biome research project worksheet

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General tips, answer sheets, extension ideas for biomes, related literature/media.

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Welcome, teachers, to Mission: Biomes ! This site was designed for teachers to use in classrooms as a supplementary, interdisciplinary unit. Mission: Biomes is especially appropriate for grades 3 through 8. It is designed to be interactive and self-correcting which will allow each student to work at his or her own pace. We encourage educators to preview the site before using it with students. We hope you enjoy your visit!

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Students will be able to:

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) alignment with Mission Biomes

To read all of the Next Generation Science Standards and learn about the different methods of searching the standards, visit https://www.nextgenscience.org/ . You can search by grade levels, practice area, cross cutting concept, or disciplinary core idea.

Mission Biomes NGSS Alignment by Performance Expectation (PEs) :

• 3-LS3-2. Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.
• 3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
• 3-LS4-4. Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change
• 3-ESS2-1. Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
• 3-ESS2-2. Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.
• 3-ESS3-1. Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard.
• 4-LS1-1. Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
• 4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
• 4-ESS2-2. Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features.
• 5-LS1-1. Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water
• 5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
• 5-ESS1-2. Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.
• 5-ESS2-1. Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
• 5-ESS2-2. Describe and graph the amounts of saltwater and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth.
• 5-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.

Middle School:

• MS-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
• MS-LS1-4. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
• MS-LS1-5. C. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
• MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms
• MS-LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
• MS-LS2-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
• MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
• MS-LS2-4. Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
• MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• MS-LS4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
• MS-LS4-1. Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on Earth under the assumption that natural laws operate today as in the past.
• MS-LS4-2. Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships.
• MS-LS4-4. Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.
• MS-ESS Earth’s Systems
• MS-ESS2-1. Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process
• MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
• MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.
• MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates
• MS-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity
• MS-ESS3-1. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth’s mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes.

Mission Biomes NGSS alignment by Disciplinary Core Idea (DCIs) :

• LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
• LS1.A: Structure and Function
• LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
• LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
• LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
• LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
• LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
• LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
• LS3: Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
• LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits
• LS3.B: Variation of Traits
• LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
• LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
• LS4.B: Natural Selection
• LS4.C: Adaptation
• LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans
• ESS1: Earth’s Place in the Universe
• ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System
• ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth
• ESS2: Earth’s Systems
• ESS2.A: Earth Materials and Systems
• ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes
• ESS2.D: Weather and Climate
• ESS2.E: Biogeology
• ESS3: Earth and Human Activities
• ESS3.A: Natural Resources
• ESS3.B: Natural Hazards
• ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
• ESS3.D: Global Climate Change
• PS1: Matter and Its Interactions
• PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life

Mission Biomes NGSS alignment by 8 Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) :

• Analyzing and Interpreting Data
• Asking Questions
• Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
• Developing and Using Models
• Engaging in Argument from Evidence
• Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
• Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
• Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

Mission Biomes NGSS alignment by 7 Cross Cutting Concepts (CCCs) :

• Patterns. Observed patterns of forms and events guide organization and classification, and they prompt questions about relationships and the factors that influence them.
• Cause and effect: Mechanism and explanation. Events have causes, sometimes simple, sometimes multifaceted. A major activity of science is investigating and explaining causal relationships and the mechanisms by which they are mediated. Such mechanisms can then be tested across given contexts and used to predict and explain events in new contexts.
• Scale, proportion, and quantity. In considering phenomena, it is critical to recognize what is relevant at different measures of size, time, and energy and to recognize how changes in scale, proportion, or quantity affect a system’s structure or performance.
• Systems and system models. Defining the system under study—specifying its boundaries and making explicit a model of that system—provides tools for understanding and testing ideas that are applicable throughout science and engineering.
• Energy and matter: Flows, cycles, and conservation. Tracking fluxes of energy and matter into, out of, and within systems helps one understand the systems’ possibilities and limitations.
• Structure and function. The way in which an object or living thing is shaped and its substructure determine many of its properties and functions.
• Stability and change. For natural and built systems alike, conditions of stability and determinants of rates of change or evolution of a system are critical elements of study
• The Great Graph Match
• To Plant or Not to Plant?
• The Great Graph Match - Beginner & Advanced Answer Sheet
• To Plant or Not to Plant - Answer Sheet

Some students may be very interested in learning more about specific biomes. The links on the biome information pages provide more in-depth information. Here are some possible research questions to guide them.

