Biome project
The Task
Working in groups of 2 or 3, divide up the task of researching two of the world
land biomes: Tundra, Taiga, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Tropical Rain Forest,
Grasslands and Desert or aquatic biomes of streams, lakes, wetlands, estuaries,
and oceans (pelagic, benthos, intertidal, and/or coral reefs). You will organize the
information and write it up, as well as illustrating the biome in the format of your
choice, being sure to make frequent and relevant comparisons between your two
choices. (poster, research paper, powerpoint, newsletter, website, or other
approved format).
The Process
1. Read through all the following instructions.
2. Once you are familiar with what you will be doing, brainstorm ways to
accomplish your tasks. To brainstorm effectively, you should take on roles
such as recorder, to write down all group members ideas; task master, to
mediate and keep everyone on task; and a audio master, to be a good listener
to make sure that all group members' ideas get recorded.
3. Agree upon the best way to accomplish your task and make a quick outline.
Each group member should make a list of the research and work he or she is
responsible for.
4. Research your biome topics. (See Resources and Criteria lists.) When you are
researching, make sure that you save all of your work in the same place each
day, whether it is in a folder, notebook or on the hard drive.
5. Meet with your group regularly. Exchange information and discuss findings.
If you find that you need more information in some areas, research further.
6. Write your part of the biome information. Edit. Peer edit. Make sure you
coordinate with your group so that you use the same font and spacing etc for
your good copy.
7. Meet with your group. Brainstorm ways to format your project. Try to be
creative in your design and layout.
8. Create your project.
Write up
Your write up must include the following sections:
 General information
 Characteristics of the biome
 What parts of the world is your biome located?
 Climate (include temperatures & precipitation) – compare the two
 Animal and plant life
 How organisms (plants and animals) have adapted to survive in the biome
 How organisms (plant and animal) interact in the biome
 Compare organisms between the two biomes
 Ecological Concerns
 How climate change (global warming), affects the biome
 Human impact
 Impact of pollution and population growth on the organisms
 How the use of renewable and non-renewable resources affects your
biome
 Compare ecological concerns of your first biome with those of your other
biome
 Conservation efforts
 What is being done, what could be done
 Compare where possible
 Your perspective of the ecological concerns, conservation efforts and
suggestions for further conservation efforts.
Project
Your project must include text and pictures. (cut and pasted pictures must have a
cited source). Your posters must include the following:
 Biome name (do one poster per biome)
 Labeled map illustrating biome location(s) around the world
 Climate
 Ecological concerns
 Conservation efforts
 Animals
 Plants
 Your perspective
 A comparison paragraph between the two biomes
Resources
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Internet searches (google, yahoo, dogpile, etc…)
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Useful websites:
 Biomes:
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http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/index1.html
http://www.aresearchguide.com/biomes.html
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/
http://www.allaboutnature.com/biomes/
http://lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/biome.html
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/as/education/projects/web
units/biomes/biomes.html
 http://www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_map.htm
 Climate change:
 http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/english/index.shtml
 http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/
 http://www.climateark.org/
 http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/index.html
 http://www.topsfieldschools.org/CURRICULUM%20PAGES/climate_c
hange_andthe_deciduous_.htm
Encyclopedias (book and online)
Public library
School library – trolley provided