of software called Switch Zoo Deluxe from the folks at Tubehead has taken an old kid favorite - mixing and matching animal heads, bodies and tails -to a most creative and truly giddy height through the magic of computer morphing. Using it, kids can literally pick and choose from hundreds of animal heads, bodies and tails to fashion together the critter they’ve always dreamed about.

Now it’s no problem to create a "rhizeger" or a"pandelerel", read interesting facts about each animal that has contributed a ‘part’ and then write about a new member of the world menagerie right on screen. It’s a simple concept, but it’s amazing how it gets kids thinking about diversity, adaptation, and species specialization. This software is also a great launching pad for a lesson on mythical beasts, lyrical poetry, or even a field trip to the zoo. Teachers have used it as inspiration for young artists as well. The software even allows kids to save their creations so they can come back and add or edit their tales or ‘field reports’ or, better yet, their animals. Click the Randomizer button and you have no idea what you might get!

You can download a demo of this amazingly realistic animal make over machine at http://www.switchzoo.com and try it out. If you are at a school, hospital, or library, you might also be lucky enough to be among the first 10,000 to request and receive the free downloads of the whole program that Tubehead is giving away. Schools can then install the program for free on desktop computers school-wide. (See the Switch Zoo site for more details.)

You’ll find this site and software listed on the Franklin Institute’s "Interactive Things to Do List" and among The Exploratorium of San Francisco’ "Ten Cool Sites." Switch Zoo is also one of 12 science sites selected for the new book, 101 Best Web Sites for Elementary Teachers by James Lerman, published by the International Society for Technology in Education.

Check it out. It’s a great way to add some fun to the upcoming last days of school!