Hands-on Activities

USFS Ecoregions My NASA Data GLOBE ECOSTRESS

Coniferous Forest Taiga by April Pulley Sayre, 1994, Twenty-First Century Books, New York, NY. Part of a series, very informative, more difficult reading level, few pictures.

Biomes of the World: Taiga by Elizabeth Kaplan, 1996, Benchmark Books, New York, NY. Very informative.

The Tree in the Ancient Forest by Carol Reed-Jones, illustrated by Christopher Canyon, 1995, DAWN Publications, Nevada City, CA. Describes interdependence of living things with a Douglas Fir as the central tree. Uses repetitive text to make point. Modeled on the Pacific Northwest forests.

Temperate Deciduous Forest Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins, 1998, Scholastic Press, New York, NY. Photographs of a variety of leaves, very basic, includes description and an easy classification system for leaves.

Temperate Deciduous Forest by April Pulley Sayre, 1994, Twenty-First Century Books, New York, NY. Part of a series, very informative, more difficult reading level, few pictures.

A Tree in a Forest by Jan Thornhill, 1992, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, NY. Presents the life story of a 200-year-old maple tree.

EcoZones Temperate Forest by Lynn M. Stone, 1989, Rourke Enterprises, Inc., Vero Beach, FL. Examines the temperate forest as an ecological niche and describes the trees, plants, and animals supported there.

America’s Forests by Frank Staub, 1999, Carolrhoda Books, Inc., Minneapolis, MN Examines forests as an ecological niche, with good photographs and clear text, upper elementary level.

Desert One Day in the Desert by Jean Craighead George, illustrated by Fred Brenner, 1983, HarperCollins Publisher, New York, NY. Narrative story about a child’s life and journey in the desert biome, contains many desert facts about climate, plants and animals.

Endangered Desert Animals by Dave Taylor, 1993, Crabtree Publishing Co., New York, NY. Begins with information about the desert biome, then proceeds with loads of information about desert animals.

Cactus by Peter Murray, 1996, The Child”s World Inc., New York, NY. Gives information about the desert and the plants that live there, great photographs.

Desert by April Pulley Sayre, 1994, Twenty-First Century Books, New York, NY. Part of a series, very informative, more difficult reading level, few pictures.

Ecology Watch: Deserts by Clint Twist, 1991, Dillon Press, New York, NY. Part of a series, great book with lots of information.

A Desert Scrapbook by Virginia Wright-Frierson, 1996, Simon & Schuster, New York, NY. Story written by author as she journeyed around the desert sketching what she saw, good drawings, lots of information on the animals and plants that live in the desert, not as informative about the climate itself.

Desert Life by Barbara Taylor, 1992, Dorling Kindersley, New York, NY. Lots of good photographs.

The Gentle Desert by Laurence Pringle, 1977, MacMillian Publishing Co., New York, NY. Older book with lots of great information on climate, plants and animals.

Deserts by Seymour Simon, 1990, Morrow Junior Books, New York, NY. Lots of information, good photographs.

Desert Trip by Barbara S. Steiner, illustrated by Ronald Himler, 1996, Sierra Club Books for Children, San Francisco, CA. Relates the experiences of a young girl and her mother as they backpack in the desert where the child learns about the plants, animals, birds, and rock formations.

Grassland One Day in the Prairie by Jean Craighead George, illustrated by Bob Marshall, 1986, HarperCollins Publisher, New York, NY. Narrative story about a child’s life and journey in the prairies, contains many grassland facts about climate, plants and animals.

Endangered Savannah Animals by Dave Taylor, 1993, Crabtree Publishing Co., New York, NY. Begins with some general information about the savannah, then proceeds with lots of information about animals that live there.

Grasslands by April Pulley Sayre, 1994 ,Twenty-First Century Books, New York, NY. Part of a series, very informative, more difficult reading level, few pictures.

Ecology Watch: Grasslands by Alan Collinson, 1992, Dillon Press, New York, NY. Part of a series, includes information about savannas, prairies, steppes, and pampas, also gives information about the plants and animals in these grasslands.

What Do We Know About Grasslands? by Brian Knapp, 1991, Peter Bedrick Books, New York, NY. Great book, includes temperature and precipitation graphs, explains the differences in grasslands.

Biomes of the World: Grasslands by Edward Ricciuti, 1996, Benchmark Books, New York, NY. Part of a series, gives good information on grasslands.

Prairies by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, photographs by William Muñoz, 1996, Holiday House, New York, NY. Great book, lots of great photos.

