Biome Research Project
Introduction: A Travel Agency is trying to boost travel to different parts of the world by increasing their
advertising and selling vacation packages. Your group has been hired to make a presentation to sell a
travel package.
Task:
Working as a group (4), develop a short presentation to the class to sell your vacation package.
After all presentations are finished, the class will vote on the most appealing vacation.
Vacation Packages:
Tundra
Taiga
Savanna
Grasslands
Process:
Temperate Forest
Chaparral
Tropical Forest
Desert
Each group will be assigned a biome. It is the team’s job to research the biome and gather facts
and information about that biome. Each member of the team will become an expert in a particular
aspect of the biome. As a group, the team will create a flyer or pamphlet that highlights their biome as a
vacation spot. You can use word or publisher to create the flyer. Pictures and facts should be included.
In addition to your flyer, you will be creating a presentation to give to the rest of the class trying to
convince them that they should travel to your particular area. Some ideas for creative presentations:
1. A group created a pretend “safari” where they made imaginary stops around the class room to
highlight their information
2. Many groups have created power points to help aid in their presentation
3. A group created a “prairie rap” that they showed along with their presentation
4. Posters and mini animals that were given to table groups
5. Pictures of a hike through a deciduous forest
Remember, you want to be as creative as possible to try and sway the
rest of the class to visit your biome
Team Roles for research
Botanist:
Plant expert: What are they plants that live there, and their structural adaptations
Zoologist:
Animal Expert: What are the animals that live there, and their adaptations
Meteorologist: Weather/Abiotic Factor expert: What is the climate, and distinguishing abiotic factors
Geographer: Map and Area expert- Where are these biomes found, what are major
geological/geographic feature
Discuss with your team which role each of you will assume. Remember that you are all
responsible for learning about the biome that you are presenting, but your role reflects an area of
particular focus for you as you research.
Each team member should record facts and information about the biome as they research. This
factsheet will be turned in to show that you did your share of the group work. Please DO NOT print out
whole web pages, a list of facts on notebook paper is fine.
Remember your role.
You can write down anything useful you think the team will need, but
your focus should be on the role you were assigned, or chose with your group.
Some questions to consider in addition to the required information:
What kinds of activities could people do in this location?
What are the more interesting plants and animals that live there?
What kinds of clothes/items should people pack to visit?
What is the weather like? Is there a better time of year to travel there?
What part of the world are they traveling to? Are there any dangerous elements to traveling
there?
Information that MUST be included (either in brochure OR in
presentation)
1.
2.
3.
4.
A map of where the biome exists world wide
A description of the climate/weather patterns that exist there
A minimum of 5 plants and 5 animals that live there
Abiotic factors that affect the plant life (ex: how does lack of moisture affect the plants that
live in a desert?)
5. A food chain that exists in this biome
6. At least 10 interesting facts about this biome
7. Any environmental threats there are to this particular area
How will you be graded? Your project will be divided into three main parts: The actual pamphlet and
research, the presentation, and then an individual assessment based on your contribution to the
project.
Pamphlet Rubric
Content
Weather
Plants
Animals
Geography
Format
Creativity/Originality/
Neatness
Total Points
Excellent (5 points)
All required info.
Included, and is
accurate and relevant
All required information
is included, accurate,
and relevant to project
topic
All required information
is included, accurate,
and relevant to project
topic
All required information
is included, accurate,
and relevant to project
topic, includes
environmental threats
to the area
Flyer has no spelling or
grammar errors, the
layout is organized and
easy to read/ follow.
Citations are included
Design of brochures
shows attention to
detail and design, reads
as a complete brochure,
and is attractive and
neat to look at. Has
facts and images that
are interesting to look
at, is unique in display
and includes color
30 points
Adequate (3-4 points)
Includes accurate info.
But may be lacking in
depth or volume
All information
included, but may not
be relevant, or lacks in
depth/volume
All information
included, but may not
be relevant, or lacks in
depth/volume
All information
included, but may not
be relevant, or lacks in
depth/volume
Flyer has few
spelling/grammar
errors, layout is
generally well organized
and easy to follow.
Citations are included
Needs work (1-2 points)
Not all information is
included, or may be
lacking in detail
Not all information is
included, or may be
lacking in detail
Not all information is
included, or may be
lacking in detail
Not all information is
included, or may be
lacking in detail
Flyer/pamphlet has
many errors in layout,
grammar, or
organization that make
it difficult to
read/follow citations
are missing
Design shows attention Little effort is shown in
to detail, has interesting creation, reads as four
features that appeal to
separate sections rather
the audience, and is
than an entire
interesting to look at,
brochure, sections are
reads as a complete
messy or incomplete
brochure.