7th Grade Science
Biomes Unit Information
Milestones Domain/Weight: Interdependence of Life 50%
Content Map: Biomes Content Map
Milestones Ecology Study/Resource Guide
Prerequisites: There are no elementary standards on biomes
Unit Length: Approximately 8 days
Click on the links below for resources by Essential Question:
EQ 1: What are the characteristics of the Earth’s major terrestrial biomes?
EQ 2: What are the characteristics of the Earth’s major aquatic communities?
Culminating Tasks: Links Board Game | Dichotomous Key for Biomes
Comparing Biomes
(For example: http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/comparing_ecosystems.html)
*Note: There is not a common unit assessment for this unit.
Rather, there is a common unit quiz which gives teachers greater
flexibility in when and how they give the assessment. Additionally,
the quiz has two sections. The first section has 26 questions
which can be used for the initial quiz. Then more questions are
provided which can be used for review it needed.
TCSS 7th Science Evolution Unit
Essential Question and
Standard(s)
1. What are the
characteristics of the
Earth’s major terrestrial
biomes?
Standard:
S7L4e. Describe the
characteristics of Earth’s
major terrestrial biomes
(i.e., tropical rain forest,
savannah, temperate,
desert, taiga, tundra, and
mountain) and aquatic
communities (i.e.,
freshwater, estuaries, and
marine)
Vocabulary
Essential*
Desert
Tundra
Mountain
Terrestrial
Temperate
Tropical rain forest
Taiga (coniferous forest)
Savanna(h) (tropical grassland)
Supplemental**
Vegetation
Grassland
Boreal forest
Deciduous forest
Precipitation
Geographical
Climate/Climatic
Desertification (impact on
adaptations)
Soil erosion (impact on
adaptations)
Other
Arctic
Alpine
Prairie (temperate grassland)
*Essential Vocabulary listed in
the Standards
**Supplemental Vocabulary
listed in the state frameworks
and/or other state document
TCSS
Resources [Back to Top]
This essential question could be taught using the Jigsaw
method and the Biome Information Sheets and
Adaptations Sheets linked below.
 Terrestrial Biome ppt
 Terrestrial Biome Activator - have students complete
the “What I Know” column on their own, but tell them
that they do not have to fill in something for each type
of biome. Just enough to indicate what they already
know. Once the students have been given a few
minutes to complete the “What I Know” column, allow
them to share their responses with another student.
However, tell students that they should not fill in the
“What I Know” column with comments from another
student. They are only sharing. The goal would be
toward the end of the lesson to go back to the
“Corrections or New Information” column and have
students add information.
 Terrestrial Biome Chart | Terrestrial Biome Chart 2 |
Alpine Biome Chart
 Biome Map Identification
 Adaptation Sheets
o Tundra Plant and Animal Adaptations
o Taiga Plant and Animal Adaptations
o Desert Plant and Animal Adaptations
o Tropical Rainforest Plant and Animal
Adaptations
o Temperate Deciduous Forest Plant and Animal
Adaptations
o Grassland Plant and Animal Adaptations –
There is not a separate adaptations sheet for
Savanna(h). So, some of these apply to the
Savanna(h).
o Alpine Plant and Animal Adaptations
 Terrestrial Biome Precipitation Comparison – students
use the information from their Terrestrial Biome Chart
to create a bar graph comparing the annual rainfall of
specific biomes.
 Possible Activities for Biomes
2/28/2016
Assessment




S7L4e. GOFAR
Rainforest and
Temperate Deciduous
Forest Comparison
S7L4e. GOFAR Tundra
S7L4e. GOFAR Moose
and Hare Relationship
in a Biome
S7L4e. GOFAR
Desert, Grassland, and
Rainforest Comparison

2
TCSS 7th Science Evolution Unit
Essential Question and
Standard(s)
Vocabulary
Resources [Back to Top]
Assessment
o


TCSS
Students can make brochures for various
biomes
Additional Sheets that may be used for reinforcement
or review
o Biomes: Test Your Knowledge Multiple Choice
o Tundra Information Sheet | Tundra Cloze
Reading | Tundra Multiple Choice
o Taiga Information Sheet | Taiga Cloze Reading
| Taiga Multiple Choice
o Desert Information Sheet | Desert Cloze
Reading | Desert Multiple Choice
o Tropical Rainforest Information Sheet | Tropical
Rainforest Cloze Reading | Tropical Rainforest
Multiple Choice
o Deciduous Forest Information Sheet |
Deciduous Cloze Reading | Deciduous Multiple
Choice
o Grassland Information Sheet | Grassland Cloze
Reading | Grassland Multiple Choice
Videos
o My Biome Song
o Study Jams: Biomes
2/28/2016
3
TCSS 7th Science Evolution Unit
Essential Question and
Standard(s)
2. What are the
characteristics of the Earth’s
major aquatic communities?
Standard:
S7L4e. Describe the
characteristics of Earth’s
major terrestrial biomes (i.e.,
tropical rain forest,
savannah, temperate,
desert, taiga, tundra, and
mountain) and aquatic
communities (i.e.,
freshwater, estuaries, and
marine)
Vocabulary
Essential*
Aquatic
Marine
Estuary
Freshwater
Supplemental**
Swamp
Marsh
Other
Pond
River
Stream
Wetland
Brackish
Tributary
Saltwater
Oceanic
Neritic
Benthic
Intertidal
Resources [Back to Top]








Aquatic Communities ppt
Aquatic Communities Chart for Notes
Aquatic Communities Diagrams
Aquatic Communities Where Am I?
Aquatic Communities Task Rotation
Sample Question from GOFAR: The blue crab is both a predator
and a prey organism. The blue crab's prey includes plants,
worms, clams, and oysters. | Exemplar
What advantage does the blue crab have by living in estuaries?
Videos
o Study Jams: Aquatic Ecosystems
Assessment

S7L4e. GOFAR
Aquatic Biomes
*Essential Vocabulary
listed in the Standards
**Supplemental
Vocabulary listed in
the state frameworks
and/or other state
document
TCSS
2/28/2016
4