Chicaro, Wild Pony of the Pampa by Francis Kalnay, 1958, Walker Publishing Company, Inc., New York, NY. Newbery Honor Book — Adventures of a boy and his pony on the Argentine Pampa.

Our World Grasslands by David Lambert, 1987, Silver Burdett Ginn, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Explores grasslands around the world, lots of photographs, upper elementary level.

EcoZones Prairies by Lynn M. Stone, 1989, Rourke Enterprises, Inc., Vero Beach, FL. Examines prairies as an ecological niche and describes the trees, plants, and animals supported there.

Rainforest Rainforest by Michael George, 1992, Creative Education, Minnesota. Beautiful illustrations, great information.

Tropical Rainforest by April Pulley Sayre, 1994, Twenty-First Century Books, New York, NY. Part of a series, very informative, more difficult reading level, few pictures.

Rainforest: Lush Tropical Paradise by Jenny Wood, 1991, Gareth Stevens Children’s Book, Milwaukee. Great book, shows canopy and map, very informative on plants and animals.

At Home in the Rainforest by Diane Willow, illustrated by Laura Jacques, 1991, Charlesbridge Publishing, Watertown, MA.

What Do We Know About Rainforests? by Brian Knapp, 1991, Peter Bedrick Books, New York, NY. Part of a series, great information.

Exploring the Rain Forest by Mattias Klum and Hans Odoo, 1997, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., New York, NY. Describes the variety, beauty, and interrelatedness of plant and animal life found in rainforests in Costa Rica, Brazil, Nigeria, and Borneo.

Nature’s Green Umbrella, Tropical Rain Forests by Gail Gibbons, 1994, Morrow Junior Books, New York, NY. Describes the climatic conditions of the rainforest as well as the different layers of plants and animals that comprise the ecosystem.

Rainforests and Reefs by Caitlin Maynard, Thane Maynard and Stan Rullman, 1996, Franklin Watts, New York, NY. Journal of a 14-year-old who went to Belize and wrote about her experiences and observations, also includes many postcards, photos, and other writing samples.

Here is the Rainforest by Madeleine Dunply, illustrated by Michael Rothman, 1994, Hyperion Books for Children, New York, NY. Repetitive poem about the rainforest and the plants and animals that live in the rainforest. Has good accurate information.

Forests and Jungles by Rae Bains, illustrated by Joel Snyder, 1985, Troll Associates, Mahwah, NJ. Explores the rainforest biome, elementary level.

Tundra Tundra by April Pulley Sayre, 1994, Twenty-First Century Books, New York, NY. Part of a series, very informative, more difficult reading level, few pictures.

Above the Treeline by Ann Cooper, illustrated by Dorothy Emerling, 1996, Denver Museum of Natural History Press, CO. Mostly about the animals that live in the tundra.

Biomes of the World: Tundra by Elizabeth Kaplan, 1996, Benchmark Books, New York, NY. Lots of information, great pictures.

Arctic Tundra: Land with No Trees by Allan Fowler, 1996, Children’s Press, New York, NY. Very easy reading, but still informative.

Tundra by Donna Walsh Shepherd, 1996, Franklin Watts, New York, NY.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, 1972, HarperCollins Publishing, New York, NY. Newbery Medal Book. An Eskimo teenager is lost in the Artic tundra. She survives with the help of a wolf pack.

EcoZones Arctic Tundra by Lynn M. Stone, 1989, Rourke Enterprises, Inc., Vero Beach, FL. Examines the Arctic tundra as an ecological niche and describes the trees, plants, and animals supported there.

Snow Bear by Jean Craighead George, paintings by Wendell Minor, 1999, Hyperion Books for Children, New York, NY. Picture book about a little girl and a polar bear cub, with references to the tundra biome.

Other What is a Biome? by Bobbie Kalman, 1998, Crabtree Publishing, New York, NY. Great resource and quick reference for many biomes.

Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen: MSB in the Rainforest MSB Goes to Seed

National Geographic Really Wild Animals series: Totally Tropical Rain Forest Amazing North America Swinging Safari

Mission: Biomes

• Coniferous Forest
• Temperate Deciduous Forest
• Metric Converter
• About Mission: Biomes

Stories, experiments, projects, and data investigations. Download issues for free.

