Biomes Around the World!

For our class trip we are able to choose from the following biomes around the world to travel to:  

1.  Tropical Rain Forest

2.  Grasslands

3.  Arctic Tundra

4.  Desert

5.  Coniferous Forest

6.  Deciduous Forest

7.  Oceans/Seas 

Step One:  As a class, you will be put into groups of 4 by the teacher based on the biome you think you will be the most interested in presenting. 

Step Two:  Your group will work together to research your specific biome.  You will use the links provided and complete a Biome Fact Sheet to organize your information. You will need to find information on the location, climate, plants, animals, and fun facts of your biome. Each member of the group needs to play a part in gathering information.  There are two ways your group can collect information.  One option is for each person to become an expert on one topic (ex. Tommy researches climate, Billy researches animals, etc).  The second option is for each of you to collect information on each topic and then compare what you found and decide on what to use and not use.  It is up to your group to decide which way you want to do it.  However, no matter which way you do it, each member needs to have their Biome Fact Sheet completed at the end. Your poster will also need to have pictures that go along with each topic you research.  So, as you visit the websites and find good pictures, you may want to print them.  Use the guidelines on the Biome Fact Sheet to see how much information and how many pictures you need for each topic.  You may also want to click on the Evaluation tab to see the rubric that will be used to grade your final project.

Before searching the sites, open and print the attachment below called Biome Fact Sheet.  Use this to record the information you find.  *Remember if you can't find a certain picture or piece of information on one of the websites, you can always go to the library and look for books on your biome. 

Click on the websites that go along with your biome to find information and pictures to complete your Biome Fact Sheet. 

Tropical Rain Forest

http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/rforest/index.htm

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/forests.php#tropical

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rforest.html

http://kids.mongabay.com/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761552810/Rain_Forest.html#p8

http://rrms-biomes.tripod.com/id4.html

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/troprain.htm

Grasslands

http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/grasslnd/index.htm

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/grassland/grassland.shtml

http://www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_grassland.htm

http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/biomegrass.htm

http://rrms-biomes.tripod.com/id6.html

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/grass.htm

http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/grass/grassland.html

Arctic Tundra

http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/tundra/index.htm

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/tundra.php

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/tundra.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/tundra/tundra.shtml

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557297/Tundra.html

http://www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_tundra.htm

http://rrms-biomes.tripod.com/id2.html

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/tundra.htm

Desert

http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.htm

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/desert.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/desert/desert.shtml

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761572480/Desert.html

http://www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_desert.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/28855/main.html

http://rrms-biomes.tripod.com/id9.html

http://inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/desert/desert.htm

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/desert.htm

Coniferous Forest (Taiga)

http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/taiga/index.htm

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/forests.php#boreal

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/taiga.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/taiga/taiga.shtml

http://rrms-biomes.tripod.com/id3.html

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/boreal.htm

http://inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/coniferous/c_forest.htm

http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/conifers/tiaga.html

Deciduous Forest

http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/temp/index.htm

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/forests.php#temperate

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/dforest.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/tempdecid/tempdecid.shtml

http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/biomeforest.htm

http://rrms-biomes.tripod.com/id5.html

http://inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/d_forest/td_forest.htm

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/tempded.htm

http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/deciduous/decfor.html

Oceans

http://www.mbgnet.net/salt/oceans/index.htm

http://www.mbgnet.net/salt/coral/index.htm

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/marine.php#oceans

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/coloring/oceanlife.shtml

http://www.idiotica.com/cranium/encyclopedia/content/Oceans.htm

http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/waterquestlinks.htm

http://rrms-biomes.tripod.com/id12.html

Step 3:  Use the information you gathered to construct a paragraph for each topic you researched.  Check Step 5 or your Biome Fact Sheet to see what needs to be included in each paragraph.  Your paragraph needs to be typed and printed or hand written on the large (4" X 6") index cards that will be provided by the teacher.  Be sure to include the correct number of facts for each topic.  Your paragraphs should be in complete sentences with correct spelling and punctuation.  Don't forget to make your paragraphs interesting so we will want to visit your biome. 

Step 4:  Using the information you collected on animals, create a food chain that the class might see if we travel to your biome that includes at least 4 organisms.  You may create your food chain on the computer or you may draw your food chain.  The food chain must have a picture of each organism, the name of each organism, and arrows to show the correct transfer of energy.    

Step 5:  As a group, you will use the paragraphs you wrote and the pictures you gathered to create a poster similar to the one shown on the task page.  The poster needs to include the following criteria:

1.  The name of your biome printed neatly at the top of the poster. 

2.  Climate: A paragraph describing the climate.

3.  Location:  A paragraph describing the location and a map showing where your biome is found in the world.

4.  Plants:  A paragraph naming and describing at least 5 plants and a description of how one plant of your choice is adapted to live in this environment.  Your poster also needs to include a picture of at least 3 plants found in the biome.   

5.  Animals: A paragraph naming and describing at least 5 animals and a description of how one animal of your choice is adapted to live in this environment.  Your poster also needs to include a picture of at least 3 animals found in the biome. 

6.  Fun Facts: A paragraph telling 3 interesting facts you learned about your biome. 

7.  The food chain your group created. 

8.  Your poster needs to be organized, colorful, neat, and interesting. 

Step 6:  Your group will then present all the information you found to the class using your poster.  Each group member needs to be part of the presentation.  Don't forget to speak with a loud voice and make eye contact with the audience.  Remember, you need to really talk up your biome so the class will want to choose it as our travel destination. 

Step 7:  After each group has presented, the posters will be hung around the room for a couple days.  During that time, be sure to spend some time looking at all the biomes.  Then, as a class we will vote on the biome that we feel would be the most interesting to visit.