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1Introduction

Introduction

Welcome scientists! You have been chosen by a local magazine company to create a special feature about terrestrial biomes around the world in their upcoming edition of "BiomeTrekker." This assignment will require you to pack your bags and take a virtual trip into the heart of your biome. Don't worry though, you will not be traveling alone! You will travel with a team of scientists as you explore your biome and gather as much information as possible before coming back to the lab to organize and combine the information you found.

So, grab your tools, pack your bags and let's take flight!

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2Task

The Task

You will be traveling and working with a team of 4-5 scientists. Each scientist has an area of expertise that will guide their research on your trip. Your team will include a Meteorologist, a Botanist, a Zoologist, a Geologist and sometimes an Environmentalist. Your plane tickets have been purchased and each team will be traveling to one of the main terrestrial biomes around the world. Each team member will use his or her field journal to keep notes and answer specific questions while on the trip which will help your team create your magazine article. By the end of your experience, you will be ready to present your article to the magazine for publication.

Good luck, safe travels and have fun!

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3Process

The Process

Below you will find your specific assignment and websites to use based on your job title and area of expertise (you may also visit our old "stand-by's" like Yahooligans and Nettrekker for additional resources). Use your field journal to keep track of what you find and be prepared to share what you've discovered when your team meets up back at the lab to prepare the magazine article. Once each scientisthas completed his or her individual assignment, see "Your Expert Team" at the bottom of the page to find out what the magazine publishers are expecting for your biome article.

Meteorologist- The Weather Expert

Your job is to find out everything you can about the weather and climate of your biome. You should find information about the typical seasons, temperature, weather and rainfall. Include any additional information you gather that would help make your magazine article more interesting. While on your trip, use the websites below to help guide your field research. Your job will also be to create a graph showing the average annual rainfall and temperature for your biome.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm (Scroll down to find your biome's climate.)

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html (Click on your biome on the right.)

http://www.mbgnet.net/ (Click on your biome name and search through the links on the left.)

http://www.bioexpedition.com/biomes.html (Click on your biome name and read about the characteristics.)

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/B/Biomes.html (Click on your biome name.)

http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/index.html (Find your biome on the map or use the buttons on the left. Scroll down to read about climate. Some biome sites include temperature and precipitation graphs to help you.)

Botanist- The Plant Expert

Your job is to find out everything you can about the plants that are unique to your biome. You should explore the types of plants that live in your biome as well as any adaptations that they have in order to survive there. It is also important to find out if the plants in your biome are useful in any way. Include any additional information you gather that would help make your magazine article more interesting. While on your trip, use the websites below to help guide your field research. Your job will also be to create or find images of at least three different plants that are located in your biome.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/plants.htm (Click on your biome name and read about some of the plants that live there.)

http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/adapt.html (Click on your biome name to find out about the plant life.)

http://www.mbgnet.net/ (Click on your biome name then use the "Plants" button on the left.)

http://www.bioexpedition.com/biomes.html (Click on your biome then read that biome's "Flora" section.)

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/B/Biomes.html (Click on your biome then read the description.)

http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/index.html (Find your biome on the map or use the buttons on the left. Scroll down to read about vegetation and adaptations.)

Zoologist- The Animal Expert

Your job is to find out everything you can about the animals that live in your biome. You should explore the types of animals that live in your biome as well as any unique adaptations they have in order to survive there. It is also important to find out what the animals eat as well as any threats that the animals in your biome may encounter. Include any additional information you gather that would help make your magazine article more interesting. While on your trip, use the websites below to help guide your field research. Your job will also be to create or find images of at least three different animals that are located in your biome.

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/mammals/habitat/map.html (Click on your biome name and then click "See Mammals in this Biome" on the tab that appears on the left.)

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/animals.htm (Click on your biome and read about some of the animals that live there.)

http://www.mbgnet.net/ (Click on your biome then use the buttons on the left to read about animal life.)

http://www.bioexpedition.com/biomes.html (Click on your biome then read that biome's "Fauna" section.)

http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/index.html (Find your biome on the map or use the buttons on the left. Scroll down to read about the "Fauna" or animals. Some biomes do not include this information.)

Geologist- The Land Expert

Your job is to find out everything you can about the location and landforms of your biome. You should explore where your biome can be found in the world and how much land it covers, as well as the landforms (mountains, plains, rivers, etc) and soil type that can be found in your biome. Include any additional information you gather that would help make your magazine article more interesting. While on your trip, use the websites below to help guide your field research. Your job will also be to create a map that shows the location of your biome as well as create or find at least two images that show the geography and landforms found in your biome.

http://www.mbgnet.net/ (Click on your biome then use the links on the left to find out where it is located.)

http://www.bioexpedition.com/biomes.html (Click on your biome then read the description and characteristics.)

http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/B/Biomes.html (Click on your biome then read the description.)

http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/index.html (Find your biome on the map or use the buttons on the left. Read about what defines your biome and where it is found. Some biomes include maps and videos showing the location and landforms.)

