7th Grade Science Biomes Unit Information Milestones Domain/Weight: Interdependence of Life 50% Content Map: Biomes Content Map Milestones Ecology Study/Resource Guide Prerequisites: There are no elementary standards on biomes Unit Length: Approximately 8 days Click on the links below for resources by Essential Question: EQ 1: What are the characteristics of the Earth’s major terrestrial biomes? EQ 2: What are the characteristics of the Earth’s major aquatic communities? Culminating Tasks: Links Board Game | Dichotomous Key for Biomes Comparing Biomes (For example: http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/comparing_ecosystems.html) *Note: There is not a common unit assessment for this unit. Rather, there is a common unit quiz which gives teachers greater flexibility in when and how they give the assessment. Additionally, the quiz has two sections. The first section has 26 questions which can be used for the initial quiz. Then more questions are provided which can be used for review it needed. TCSS 7th Science Evolution Unit Essential Question and Standard(s) 1. What are the characteristics of the Earth’s major terrestrial biomes? Standard: S7L4e. Describe the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes (i.e., tropical rain forest, savannah, temperate, desert, taiga, tundra, and mountain) and aquatic communities (i.e., freshwater, estuaries, and marine) Vocabulary Essential* Desert Tundra Mountain Terrestrial Temperate Tropical rain forest Taiga (coniferous forest) Savanna(h) (tropical grassland) Supplemental** Vegetation Grassland Boreal forest Deciduous forest Precipitation Geographical Climate/Climatic Desertification (impact on adaptations) Soil erosion (impact on adaptations) Other Arctic Alpine Prairie (temperate grassland) *Essential Vocabulary listed in the Standards **Supplemental Vocabulary listed in the state frameworks and/or other state document TCSS Resources [Back to Top] This essential question could be taught using the Jigsaw method and the Biome Information Sheets and Adaptations Sheets linked below. Terrestrial Biome ppt Terrestrial Biome Activator - have students complete the “What I Know” column on their own, but tell them that they do not have to fill in something for each type of biome. Just enough to indicate what they already know. Once the students have been given a few minutes to complete the “What I Know” column, allow them to share their responses with another student. However, tell students that they should not fill in the “What I Know” column with comments from another student. They are only sharing. The goal would be toward the end of the lesson to go back to the “Corrections or New Information” column and have students add information. Terrestrial Biome Chart | Terrestrial Biome Chart 2 | Alpine Biome Chart Biome Map Identification Adaptation Sheets o Tundra Plant and Animal Adaptations o Taiga Plant and Animal Adaptations o Desert Plant and Animal Adaptations o Tropical Rainforest Plant and Animal Adaptations o Temperate Deciduous Forest Plant and Animal Adaptations o Grassland Plant and Animal Adaptations – There is not a separate adaptations sheet for Savanna(h). So, some of these apply to the Savanna(h). o Alpine Plant and Animal Adaptations Terrestrial Biome Precipitation Comparison – students use the information from their Terrestrial Biome Chart to create a bar graph comparing the annual rainfall of specific biomes. Possible Activities for Biomes 2/28/2016 Assessment S7L4e. GOFAR Rainforest and Temperate Deciduous Forest Comparison S7L4e. GOFAR Tundra S7L4e. GOFAR Moose and Hare Relationship in a Biome S7L4e. GOFAR Desert, Grassland, and Rainforest Comparison 2 TCSS 7th Science Evolution Unit Essential Question and Standard(s) Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment o TCSS Students can make brochures for various biomes Additional Sheets that may be used for reinforcement or review o Biomes: Test Your Knowledge Multiple Choice o Tundra Information Sheet | Tundra Cloze Reading | Tundra Multiple Choice o Taiga Information Sheet | Taiga Cloze Reading | Taiga Multiple Choice o Desert Information Sheet | Desert Cloze Reading | Desert Multiple Choice o Tropical Rainforest Information Sheet | Tropical Rainforest Cloze Reading | Tropical Rainforest Multiple Choice o Deciduous Forest Information Sheet | Deciduous Cloze Reading | Deciduous Multiple Choice o Grassland Information Sheet | Grassland Cloze Reading | Grassland Multiple Choice Videos o My Biome Song o Study Jams: Biomes 2/28/2016 3 TCSS 7th Science Evolution Unit Essential Question and Standard(s) 2. What are the characteristics of the Earth’s major aquatic communities? Standard: S7L4e. Describe the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes (i.e., tropical rain forest, savannah, temperate, desert, taiga, tundra, and mountain) and aquatic communities (i.e., freshwater, estuaries, and marine) Vocabulary Essential* Aquatic Marine Estuary Freshwater Supplemental** Swamp Marsh Other Pond River Stream Wetland Brackish Tributary Saltwater Oceanic Neritic Benthic Intertidal Resources [Back to Top] Aquatic Communities ppt Aquatic Communities Chart for Notes Aquatic Communities Diagrams Aquatic Communities Where Am I? Aquatic Communities Task Rotation Sample Question from GOFAR: The blue crab is both a predator and a prey organism. The blue crab's prey includes plants, worms, clams, and oysters. | Exemplar What advantage does the blue crab have by living in estuaries? Videos o Study Jams: Aquatic Ecosystems Assessment S7L4e. GOFAR Aquatic Biomes *Essential Vocabulary listed in the Standards **Supplemental Vocabulary listed in the state frameworks and/or other state document TCSS 2/28/2016 4