Introduction

Biome Quest

Introduction

The class will be divided into groups of 4 students, and each group will be assigned to one of the biomes to investigate. Each group will gather information by reading non-fiction books in the library, looking up articles in magazines, researching on the Internet, and using software programs such as Encarta. They will record their information in their research folders.

Students will use the following folder organizer.
Directions on how to use the research folder

Curriculum Standards

STANDARDS OF LEARNING
The design of this WebQuest incorporates the following standards:

CA- California K-12 Academic Content Standards

Subject : Science

Grade : Grade Three

Area : Life Sciences

Standard 3: Adaptations in physical structure or behavior may improve an organism’s chance for survival. As a basis ...

Benchmark or Example b: Students know examples of diverse life forms in different environments, such as oceans, deserts, tundra, ...

Area : Investigation and Experimentation

	Standard 5: Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a ...

		Benchmark or Example e: Collect data in an investigation and analyze those data to develop a logical conclusion

					Subject : English Language Arts

Grade : Grade Three

	Area : Writing

		Standard 1.0: Writing Strategies

			Concept : Organization and Focus

				Benchmark or Example 1.1: Create a single paragraph:

			Concept : Research

				Benchmark or Example 1.3: Understand the structure and organization of various reference materials (e.g., dictio-nary, thesaurus, ...

	Area : Listening and Speaking

		Standard 1.0: Listening and Speaking Strategies

			Concept : Organization and Delivery of Oral Communication

				Benchmark or Example 1.5: Organize ideas chronologically or around major points of information.

				Benchmark or Example 1.6: Provide a beginning, a middle, and an end, including concrete details that develop a central idea.

				Benchmark or Example 1.7: Use clear and specific vocabulary to communicate ideas and establish the tone.

				Benchmark or Example 1.8: Clarify and enhance oral presentations through the use of appropriate props (e.g., objects, pictures, ...

Concept : Analysis and Evaluation of Oral and Media Communications

Benchmark or Example 1.10: Compare ideas and points of view expressed in broadcast and print media.

Benchmark or Example 1.11: Distinguish between the speaker’s opinions and verifiable facts.

The Process

1.    You will be assigned to a group with 3 other students.
2.    Groups will be assigned a biome according to a chance drawing.
3.    Once in groups, students will decide on which job each member gets. If this                cannot be done to everyone satisfaction, jobs will be assigned randomly.
4.    Once you have your job, you will need to begin to find information from different sources. You will need to find information from at least one book source, and one Internet site.
5.    Notes on the information that you find will be copied onto note cards and kept in your group’s research folder. To help you organize your information please use the study sheet

6. While researching your biome, your group will gather some of this information

General information on the biome
Mammals reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects,
and invertebrates of the biome
Rocks/minerals, climate and geography of the biome
Plants of the biome

7.    Each job needs to save two pictures to use in the Power Point Show. Save your pictures in MY PICTURES.
8.    There must be information in each pocket in the research folder.
9.    Each group will make a PowerPoint presentation. The purpose of this slide show will be to persuade your class to vote for your biome. Make your biome attractive. You may not, however, be untruthful about your biome by trying to mislead your classmates.

The Roles

Ecologist: this person will report on the environment of the biome:
climate, when the best time to visit would be; seasonal differences
focus should be nature- climate, weather, natural wonders
Botanist: this person will report on the plants of the area; is there a
specific type of plant that grows here and nowhere else?
Zoologist: A two person job - will report on all kinds animals that live in this area

Conclusion

Once all of the PowerPoint presentations are complete students will need to present their Slide Show to their class and one other class. Students will then vote for the biome that they consider to be the most desirable to visit.

Extension:

Once all of the PowerPoint presentations have been shown, the summary from each group can be copied onto a class web page, along with a graphic for each biome. Students, and their families, can visit this web page from home and vote for the biome that they consider to be the most desirable to visit

Evaluation

Use the rubric for evaluation