Biome Project

Introduction

You will be given a biome to research in class.  The information collected will be used to create a pamphlet, website, or poster that describes the biome.  Think about what makes your biome unique and the types of plants and animals that live there as well as dominate weather patterns. As you gather information about the biome, take notes and think about how you can organize this information and put it into your own words. Your final project will need to include references to material you included. Pictures are encouraged to make your presentation interesting to your audience, which is your classmates.

taiga (coniferous forest) temperate deciduous forest tropical rain forest

tundra desert

temperate grassland or prairie savannah (also listed as grasslands on some sites)

freshwater (lakes, rivers, or streams) ocean

Projects / Presentations

Use any of the following formats, check with your instructor for additional instructions or information: If you have another idea for your project, check with your instructor.

1. A flyer that you can hand out to the class (ask your teacher to make copies) or use a publisher program to make the pamphlets. Canva.com has tri-fold pamphlet creators.

2. A web page (poster). http://poster.4teachers.org/ is an online service that makes it easy to make web posters and publish them online. Teachers will need to sign up for this service or use a comparable service.

3. Make a real poster on posterboard. Make a self standing project board that has pictures and information about your biome.

4. Make a digital poster or infographic using Piktochart

5. Make a presentation using powerpoint or Prezi and present to the class on a digital projector.

6. Create a website on weebly.com or make a Tumblr page .

Requirements

1. The name of your biome (title page) which includes a short introduction to your project 2. The biome’s characteristics (climate, average temperature, average precipitation amounts, are there seasons) and locations in the world (continents, countries) 3. 4-6 plants that are found in your biome.  Describe an adaptation they have for  surviving in the biome.  (Ex) large horizontal roots 4. 4-6 animals that are found in your biome.  Describe an adaptation they have  for surviving in the biome.  (Ex) thick fur 5. Threats to the biome .  Give some details to the threats (what are some causes/effects of the threats. (Ex) deforestation-destroying habitats 6.  Why would someone want to visit this biome? 7. Pictures to include are: a map of the biome location, two plants you described, two animals you described, and one picture of the threat. 8. References - include websites, books or other resources you used to create your project, give credit to images you used.

Introduction

Every biome of the world is a truly magical place. Its structure is complex, consisting of many levels, each with its characteristic plants and animals. Each organism has its own niche in the biome.

What is the importance of understanding the interdependent roles of plants, animals, the physical landscape and the influence of humans on the biomes of the world? How can you come to understand how the balance of each biome affects our global ecosystem? Can you think critically about global issues? Think about the following questions:

What would happen if something were to change the landscape of a particular biome? What if the temperature were to rise or lower significantly? What if a developer wants to build on the land; what if an animal becomes extinct? What if a plant were destroyed, or if the rainfall greatly increases or decreases?

Introduction • The Project • Research • Presentation • Teamwork • Biomes Resources

The Biomes Project

The Biomes Project is an opportunity for you to do your own research on a particular biome. Your teacher may allow you to pick a biome, or he or she may select one for you. You will work in teams to research critical issues of your biome from different points of view. After your research, you will create a project to teach your classmates about the critical issues surrounding your biome.

• Biodiversity

Each member of your group will research a particular area of your biome. Areas include: Animals, plants, physical landscapes, and human influences. Use the materials included to research your biomes and as a group, you will present your finding to the class. Your presentation format will depend on the time and resources available. Some examples of presentation formats include:

Powerpoint presentation • Bookemon online book • Dioramas • Posters •Video Presentation using TeacherTube • Zoho Show (interactive online slideshow) •Interactive audio map using Click2Map reviewed here

Presentation Elements

• Title and authors (all group members)
• Table of contents or a menu showing where to find all the relevant information
• Introduction : overview of your biome
• A map of the world with your biome identified with proper nouns (i.e., if you are in the desert group, the Sahara Desert should be listed). Include a definition of your biome. (What characteristics does your biome have?)
• Glossary of terms that pertain to your biome with definitions

Team Responsibilities

BiomeViewer

• Human Population & Impacts
• Conservation

Resource Type

• Click & Learn

Description

This interactive module explores biomes, climate, biodiversity, and human impacts around the globe and at different times.

Are there frogs on Mount Everest? What is the weather like in the Congo Basin in February? Do any endangered species live in my neighborhood? This data-rich Click & Learn allows students to investigate answers to these questions and many others. They can “drop a pin” in any location to see historic climate data, detailed wildlife descriptions, stunning pictures, and more. They can also explore global trends in natural features and human activities, including how patterns of human settlement and agriculture have changed the planet since 1700.

The accompanying “Student Worksheet” guides students’ exploration. It introduces the various types of data in BiomeViewer, and delves deeper into biodiversity data and human impacts on the environment.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.  

