World-wide Terrestrial Biomes

Section 1 - Introduction to Biomes

A.  Go to the following websites and check out the different links for the terrestrial biomes 

        http://environmentalsciencebiomes.weebly.com/index.html

        http://blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm

Using the information that you found on these two websites, fill out the spreadsheet describing the climates, plants, and animals that are found in the different biomes  

 

B.  Answer the following questions after you have reviewed the websites

1. Note that each website, while having several of the same biomes, also has several that are different from each other. Explain why this may be.
2. Look in your textbook and compare the terrestrial biomes on the two websites with the biomes shown in the book. Which ones are the same?  Which ones are different?  
3. Using the information from the two websites and your book, combine and/or separate the biomes into the world-wide biomes you think should be used.  You should have at least eight biomes, up to twelve biomes

Section 2 - World Map

Pick up a map from the classroom and using the biomes you created above color the world map showing the areas of the different biomes.  Remember to use a key to identify each biome

Section 3 - Climate of Biomes

Each biome has similar climates.  Scientists most often look at the average monthly temperature and average monthly rainfall for the different locations within a biome.  Although these will not be exactly the same generally they show similar trends.  At the website below, The Great Graph Match, you can review the biomes (on the right side of the page) and see graphs that show the average monthly temperatures and rainfall.  Enter the mission, choosing Advanced Users and complete the activity (go for 100%).  Print or save the screen shot to show me you have completed the activity.

       http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/graphindex.php

Section 4 - Climate Graphs

A.  Most of the time scientists will show both the average monthly temperature and average monthly rainfall on the same graph for the climate graphs of biomes.  You can see examples of these graphs in your textbook and below.  

 

B.  You will go to the following website to find the data needed to draw a climate graph.  Graph paper is available if needed.

1. First, choose one of your biomes
2. Go to the following website and pick a country found in your biome

                 http://www.weatherbase.com/

     3.Then choose one of the cities from that country

4.Using the average temperatures and average rainfall, hand-draw a monthly climate graph for that city.  Remember to include the following information:  

• The name of the biome
• Keys identifying the biomes
• Labeling of the temperature and rainfall including units
• Title of your graph

          

Section 5 - Articles

At the back of the classroom there are several articles that are related to biomes.  Choose two of these articles and complete the worksheets that are found in the file with the articles.  Ask your teacher is you have questions about what to do!

Section 6 - Collaborative Project

Working with one or two other students sign up for a biome as listed in the textbook.  Using the information that you have gathered from this webquest and from other sources that you will cite, you will create a poster or PowerPoint on your chosen biome.  

The poster or PowerPoint will need to include

• map of your biome
• information on the typical plants and animals found in the biome
• information on climate (soil type, rainfall, temperatures, etc)
• pictures of typical plants and animals
• climate graph of a city found in your biome (this graph must also be hand-drawn)
• cited resources

Your group will present your poster or PowerPoint presentation to the class