Biome Research

Biomes and Ecosystems Research: Background for the Brochure or Magazine Article

          This WebQuest is designed to help you conduct research on your assigned biome. After completing each task listed in this WebQuest, you will have enough information to begin creating your brochure or magazine article. To complete this task, you must have been assigned a biome by your teacher, you should be working in a small group (3-4 people). You will have a handout template that you need to follow. Below is a list of things your reader needs to know.

During this WebQuest project, each group will have three roles.  The roles during the WebQuest are as follows: recorder, navigator, and reader. You may switch roles as needed or you may keep the same roles throughout your research - your group will decide how to work as a team each day.

Information your readers need to know:

Ø     Types of animals

Ø     Types of plants

Ø     Climate

Ø     Average Temperature

Ø     Average and type of precipitation

Ø     Food Chain (Predator and Prey/Competing organisms)

Ø     Adaptations needed for survival

Ø     Features (landforms such as mountains, lakes, oceans, etc.)

Ø     Human impact on this biome; the impact of this biome on the world

Resources

Tundra BiomeEarth Observatory
MBGnet
Classroom of the Future
Blue Planet Biomes

Taiga BiomeMBGnet
Blue Planet Biomes
Earth Observatory
World Biomes

Desert BiomeBlue Planet Biomes
MBGnet
Earth Observatory
NCEAS

Tropical Rainforest BiomeBlue Planet Biomes
MBGnet
Earth Observatory
NCEAS
Teachers First

Temperate Deciduous Forest BiomeBlue Planet Biomes
MBGnet
Earth Observatory
NCEAS

Grasslands BiomeBlue Planet Biomes
MBGnet
Earth ObservatoryNCEAS

Other helpful web links for use with all biomes:USGS Definitions
Enviro Literacy

Task 1 - Review your Biome
Preview all websites pertaining to your biome. If there are other websites within the websites you search, preview them as well. When you find a website that interests you, stop and read about your biome. Find a picture of your biome that generalizes your biome. Save the picture to your group's folder.  Upon completing all of the above, discuss your biome. Write a descriptive paragraph about your biome.

Task 2 - Animals
Search the websites pertaining to your biome. Find at least 3 animals to represent your biome. Complete the animal description handout provided by your teacher. Click and save a picture of each animal you selected to your group's folder. Discuss with your group adaptations one animal might have made in order to survive. Write an informative paragraph about your animal's adaptations.

Task 3 - Plants
Search the websites pertaining to your biome. Find at least 3 plants to represent your biome. Complete the plant description handout provided by your teacher. Click and save a picture of each plant you selected to your group's folder. Discuss with your group adaptations one plant might have made in order to survive. Write an informative paragraph about your plant's adaptations.

Task 4 - Features
Search the websites pertaining to your biome. Find at least 3 landforms to represent your biome. Complete the landform description handout provided by your teacher. Click and save a picture of each landform you selected to your group's folder.  Discuss with your group one landform and its effects on the adaptations of organisms. Write an informative paragraph about your landform.

Task 5 - Weather and Climate
Search the websites pertaining to your biome. Complete the weather and climate description handout provided by your teacher. Click and save a picture representative of your biome's climate and add to your group's folder.  Discuss with your group how climate affects your biome and the flora and fauna living there. Write an informative paragraph about your biomes climate.

Task 6 - Brochure/Magazine Article
Create a Microsoft Office Publisher Brochure or Newsletter (Newsletter will serve as your magazine article).The group's task is to synthesize all information collected. Use it to create a creative magazine article or brochure about your biome. Be sure to copy and paste the pictures you saved in your folder to your magazine article or brochure. Save the document in your group's folder.