Environmentalist- The Preservation Expert

Your job is to find out about any threats to your biome and/or how your biome is being impacted by humans. You should also explore what efforts are being made to help save the important features of your biome (ex: are there endangered plants or animals and what's being done to help save them). Be sure to explain why it is important to protect and save your biome. Your job will also be to create an advertisement to encourage and tell others what they can do to protect your biome.

http://www.ehow.com/how_8747916_out-preserve-biome.html (Read for ideas about out how to preserve a biome.)

http://www.bioexpedition.com/biomes.html (Click on your biome and read carefully in each section for information about what's happening to this biome and the species that live there.)

http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/index.html (Find your biome on the map or use the buttons on the left. Read carefully through each section to discover information about what impacts this biome.)

**Special Message for the Environmentalist**
You may need to reference additional sources such as NetTrekker or World Book Online for more information. Check with the teacher for the passwords or if you need some other ideas!

Your Expert Team

Once each scientist has completed his or her field research, meet back at the lab and work together to create the following:

1. Magazine Article- Combine the most important information and images each scientist gathered to create a 2-4 page magazine spread (use Microsoft Word or Publisher and agree on how you want to format your words and images). Proofread your work and be as creative as possible because you want to impress the publishers!

2. Travel Tips- Now that you've had a chance to listen to and think about all of the information each scientist has gathered, use this information to create a list of items someone would need to pack or bring along if they were going to travel to explore your biome (think about clothing, special tools, etc). You should also include any special tips or advice you would give a person traveling to your biome. This will be included at the end of the magazine for readers to see.

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4Evaluation

Evaluation

Categories	4	3	2	1
Organization	Information is very organized with well-constructed magazine layout.	Information is organized with well-constructed magazine layout.	Information is organized, but the magazine layout is not well constructed.	The information appears to be disorganized.
Quality of Information	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides some supporting details and/or examples.	Information somewhat relates to the main topic. Few details and/or examples are given.	Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic
Mechanics	No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.	Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.	A few grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.	Many grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
Images	Images are very neat, accurate and add much to the reader's understanding of the topic.	Images are somewhat neat, accurate and add to the reader's understanding of the topic	Images are somewhat neat and accurate and sometimes add to the reader's understanding of the topic.	Images are not very neat and accurate OR do not add to the reader's understanding of the topic.
Group Work	Very reliable and responsible group member who almost always listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others. Tries to keep people working well together.	Somewhat reliable group member who usually listens to, shares, with, and supports the efforts of others. Does not cause "waves" in the group.	Often listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others, but sometimes is not a reliable team member.	Rarely listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others. Often is not a reliable team member.

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5Conclusion

Conclusion

Great work scientists!

All of your information has been submitted and publication is about to begin on the magazine. The publishers will feature all of your articles and images in the next edition of "BiomeTrekker" so...

Look for it on magazine shelves very soon!

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6Teacher Page

Webquest Creator:

Amanda Disidore

5th Grade Teacher

Wind Gap Middle School

Teacher Information

This WebQuest was designed as part of a 5th grade science unit on Environments. The WebQuest can be used as a culminating activity once students have been introduced to the concept of biomes and are able to identify the main terrestrial biomes. Each team will be assigned one of the six terrestrial biomes we cover (tropical rainforest, arctic tundra, temperate grasslands, desert, savanna and temperate deciduous forest). The Environmentalist job is suited for higher level learners because it requires a little more contemplation and higher level thinking, which is why it can be used as an optional position as you see fit. However, all of the jobs can be adapted based on the individual students and students can be assigned as partners to work together on one job.

The purpose of this WebQuest is not only to have students understand the features of terrestrial biomes around the world, but it also helps introduce them to basic research skills and allows them to faciliate group work. At the end of the project, all of the teams articles, images and travel tips can be bound into a "magazine" style book. You may want to choose a student or two to act as publishers and have them create a cover, table of contents and assist in assembling the magazine. The magazine can then be shared with the students, added to a classroom library and/or sent home with a different student each night to share with parents. There are also plenty of websites that could be used to create a virtual edition of the magazine which could then be shared with parents on a teacher webpage and/or via an e mail link.

Learners

This WebQuest was created for a 5th grade class, however, it can easily be adapted for students in grade 3-8.

Standards

P.A. Academic Standards for Science and Technology and Engineering Education

3.1.A- Biological Sciences- Organisms and Cells

3.1.C- Biological Sciences- Evolution & Adaptations

3.3.A- Earth & Space Sciences- Earth Structure, Processes and Cycles

3.4.B- Technology & Engineering Education- Technology & Society

Resources

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html

http://www.mbgnet.net/