INTRODUCTION:

Black Mountain Elementary School is planning a nature center.  You and your eco-buddies have been chosen to do a presentation to the principal and teachers.  

TASK:

Working as a group your Eco-buddies will create a presentation to sell to the principal and teachers your biome as the perfect Black Mountain Elementary School Nature Center.  
Biomes: taiga, tundra, tropical rain forrest, desert, prairie ( temperate grassland), savannah, temperate deciduous forest, frshwater (lakes, ponds, streams), ocean (MARINE).

PROCESS:

The Eco-buddies will research an assigned biome.  They will be expected to gather information from internet sites to use in creating a presentation.  The presentation will include information relating to:  location, weather, physical features, plants and animals, and natural resources.  Each eco-buddy will become an expert in a particular aspect of their biomes.


Eco-buddy Experts:

Botanist (plant expert), Zoologist (animal expert), Cartographer (map expert), Meterologist (weather expert),  Geologist (landforms and natural resources expert)

Discuss with your eco-buddies which expert role you will assume.  Remember that you are responsible for learning about the biome and your area of expertise.  Each expert should use the links from the resource list, record facts and information about their biome that would be useful in the presentation, and complete an Eco-buddies Fact Sheet.  This fact sheet will be turned in to show that you did your share of the group work.    Remember your role as an expert.  Use your fact sheet to document any information your eco-buddies will need, but you focus should be on the expert role you are assigned.


After you have completed your research discuss your findings with your eco-buddies.  Develope your presentation.  You may bring pictures and materials from home.  Each eco-buddy must speak during the presentation.  You may assign a leader to do an introduction or conclusion.


OBJECTIVE:  The students will collect information on an assigned biome.  They will identify the plants, animals, weather, physical features, and locations of the biome.  Students will demonstrate knowledge of their biome by applying information to a presentation they will create.  Students will present their findings to the class.   The students will be able to use the internet as a research too to view, read, write and create.  They will be able to locate and and organize information from print and non-print media.


RESOURCES:

Missouri Botanical Gardens

Biomes of the World

The World's Biomes

Eaths Floor

Biome Basics

Biomes - Habitats

Biomes

EVALUATION:

	Needs Work - 5 pts.	Adequate - 10 pts.	Excellent - 15 pts.
Fact Sheet	Has less than 5 facts	Has 6 or more facts, missing focus on expert's role.	Has at least 10 facts, facts relate to the expert's role.
Presentation	Information lacking or inaccurate, disorganized.	Gives accurate information, lacking some information, or lacking some organization, or all team members didn't speak.	Organized, creative and gives accurate information about the biome.

Fact Sheet

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Web Site by Linda Mazzei
Last Update 4/14/03
Science House Web Workshop