What You Get: ~Directions, Pictures, and How-to Assemble Guides ~Animal Project Outline~ description, requirements, and expectations (student handout). ~Biome Buddies Sign-up Sheet ~Biome Foldable Covers (11) ~Biome Foldable Templates and Prewriting paper (p. 22-29) ~Websites for research and how to cite sources model (p. 30) ~Biome KW Chart (p. 31) ~Biome Foldable final self/peer editor check-list (p. 32) ~Project Rubric (2-sided)- Grade area is left blank for teacher to fill in appropriate grade scale used by your school/district- i.e. 1,2,3,4 or A,B,C,D. There is room for teacher comments and final grades for Foldable and Biome-in-a-Box Diorama. (p. 33-34) Project Details: Objective:Students will create a Biome Foldable Report on an biome of their choosing. 1. Assign each student a Biome Buddy. I like each student to have a buddy because 1.) it encourages cooperative learning, 2.) when books are limited, students can share and 3.) my inclusion students need the modeling a higher level student can provide. 2. To assign each student a biome, I have them write the top 3 biomes they want to research on an index card and then I call popsicle sticks and they choose this way. Biome can be repeated if need be. 3. Go over the Project Outline on p. 6-7. I also like to give students a folder (a large piece of construction paper folded in half) to store all their project related materials in. Students should label the folder with their name, biome, and then they can decorate if you wish. 4. Give students access to materials for research. Books, Science Textbooks, and reliable internet websites work great. I’ve included the internet websites I use on the Bibliography page (p. 25). 5. Students should use the foldable templates to record the info that they find necessary to complete their reports. 6. Create the foldable using large construction paper (12” x 18”). Any color works great. Use the How-to Guide on p. 4-5 for instructions on where to fold, cut, and glue templates. Have fun researching and enjoy the finished projects! My kids love this project every year! Project Outline: For the next several weeks you and your Biome Buddy will research a biome that interests you. After your research is complete you will create a Biome-in-a-Box Diorama and a foldable lapbook to demonstrate your learning. The biome I am researching is: My Biome Buddy is: Biome-in-a-Box Diorama: You and a Biome Buddy may chose from the following biomes: Arctic Tundra Taiga (Coniferous Forest) Desert Temperate Deciduous Forest Tropical Rain Forest Grassland Ocean Freshwater (rivers, steams, and lakes) Wetlands Mountains Shrublands The box for the project will be provided for you. The diorama should contain: At least 3 animal species found in your chosen biome. At least 3 plant species found in your chosen biome. The biome should be realistically represented with geographical features such as mountains, streams, rivers, etc. You may use clay, paint, papier-mâché, small plastic trees or animals, or anything else that you can think of to portray your biome correctly. BE CREATIVE!! A background on the back and sides of the box The background may be painted, drawn and colored, or made of a neat collage of pictures cut from magazines Biome Foldable: You have been chosen to join a scientific expedition to the biome you have chosen. Your foldable should include: 1. An accurate description of your biome This paragraph should answer the question: What is life like in your biome? 2. A description of what each season is like in your biome 3. Descriptions of at least 3 plant and 3 animal species shown in your diorama: Descriptions should include adaptations to life in your biome and a justification of why these plants/animals survive in this biome and the relationship between them (interdependency). Justify why your plants and animals would or would not survive in another biome. 4. The average temperature 5. The average yearly precipitation 6. A map of where in the world your biome is 7. Interesting Facts (at least 5) 8. Bibliography of sources using proper bibliography style. Your foldable should be neat and legible! Enjoy and please leave feedback! :)
