Introduction
http://www.st.cr.k12.ia.us/webquest/biomes/index.htm
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 Web-quest are:
Desert (hot and cold), Grassland, Chaparral, Tropical Savannah, Rainforest,
Taiga, Temperate Forest, Boreal Forest and Tundra (Arctic and Alpine)
* There are useful websites on the webquest site, but you should also look at the website you have already
researched!
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) This includes planted crops
landforms (mountains, rivers)
geographic location of the biome throughout the world
conservation issues
places of interest
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 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
A slide talking about conservation issues (new!)
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.
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/