Purpose: Students will compare and contrast the different types of aquatic
biomes (freshwater, estuaries, and marine).
Materials:
1. 11x14 white paper (1 per student) or page set up template (must be
printed on legal paper)
2. Marker/Map Pencils
3. Aquatic Biomes Resources (optional)
Set up:
1. Students will need to set up the paper prior to beginning work on the
activity (you will need to walk student through how to set up the paper
if you choose to use poster board instead of the legal paper template)
2. Paper needs to be divided into 3 sections on the diagonal based on
example below:
Marine
Estuaries
Fresh Water
3. Label the sections as listed above (note the middle section can be
written on the diagonal.
Content:
The same information is required for both the freshwater and marine portion
of the project. Estuaries and wetlands have their own requirements.
Freshwater:
FRONT:


In the space provided students must include a drawing of
any body of water included in the freshwater biome
(ponds, streams, lakes, or rivers)
Energy Pyramid
 Include 1 organism (name only) to represent each of
the levels; producers, 1st level, 2nd level, and 3rd
level consumers
 Label the levels of the pyramid as listed above
BACK: ~
the information on the back can be written directly on the poster, or attached as
separate note cards



Characteristics of the Biome
 List 5 characteristics of the biome
Adaptations:
 1 plant adaptation and how it helps the plant to
survive
 2 animal adaptations and how they help the animal
survive
Natural Disasters/Ecological Concerns
 1 Natural Disaster or Human impact on the
ecosystem
Marine:
FRONT:


In the space provided students must create 5 layers of the
ocean using shading to denote the difference between the
layers (light to dark)
Energy Pyramid
 Include 1 organism (name only) to represent each of
the levels; producers, 1st level, 2nd level, and 3rd
level consumers
 Label the levels of the pyramid as listed above
BACK: ~
the information on the back can be written directly on the poster, or attached as
separate note cards



Estuaries:
FRONT:


Adaptations:
 1 plant adaptation and how it helps the plant to
survive
 2 animal adaptations and how they help the animal
survive
Characteristics of the Biome
 List 5 characteristics of the biome
Natural Disasters/Ecological Concerns
 1 Natural Disaster or Human impact on the
ecosystem
Similarities:
 2 Characteristics that estuaries have in common
with either freshwater or marine biomes
Unique Characteristics
 2 Characteristics that are unique to estuaries

Adaptations:
 1 plant or animal adaptation and how it helps the
organism survive
Example of how the front should look when complete:
Purpose: Students will compare and contrast the different types of aquatic
biomes (freshwater, estuaries/wetlands, and marine).
Materials:
4. 11x14 white paper (1 per student) or page set up template (must be
printed on legal paper)
 Marker/Map Pencils
 Resource packs (optional)
Directions:
1. Set up your paper so that you have 3 sections as directed below:
Note: Estuaries can be written on the diagonal to save space.
Marine
Estuaries
Fresh Water
2. Each section will have requirements to complete. Follow the steps
below to complete the comparison chart
FRESHWATER:
Front:
1. Draw a picture of a fresh water body of water. It can be a river, lake,
stream, or a pond
2. Add an energy pyramid to represent your ecosystem. You can paste it
on or draw it directly on the paper.
 Include 1 organism (name only) to represent each of the
levels; producers, 1st level, 2nd level, and 3rd level
consumers
 Label the levels of the pyramid as listed above
Back:
1.
Characteristics of the biome
 List 5 characteristics that describe the freshwater biome
2. Adaptations
List 1 plant adaptation and 2 animal adaptations that help the
organism survive in the biome
Disturbance in the Biome
 List one natural disaster or human activity that is harmful to the
biome

5.
MARINE:
Front:
1. Draw the 5 layers of the ocean using shading to tell apart the different
layers.
2. Add an energy pyramid to represent your ecosystem. You can paste it
on or draw it directly on the paper.
 Include 1 organism (name only) to represent each of the
levels; producers, 1st level, 2nd level, and 3rd level
consumers
 Label the levels of the pyramid as listed above
Back:
1. Characteristics of the biome
 List 5 characteristics that describe the freshwater biome
2. Adaptations
 List 1 plant adaptation and 2 animal adaptations that help the
organism survive in the biome
3.
Disturbance in the Biome
 List one natural disaster or human activity that is harmful to the
biome
Estuaries: THERE IS ONLY INFORMATION ON THE FRONT FOR THIS
SECTION.
1. Characteristics of the area
 List 2 characteristics the estuaries share with either the
marine or the freshwater biomes
 List 2 characteristics unique to the estuaries
2. Adaptations
 List either a plant or an animal adaptation that helps the
organism survive in the area
Use the rubric on the back to verify that you have completed all sections
prior to turning in the assignment.
Comparison Chart Grading Rubric
FRESH WATER:
 Front:
Drawing (5 points)
Energy Pyramid (8 points~2pts/level)
 Front Total:
 Back:
5 Characteristics (10 points ~2pts
each)
Adaptations (12 points ~ 4 pts each)
 Plant (4 points)
 Animal (4 points)
 Animal (4 points)
Natural Disaster (5 points)
 Back Total:
MARINE:
 Front:
Drawing (5 points)
Energy Pyramid (8 points~2pts/level)
 Front Total:
 Back:
5 Characteristics (10 points ~2pts
each)
Adaptations (12 points ~ 4 pts each)
 Plant (4 points)
 Animal (4 points)
 Animal (4 points)
Natural Disaster (5 points)
 Back Total:
Estuaries:
Characteristics (8 points ~ 2 pts each)
 2 Similarities (4 points
each)
 2 Unique (4 points each)
Adaptations (4 points)
Color (4 points)
Neatness (4 points)
TOTAL: