Earth's Biomes

A WebQuest for 5th Grade Science

Introduction

Biomes are ecosystems that cover large areas of land. Abiotic factors, such as climate and soil type, and biotic factors, such as plants and animals, determine an area's ecosystem.

Task

Each biome has its own distinct plant and animal life, giving it a special beauty all its own. You are the head of the biome publicity department. Your job is to create a travel brochure that will increase the number of tourists to your biome.

Process

1. Choose the biome you wish to research. Your choices are the following:

Arctic Tundra, Deciduous Forest, Desert, Taiga, Tropical Rainforest, Grasslands

2. Use the links listed to help in your research. You must include the following:

a. location of the biome
b. climate
c. plant life (including special adaptations)
d. animal life (including special adaptations)
e. unique features of the biome

http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/as/education/projects/webunits/biomes
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/index.html
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html

3. Create your travel brochure! Your brochure should have the following features:

a.    a first page that includes pictures, the biome, and a creative title; your name and grade 5 should be in the lower right-hand corner.
b.    one section for each of the five categories listed in number 2; include written descriptions and pictures.
c.    define all terms that are specific to your biome (example: permafrost).

Remember, you want visitors to travel to your biome. Your writing style should show your enthusiasm for your biome. Make it sound wonderful, exciting, and unique!

Evaluation

	Exemplary 4	Accomplished 3	Developing 2	Beginning 1
Attractiveness & Organization: 10% of Total Grade	The brochure has exceptionally attractive formatting and well-organized information.	The brochure has attractive formatting and well-organized information.	The brochure has well-organized information.	The brochure's formatting and organization of material are confusing to the reader.
Spelling & Proofreading: 5% of Total Grade	No spelling errors remain after one person other than the typist reads and corrects the brochure.	No more than 1 spelling error remains after one person other than the typist reads and corrects the brochure.	No more than 3 spelling errors remain after one person other than the typist reads and corrects the brochure.	Several spelling errors in the brochure.
Writing - Organization: 10% of Total Grade	Each section in the brochure has a clear beginning, middle, and end.	Almost all sections of the brochure have a clear beginning, middle and end.	Most sections of the brochure have a clear beginning, middle and end.	Less than half of the sections of the brochure have a clear beginning, middle and end.
Writing - Mechanics: 5% of Total Grade	Capitalization and punctuation are correct throughout the brochure.	Capitalization and punctuation are correct throughout the brochure after feedback from an adult.	There are 1-2 capitalization and/or punctuation errors in the brochure even after feedback from an adult.	There are several capitalization or punctuation errors in the brochure even after feedback from an adult.
Writing - Grammar: 5% of Total Grade	There are no grammatical mistakes in the brochure.	There are no grammatical mistakes in the brochure after feedback from an adult.	There are 1-2 grammatical mistakes in the brochure even after feedback from an adult.	There are several grammatical mistakes in the brochure even after feedback from an adult.
Graphics/Pictures: 5% of Total Grade	Graphics go well with the text and there is a good mix of text and graphics.	Graphics go well with the text, but there are so many that they distract from the text.	Graphics go well with the text, but there are too few and the brochure seems "text-heavy".	Graphics do not go with the accompanying text or appear to be randomly chosen.
Content - Accuracy: 50% of Total Grade	All facts in the brochure are accurate.	99-90% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.	89-80% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.	Fewer than 80% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.
Writing - Vocabulary: 10% of Total Grade	The author correctly uses several new words and defines words unfamiliar to the reader.	The author correctly uses a few new words and defines words unfamiliar to the reader.	The author tries to use some new vocabulary, but may use 1-2 words incorrectly.	The author does not incorporate new vocabulary.

Conclusion

After completing this project, you will have an understanding of the biotic and abiotic factors that contribute to your biome, as well as an appreciation of its unique characteristics. You will have an opportunity to share that knowledge creatively by making a travel brochure.

Credits & References

We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL.

Last updated on June 7, 2003. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page