The Greatest Places
A Web Quest by
Andrew S. Basler
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teachers | Credits
Introduction
There are many unique bioms on this earth. Each biom has unique life and enviromental characteristics that make it stand out. Learning about the earth's bioms will show how extensively life is connected to the environment. Many animals have special adaptions that allow them to survive within their biom in a niche.
Task
You will be broken up into groups. Your group will be assigned a specific biom. You will use the internet links to find out information about your group's biom and then give a report to the class. You will be responsible for finding unique animal, environmental, and human characteristics. Also, to supplement the class presentation, you will make a visual aid to illustrate the unique life within your biom. The different biomes that will be researched are Aquatic (coral reef), Deserts, Rain Forest, Temperate Forest, Grasslands, Wetlands, and Tundra.
Process
1. Your teacher will assign groups and a biome.
2. Use the following links to research your group's biome.
3. If you feel you need more sites to research, use the Google Search Engine to do your own web searches.
4. Based on your research, prepare a 7 minute class presentation on your biome, explaining what characteristics make it unique, what kind of animal and plant life are found in it, and what kind of impact humans have on the biome, if any.
5. Draw a visual aid that represents your biome. You may draw a world map illustrating your biome's location, or you may draw a food chain that exists within your group's biome.
6. Co-operate with group members to complete the above five steps. Also, make sure that every member of the group has a role in the presentation.
Evaluation
You will be evaluated based on the following rubric:
Oral Presentation Rubric
| Oral Presentation Rubric | Possible Points | Self-Assessment | Teacher Assessment |
| Complete and helpful visual aid | 10 |
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| Thoroughness of presentation content. | 10 |
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| Presenters were models of thoughtfulness. Explanations to questions where given. | 10 |
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| Communication Skills (eye contact, posture, clear voice, appropriate volume, transitions between speakers smooth, and all members presented) | 10 |
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| Stayed within allotted time frame (7-10 minutes) | 10 |
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| Total Possible Points | 50 |
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Notice that part of your grade is on thoroughness of your presentation. Also, though not listed on the rubric, points may be deducted for lack of co-operation or a group member who does not help present to the class.
Conclusion
The earth is full of many great and special places. These Biomes each have a unique climate, animal life, and human impact. It is the differences between these biomes that give our world variety and excitement.
Teachers
Grade Band: 5 - 8
Tennessee Curriculum Standards:
5th grade: 2.1 Investigate the relationships among organisms in a specific ecosystem
8th grade: 2.3 Identify the major biomes of the world
8.2.tpi.3 illustrate or construct a biome for specific plant and animal species consistent with their survival needs
Technology Standards: 6-8
5.0 The student will use technology as a tool to conduct and evaluate research and to communicate effectively information and ideas
Preceding and Ensuing Events of Instruction:
Prior to beginning this Web Quest, the teacher should show the IMAX dvd The Greatest Places [40 mins], available at www.amazon.com . After showing the movie, the teacher should break the students up into groups of no more than five, and assign each group a specific biome to study. Help the students do their online research, and assist in brain-storming for other things to present besides the given process. The teacher should feel free to alter this webquest in any way necessary to best help the student learn.
Purpose of Web Quest
To enhance the student's understanding of biomes, to explore unique regions of the world, to demonstrate unique food webs that exist in each biome, to promote internet research skills, to promote group communication skills, to promote oral presentation skills, to promote critical thinking by allowing the student to make choices about what topics to include in oral presentation.
Credits
University of Richmond (2001). Biome Basics. Retrieved December 5, 2003 from http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/as/education/projects/webunits/biomes/index.html
Museum of Paleontology (2003). The World's Biomes. Retrieved December 5, 2003 from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/index.html
Missouri Botannical Garden (2003). Biomes of the World. Retrieved December 5, 2003 from http://mbgnet.mobot.org/
California State University Northridge (1999). Biomes. Retrieved December 5, 2003 from http://www.csun.edu/~vceed002/biology/ecology/biomes/biome.htm
Google (2003). Search Engine. Retrieved December 5, 2003 from www.google.com
Slingshot. (2001). The Greatest Places [dvd]. Toronto, Canada: Imax.
Tennessee State Curriculum Standards (2003). Science Standards. Retrieved December 5,, 2003 from http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/cistandards2001/sci/ciscience.htm
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