Biome WebQuest
Area of Study: Ecosystems /Animal adaptations and survival
A habitat is any place where a particular animal or plant lives. Examples of a
habitat include a lake, a desert, or a forest. Descriptions of environments using
temperature and rainfall are used to group habitats together. Animals, which
live within a same-species group, and occupy an area at the same time, are part
of a population. Populations of different plants and animals interact with each
other, and together, these populations form communities. Plants and animals in
a particular ecological community, or biome, must be adapted to the same living
conditions so they can all survive. Many populations can live in the same area
because each species fills a specific role in the community. Each plant and
animal has its own roll in the ecological community, and is important in some
way to the survival of the other.
Introduction: Hello students! Travel with your friends on this exciting journey
around the world. Select an ecosystem to visit and learn about the animals that
live there. You may even come across endangered species. After each stop
around the world your group will create a field guide on the species of your
liking from each biome.
TASK - Your Mission As A Student:
You have been chosen to journey around the world stopping on each continent to
discover interesting animals, their habitats and the treats they face. Some
animals you will be researching have uncertain futures. They are endangered! You
will do your own research on each ecosystem’s animals. Your assignment is to
complete field guide notes describing the ecosystem and an animal.
Are you ready now to accept your mission?
 Yes!
Where will your first stop be?
Process:
Step 1: Choose an ecosystem. You must research
one animal from one ecosystem.
Step 2: Print Field Notes. You must have field
notes on the ecosystem and your animal.
Using your field notes, you will create a field guide.
Print pictures of your animals and cut them out to
paste in your guide.
Step 3: Play Food Web Game:
http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/kids_web.htm
Step 4: Write a story using your notes. You will
describe your life as an animal in this ecosystem.
Are you a predator or prey? Describe your animal
accurately.
Biomes of the World
Rainforest
Asia ★ South America ★ Africa
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/rforest/index.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_animal_page.htm
Tundra
Artic
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/tundra/index.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra_animal_page.htm
Taiga
Europe ★ Asia ★ N. America
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga_animal_page.htm
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/taiga/index.htm
Desert
Africa ★ Australia ★ North America
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/grasslnd/index.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_animal_page.htm
http://www.livingdesert.org/animals/gila_monster.asp
Grasslands
Africa ★ N. & S. America ★ Asia
http:// www.mbgnet.net/sets/grasslnd/ index.htm
www.hamiltonnature.org/habitats/grasslands/grass_animals.htm
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/bison.php
Deciduous Forest
North America ★ Europe ★ Asia
http://www.eagles.org/moreabout.html
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_animal_page.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/yellowstone-otters/introduction/2103/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/in-the-valley-of-the-wolves/interactive-mapwhere-yellowstone-wolves-roam/228/
http://www.wwfmaps.org/
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/giantpanda/panda.html
Extended Activities
Activities, puzzles and worksheets:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/
Games, activities, homework help: http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/kids_home.cfm
Build a Prairie: http://www.bellmuseum.org/distancelearning/prairie/build/
Show what you know – build a food web:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/ACTIVITIES/explorer/ecosystems/be_an_explorer/map/for
m_wildcats.htm
Extended Activity
Our wonderful froggy friends
are disappearing!
Frogs are very sensitive to environmental changes. The rapid
lost of many species of frogs is a sure sign that something is
going very wrong on our planet.
Every day new species of frogs disappear from our planet
forever. Meet some of the interesting fellows whose plight
has been noted.
http://allaboutfrogs.org/info/save/enda
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/hot/frogs.htmlngere
http://www.amphibians.org./d.ht
http://www.im.nbs.gov/amphibs.htmlml
Name _______________________
Date_____________
Field Notes
Animal Name
________________________________________________________________
Physical description –be sure to include adaptations
Behavior
Description of Habitat
Diet
Is this animal a carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, scavenger, or decomposer?
Scoring Rubric
Trait
4
3
2
1
Ideas and Content
 Ideas are
clear and
original.
 Main ideas
fully develop
the topic.
 Main ideas
are supported
with relevant
facts, details,
examples,
and
explanations.
 Ideas are
clear and
mostly
original.
 Main ideas
support the
topic without
repetition.
 Main ideas
are
supported
with relevant
details and
facts.
 Partially
addresses
prompt.
 Ideas partially
clear.
 Ideas are
unoriginal.
 Main ideas
support topic
with some
repetition and
few relevant
details.
 Ideas are unclear.
 The writing repeats
information or presents
information as a list rather
than in paragraphs.
 There is no elaboration
 Completely off topic.
Organization
 Includes
multiple
sentences
with an
appropriate
introductory
sentence.
 Supporting
sentences
have relevant
facts and
details to
develop the
main ideas.
 Includes a
concluding
summary
sentence.
 The writing
flows
smoothly.
 Transitional
words are
used to add
interest.
 Sentence
length and
structure are
varied.
 The writing
has minimal
errors that do
not distract
from
meaning.
 Writes two or
less
sentences.
 Main ideas
and
supporting
details are
not well
organized
within the
paragraphs.
 The beginning is
somewhat
week.
 The writing is
partially
organized but is
confusing in
parts.

 There is no real beginning
to the paper
 The writing lacks
organization and is
confusing.
 The ideas aren’t connected.
 Facts are copied and not
restated in own words.
 The writing
moves along
smoothly.
 There is a
variety of
sentence
structure.
 Some
transitional
words are
used.
 The writing
has some
errors , but
mistakes
rarely detract
from
meaning.
 The writing
moves along
but may sound
repetitive.
 Little variety in
sentence
structure.
 The writing is mechanical
or awkward.
 There is no sentence
variety.
 The writing has
some errors in
capitalization,
punctuation,
spelling, and
usage, and
mistakes may
cause some
confusion.
 The writing has many
errors in capitalization,
punctuation, spelling, and
usage, and mistakes affect
understanding.
Sentence Fluency
Conventions
BiomeWebquest Created by: Shawn Holman, edited by Erin Dennis and made available for free through
www.teacherspayteachers.com