PART A: The Portfolio
QUESTION:
1. What factors influence the climate, vegetation and animals that live in a biome region of your choice?
Task: Working on your own, you will become an expert on your biome region so that ultimately you can explain why it is so important to respect your biome region.
Choose a Biome Region – a Biome and a continent or country where it is found.
Refer to pg. 54-58 for a map and description of the biomes .
Temperate Rainforest, Tundra, Boreal Forest, Temperate Deciduous Forest,
Tropical Rainforest, Grassland, Desert, Polar Ice
Example: Grassland in Australia or Tropical Rainforest in China
A list will be sent around the classroom next day and you will sign up for a Biome Region – only 1 person per Biome Region
Research: Your research will include the major areas listed below ( see Content ). You will have 1 in class period to work on the project. The rest will be done at home. You can use the internet, books, encyclopedias, magazines etc).
Content:
 Abiotic information
 Map
 Food chain
 Pyramid of energy, biomass or number
 Food web
 Symbiosis
 Climatograph
 2 examples of adaptations
 Foreign Species
 Final Product
 All documents put in order according to the table of contents
 Bibliography


All pictures correctly cited in MLA or APA format
At least 5 sources corrected cited in MLA or APA format
Portfolio format
Each item will be due during the unit. As you hand them in – they will be assessed using formative assessment. You can take the feedback and improve your project for the final due date when all items must be included is: ___________________

Content Developing
Map

Biome region shown but most of the following are missing: nearby oceans, mountain ranges and the distance from the equator

Analysis of maps – has some errors in understanding or is incomplete
Abiotic information 2 missing from exceeds or minimal descriptions for all 3
Accomplished

Biome region shown but one of the following are missing: nearby oceans, mountain ranges and the distance from the equator

Analysis of maps – completed but not in depth
Climatographs (include data table and description)
Climate data table but not in graph form or data incorrectly graphed and/or no explanation of the data
1 missing from exceeds but the others are well described in detail
Or all abiotic information included from exemplary column but not described fully

1 climatograph and data table with description of the climate

either only from the biome not the specific region or no map provided
Exemplary

Biome region shown along with nearby oceans, mountain ranges and the distance from the equator

Analysis of maps – thorough and thoughtful

Landscape features

Soil conditions

Climate – average temp and rainfall
- All well described in detail

1 climatograph and data table, clearly described

City or town from the specific region
– include a map
Food Chains

1 food chain

Less than 3 organisms

Trophic levels not identified

1 food chain

Less than 3 organisms or trophic levels not identified
Pyramid

1 pyramid but only includes 2 organisms and trophic levels may or may not be included

1 pyramid shown

3 organisms shown

No trophic levels shown

Food web with less than 10 organisms or some organisms don’t belong in that biome

Some arrows may not to the right way/pictures missing

Not very many connections

Some trophic levels unidentified

1 food chain

3 organisms(pictures) included min.

Trophic levels identified

1 pyramid shown with pictures

3 organisms shown

Organisms and trophic levels shown

Food web with at least 10 organisms, arrows from energy sources (include pictures)

Lots of connections

Trophic levels shown
Food Web

Food web contains 6 or fewer organisms or several organisms don’t belong in that biome

Arrows go the wrong way/no pictures

Few connections

Trophic levels not identified
Symbiosis
1 relationship shown but it isn’t actually symbiosis shown
Adaptation
Foreign Species
1 example of adaptations that has been described or 2 examples and not description

One example of a foreign species included

Missing a description of how that species has impacted the native species
Organization/Plagiarism

No table of contents
Bibliography

Some pages are not titled

Appears to be copied from another student or the internet
– in several sections

All pictures captioned but some citations missing

Less than 5 sources or citations have major omissions
1 type of symbiosis but either there is no picture or it is not explained

2 examples of adaptations

Either pictures missing or only a basic description

One example of a foreign species included

A brief description of how that species has impacted the native species

Table of contents included but does not follow the criteria sheet or is not always followed

Each page titled but sometimes hard to see

Appears to be copied from another student or the internet
– in a couple of section

All pictures captioned or cited in
MLA or APA format

At least 5 sources but some errors in the citations
One type of symbiosis shown with a picture and correctly explained

2 examples of adaptations

Pictures and full description of why the adaptation has occurred

One example of a foreign species included

A clear, thorough description of how that species has impacted the native species

Table of contents follows the criteria sheet and is followed

Each page correctly and clearly titled and numbered

There is no doubt that the work is yours alone
– not copied from a student or the internet

All pictures captioned and cited in
MLA or APA format

At least 5 sources correctly cited in MLA or APA format