Biomes
Webquest
5th Grade Science
Introduction
You have a
new summer job working for a travel agent. You have been hired to
create brochures and posters that will persuade travelers to visit a
specific geographical biome. You have the opportunity to be extremely
creative for the summer!
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The
Task
Working in
groups of three or four, divide up the task of researching one of the
six biomes: Tundra, Taiga, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Tropical Rain
Forest, Grasslands and Desert. You will organize the information into
a brochure and illustrate the biome ecosystem in a poster. Each group
member will assemble a brochure to present to a group of travel
agents selling different biomes.
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The
Process
- First, meet
with your assigned group and read through the entire webquest.
- Once you are
familiar with what you will be doing, brainstorm ways to accomplish
your tasks. To brainstorm effectively, you should take on roles
such as recorder, to write down all group members ideas; task master,
to mediate and keep everyone on task; and a audio master, to be a good
listener to make sure that all group members' ideas get recorded.
- Agree upon
the best way to accomplish your task and make a quick plan. Each group
member should make a list of the research and work he or she is
responsible for.
- Research
your biome topics. (See Resources and Criteria lists.) When you are
researching, make sure that you save all of your work in the same place
each day, whether it is in a folder, notebook or on a computer. Keep
track of who is logged in on the computer and where you save your
information so that you can find it when you need it.
- Meet with
your group. Exchange information and discuss findings. If you find that
you need more information in some areas, research further.
- Use the
brochure template to compile your research information.
Directions are provided on the template for you to follow. This
brochure should be approved by me before you print a final copy (we
will print in color) so we don't waste paper or ink.
- Meet with
your group. If you did not break up jobs to complete the poster,
brainstorm and agree on how you want your poster to be completed, then
do so.
- Complete
poster. We will find a place to display these (probably in the hallway)
so make sure that you are neat and careful.
- You will be
reassigned to a group that will include at least one member from each
biome. Meet with that group.
- Share your
biome information and brochures. Create a chart listing ten
similarities and ten differences among the characteristics of each
biome.
- Turn your
chart in to a hand-in tray. Make sure all the members of your group are
listed on the chart. Hand in your brochure in a separate hand-in
tray.
- Click on the
self evaluation link and print the worksheet. Complete the self
evaluation worksheet.
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Criteria
Brochure
Each group member will
create a brochure. All brochures must include the
following:
- Name of biome
- Labelled map
illustrating biome location(s)
- Landforms
- Animal life
- Plant life
- Climate
- Your brochure must be
edited and assembled in a neat, organized manner.
Poster
Your poster may be
drawn and colored or made with cut and pasted pictures, but must
include the following:
- Biome name
- Landforms
- Prevailing
precipitation obvious
- Ten animals
- Ten plants
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Resources
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm
You may also use the Google bar - type in the name of
your biome - be careful where you go when you are on the internet...
- Encyclopedias
- Public library,
classroom library collection
- School library
- Zoo Books
- Science
text, Scott Foresman
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Conclusion
You have now published
a brochure about a geographical biome. How
did your biome compare to other biomes? What were the similarities
and differences?
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to Home Page
This webquest is a modified version of a webquest created by:
Dana
Matousek
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/dmatousek/webquest.htm#top