A Biomes Webquest

Introduction

A biome is a major geographical region, composed of plants and animals that are adapted to the region's physical environment, including weather and climate. The biomes that will be studied in this Webquest are:
Desert, Grassland, Rainforest, Taiga, Temperate Forest, and Tundra.

Task

You can either pick one of the biomes listed above, or your teacher will assign one. You are a member of the "Chamber of Commerce" for your biome. Your job is to provide information about your biome and encourage people to visit or move to your biome. You can work individually or in teams. Find out the following information about your biome:

climate and weather (annual high and low temperature, average precipitation, types of weather)
animals (endangered and non-endangered species)
vegetation (major trees, shrubs, plants, crops)
landforms (mountains, rivers)
geographic location of the biome throughout the world
places of interest

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Process

Visit the web resources to find information about your biome. You can use the Biome Worksheet to record your information. After you have gathered information, answer the following questions about your biome (you can use the Biome Question Sheet to record your answers).

Why is your biome important?
What are some reasons people might want to visit your biome?
What might happen if your biome didn't exist?

As you answer these questions, you may begin to work on a PowerPoint (or HyperStudio) presentation designed to provide information about your biome and to encourage people to visit your biome. Each member of the team should be responsible for at least two slides in the presentation. The presentation should consist of:

A title slide with the name of your biome and the team members
A slide telling/showing where the biome is located
A climate/weather slide
A slide (or slides) about major animals
A slide (or slides) about vegetation (natural and cultivated)
A slide about major landforms
Slides showing/describing places of interest
A slide encouraging visitors (perhaps with a slogan)
A bibliographic slide citing your sources

Click here to look at some sample PowerPoint slides.

Before working at the computer, you should plan your slides on note cards or the Presentation Planning Form, using a format similar to the samples. Once you have created your PowerPoint presentation, you will need to decide how you will present it. Divide up the presentation information and practice before you present to the whole class. In addition to the PowerPoint presentation (depending on how much time you have), your team could also create posters and/or a brochure about your biome.

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Resources

General Information
All About Nature: Biomes http://www.allaboutnature.com/biomes/pond/pondlife.shtml
Biome Links: http://rmhs.dist214.k12.il.us/classes/lepbilscience/biome.html
Blue Planet Biomes: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/index.htm
Introduction to Biomes: http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/intro.html
(If you get a window asking for a password, click on "Cancel")
Biomes: http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/index1.html
Mission: Biomes: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/
Neighborhoods; Ecosystems, Biomes, and Habitats: http//www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/habitat/habitat.html
The World's Biomes: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/index.html
Biomes Thinkquest: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=home

Citing Sources
Citing Internet Sources - Classroom Connect: http://www.classroom.com/community/connection/howto/citeresources.jhtml
Citation Machine: http://citationmachine.net/
Yahooligan's Teachers Guide: http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/tg/678.html

Encyclopedias
Answers.com: http://www.answers.com/
Encarta: http://encarta.msn.com/artcenter_/browse.html
Electric Library's Free Encyclopedia: http://www.encyclopedia.com
Information Please: http://www.infoplease.com

Animal Pictures
All About Nature: Biomes http://www.allaboutnature.com/biomes/pond/pondlife.shtml

Maps
World Biome Maps: http://www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_map.htm
World Biomes: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm
Graphic Maps Free Clip Art http://www.graphicmaps.com/clipart.htm

Specific Biomes
Desert Images: http://miragemall.com/desertjpegs/imagesf.htm
Desert: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/deserts.html
Desert Life: http://www.desertusa.com/life.html

Grasslands: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/grasslan.html
Grassland Explorer: http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/grassland/
Grassland Thinkquest: http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/grassland.htm
Grasslands: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/grasslands.htm

Rainforest: http://www.interlog.com/~rainfrst/home.html
Rainforest Links: http://www.kidskonnect.com/Rainforest/RainforestHome.html
Tropical Rainforests: http://www.kidskonnect.com/Rainforest/RainforestHome.html
Virtual Rainforest Tour: http://www.bgreen.com.au/rainforest01.html#

Taiga: http://www.kidskonnect.com/Rainforest/RainforestHome.html
Taiga: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=biomes&topic=taiga
Taiga: http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/taiga/taiga.html

Tundra: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/index.htm
Tundra: http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tundra/tundra.html
Tundra: http://www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_tundra.htm
Tundra, the Not-So Barren Land: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/tundra.html

Area Chambers of Commerce
Cedar Rapids' Chamber of Commerce http://www.cedarrapids.org/

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Evaluation

Very Good to Outstanding:
    A completed biomes worksheet
    Thoughtful answers to the questions
    A well constructed PowerPoint presentation (with a minimum of 10 slides)
    An interesting and persuasive delivery of the presentation (clear, rehearsed)
    Evidence of teamwork
    A posture or brochure

Average to Good:
    A completed biomes worksheet
    Fairly thoughtful answers to the questions
    A PowerPoint presentation (with a minimum of 10 slides)
    A somewhat persuasive delivery of the presentation
    Evidence of teamwork

Poor to Fair:
    An incomplete biomes worksheet
    Partial answers to questions
    A PowerPoint presentation with less than 10 slides
    Poor delivery of the presentation (rambling, unclear, unrehearsed)
    Little evidence of teamwork

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Conclusion

Your input is needed to improve or modify this Webquest. Please fill out the following form and then click the submit button at the bottom. Your information and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

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This site was created for use with the 5th grade social studies curriculum in the Cedar Rapids Community School District on February 13, 2000 and updated in January 2006. The author of this site is Ann Nicholson, a curriculum technology specialist for the Cedar Rapids Community School District.
Please forward questions or comments to:
anicholson@cr.k12.ia.us
319-398-2700
voice mail: 319-398-2600 ext. 4304
fax: 319-398-2727
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