THE BIOME QUEST

A WebQuest for 6th Grade Science

Designed by

Marla J. Renius
renius@attbi.com

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

Introduction

CONGRATULATIONS! You and your classmates have been chosen to accompany groups of scientists on an expedition that will focus on biomes. A biome is a group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms. Classifying ecosystems into biomes helps scientists to describe the world. This expedition will focus on five major land biomes and two major water biomes. Your mission is to study one of these biomes.
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The Task

Our school superintendent was very pleased to hear the exciting news of your upcoming trip. It is quite an honor to have been chosen. He was a bit dismayed to hear that you will be missing some school, so we have come to a compromise. Your team will gather photos and research from your biome and prepare a virtual tour using a computer multimedia program.
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The Process

1. First you'll be assigned to a team of 3 or 4 students...

2. Then your team will be sent on an expedition to one of the following biomes: rain forest, desert, grassland, deciduous forest, boreal forest, tundra, freshwater biome, or marine biome.

3. Each member of your team will need to become an expert in one of the following areas:
Area of Expertise
Your Focus

Meteorologist

Climate & Location

Biologist

Plant life

Zoologist

Animal life

Ecologist
Populations, Food Chains, Environmental Concerns

4. You will need to research your biome according to your area of expertise. Take good notes! Look for pictures and note the website they are located on. The following are some sites that you will want to visit:
Biome/Habitat Animal Printouts - EnchantedLearning.com
Major Biomes of the World
Biomes of the World
CyberZoo, Zoo, Biome, Education, Living SchoolBook, Animals,
The World's Biomes
Biomes of the World
Biome Summaries
Ecosystems and Biomes
What's It Like Where You Live?
Geography World (Ecosystems / Biomes)
Fact Monster
Learn About Biomes!
Earth Floor: Biomes
Nearctica - Ecology - Biogeography - Biomes, Ecoregions, and Habitats
for food chain information visit:
kapili.com
planet pals
alien explorer

For plant and animal information visit:
kapili.com
all about nature

5. Your team will create eight to ten cards in a Hyperstudio stack. You will be going to the computer lab to learn how to create a Hyperstudio presentation. Print out two or three copies of the Biome Template so that you can plan your Hyperstudio stack. You'll need these for your first visit to the computer lab.

Each virtual tour will include the following:
  • Introduction - a short paragraph in which you briefly describe your biome and introduce your team
  • One or two cards from the meteorologist
  • One or two cards from the biologist
  • One or two cards from the zoologist
  • One or two cards from the ecologist
  • Conclusion
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Evaluation
Future Scientists of America Expedition

4

This presentation demonstrates a high level of interest, and makes the superintendent proud to have sent your team on the expedition.
  • Well developed topic; work clearly shows evidence of outside research
  • Wide variety of grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure
  • Description of biome is supported by facts and details
  • You have a moving sequence in your stack
  • You have 2 or more graphics on each card from outside sources
  • You have 2 or more text boxes on a card
A Successful Expedition

3

This presentation is right on target, and the superintendent is glad that your team had the opportunity to participate in the expedition.
  • Moderate development of topic; evidence of outside research
  • Loosely organized, but main ideas present
  • Some grammatical or spelling errors
  • Description of biomes is mostly supported by facts and details
  • Some variety of grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure
  • You have more than one text box on a card
  • You have at least one graphic on each card from outside sources
 

A Basic Expedition

2

This presentation is very basic, and the superintendent is questioning what you did with your time during the expedition.
  • Simplistic development of topic
  • Some attempts at organization
  • Basic supporting details and sentence structure
  • Some to several grammatical or spelling errors
  • Description of biome is included, but needs more facts and supportive details
  • You have one text box on each card
  • You have used graphics in your stack
 

The Typhoid Fever Expedition - NOT

1

This presentation is incomplete (not due to an illness). Therefore, your team will not participate in the next expedition.
  • Weak development of topic
  • Lack of organization
  • Limited supporting details
  • Primary use of language/sentence structure
  • Description of biome lacks details
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Conclusion

Welcome back! Hopefully, your team has gathered lots of information and pictures from your biome. You will be given a day or two to recover from jet lag, before we go to the training session in the computer lab. Then you will be ready to prepare your virtual tour.

Congratulations on a successful expedition!!
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Credits & References

Special thanks to Sandy Budreau, Technology Integration Specialist, at Williams Middle School.

This webquest was made possible by the Technology Lighthouse Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education.

Science Explorer Environmental Science, Needham, Massachusetts, Prentice Hall, 2000.

Addison Wesley - Biome map
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