Introduction

Imagine yourself in a place where the climate is like summer everyday.  The scenery is absolutely beautiful.  Orchids, ferns, and wood vines grow on and rap around the numerous trees of this forest.  Exotic animals including wild cats, monkeys, and large colorful birds all look at you with curiosity.  Your only complaint is that it rains here almost every day.  It almost seems like paradise, right?  Where are you? Your answer: a tropical rain forest.

Tropical rain forests are just one of six major land biomes.  Ecosystems with similar climates and communities make up the world's biomes.  Other land and water biomes include the coniferous forests, deciduous forests, grasslands, deserts, freshwater, and marine biomes.

The Task

Your task is to research your assigned land or water biome in groups of three or four.   As a group you will create a PowerPoint presentation that will be shared with your class.  Your biome research and presentation should include the following information:

• General Description
• Biome Location
• Climate
• Animals found in biome
• Plants found in biome
• Adaptations make by organisms to survive in biome
• Points of interest
     
  Bibliography (You will use The Slate Citation Machine for correct citation of resources)

1.  Each group will then be randomly assigned one land or water biome.

2.  Your first task is to discuss and assign roles in your group.  Roles should include, but many not be limited to:  timekeeper, organizer, daily reporter, web researcher, and book researcher.  Responsibility for research topics will also be divided among group members.

3.  Once you have decided on roles within your group, you will begin the research process.  Research will include both internet and textbook references.  Specially selected internet sources have been identified for your use on each biome. 

• Click here for Internet Resources. 
• Biome reference books from the library will be available for your use in the classroom.

4.  Upon the completion of your land or water biome research, your group will summarize your finding by answering your guided research questions.  Each group will submit one copy of their completed questions with a copy of their bibliography.  Groups must credit at least four sources using correct documentation (The Slate Citation Machine).  At least two of there sources must be textbook resources.

5.  Next,  your group will create a PowerPoint presentation (12 slides) to include the following information:

a.Title Slide: including name of biome and group members.

b. General Description Slide:  3-5 sentences with picture

c. Location Slide:  3-5 sentences with picture

d. Climate Slide:  3-5 sentences with picture

e. 2 Animal Slides:  at least one picture between 2 slides with brief description on each slide describing animals that inhibit your biome.

f. 2 Plant Slides:  at least one picture between 2 slides with brief description on each slide describing the vegetation in your biome.

g. Adaptation Slide:  3-5 sentences describing how organisms have adapted to help them survive in your biome.

h. Points of Interest Slide: 3-5 sentences describing interesting facts found in your biome research with picture

i. Summary Slide:  3-5 sentences summarizing biome

j. Bibliography Slide:  credit at least 4 sources using correct documentation (at least 2 must  be textbook references)

6.Groups will then present their PowerPoint presentation to the class.

      You will be evaluated on your individual and group work.  Individual evaluations include group cooperation and completion of assigned group roles.  These evaluations will be based on daily teacher observations, post project self-survey, and daily feedback provided by group reporter on task accomplishments.  The final PowerPoint presentation will be evaluated as a group grade.  Points will be distributed as follows:

Upon completion of this project, you will be able to describe the biotic and abiotic factors of land and water biomes. You will also be able to identify examples of each biome and the special adaptation made by living things to survive in each biome.

Reflection Questions:

• Which biome do you live in?
• How is the biome that you presented different/similar to other biomes?

Science (1995) Prentice Hall:  Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

www.wadsworth.k12.oh.us/central/science/biomes