Student Learning Targets

• Make observations and inferences based on patterns across biomes.
• Make evidence-based claims for how human disturbances could have impacted biodiversity in different biomes.

Estimated Time

anthrome, climatogram, ecosystem, precipitation, rainfall, species, temperature, terrain, vegetation

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

Version history, curriculum connections, ngss (2013).

HS-LS2-6, HS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-4; SEP2

AP Biology (2019)

SYI-2.B, SYI-2.C; SP2, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

Ap environmental science (2020).

Topic(s): 1.2, 2.1, 9.10 Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-1.B, ERT-2.A, EIN-4.C, SP1, SP2, SP5, SP7

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

Common core (2010).

ELA.RST.9-12.2, ELA.WHST.9-12.9

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5; DP3, DP4

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Biomes Lesson Plans

In biology we begin the year with the characteristics of life, and then move into ecology. I like starting with ecology because it involves relatively easy concepts. Many students will have learned the basics in middle school, so it’s not a scary way to start the year. When working my way through the content, I essentially just teach in the order of the levels of organization (start with population dynamics, move onto community interactions… you get the idea. End with biomes).

I generally don’t have a ton of time left in the quarter, so if I get to spend 2-3 days on biomes thats a win. Since time is short I focus on the big picture- what causes these biomes? What patterns do we see when we look at a biome map? Why is biodiversity important within biomes? What is the human impact on biomes? Big picture concepts. What I DO NOT spend time on is having students memorize information about each biome. My goal is for students to walk away with an understanding of why biodiversity is important and how we can protect the natural world, not ramble off facts such as which biome receives the most precipitation and which biome has the greatest swing in annual temperature. (Stepping off soapbox). 

MISSION BIOMES: Need a website for students to do research on each biome so they can complete their brochure? Check out this site from NASA.  INTERACTIVE GAME: If you teach middle school, you may want to check out this interactive game where students match an animal to the continent it lives on. 

SPEED DATING: There are a few biome speed dating activities that are available for free on the internet. (I cant always find a reliable link so you will need to do a Google search). 

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7 Biomes Activities to Bring the WOW Factor to Your Classroom

Ecosystems , Middle School Science , WOW Factor Lessons

I still remember one of the biomes activities I did as a middle school student. It’s crazy how something like that just sticks with you throughout the years. I’ll talk more about that later!

Biomes are pretty neat! They are a large group of similar ecosystems and are characterized by specific climate, vegetation, and animal life!

You may notice that various resources label biomes differently. The number and names of biomes can vary because scientists use different criteria to define them.

In this post, I share 7 different biomes activities that you can do in your middle school science classroom. First, I will share three WONDER activities that will help your students to become curious and excited to learn more about biomes. Second, I will share an interactive lesson in which students will learn about the 5 types of biomes (the major ones and subcategories). Finally, I will share three WIDEN activities for students to do that will expand their knowledge on this topic!

WONDER Biomes Activities for Middle School

Time to get your students hype about learning biomes! These activities flow very well in your ecosystem learning activities! Here are 3 WONDER strategies that you can use to introduce your students to biomes  that are fun and engaging!

Where does it live?

The environment impacts what organisms can live there and what organisms cannot. There are some environments that are rich in biodiversity because of the resources available, and there are some that are harsh and do not support much life.

Here’s a fun activity you can try with your students BEFORE learning about biomes. They may or may not know what a biome is, but the point of this activity will be to talk about what type of climate they believe the organisms may be able to survive in.

So, you’ll need to gather some pictures of animals, either printed or on a screen, and ask your students these questions:

• What type of climate/environment do you think this animal lives in?
• What plants do you think live in that environment as well?

Here are some examples of animals you can choose. You don’t have to tell them the biome name. They’ll learn that in the lesson.

• Polar Bear (tundra biome)
• Camel (desert biome)
• Kangaroo (grassland biome)
• Toucan (tropical rainforest biome)
• Panda (temperate forest biome)
• Moose (boreal forest biome)
• Coral Reef Fish (marine biome)
• American Bullfrog (freshwater biome)

You can do more or less. It’s fun to see what they come up with. What type of environment might they be able to survive in? You might even capture some prior knowledge they’ve received from prior grades, the places they’ve visited, or things they might have seen on TV.

Biome Virtual Reality Experience

I found this really awesome resource that allows students to explore biomes through a virtual reality experience. This is one of the fun interactive biome activities

You are able to immerse yourself inside of the biome to look around as well as hear sounds that you may encounter if you were actually there.

Another thing that I like is that there are different things to click on that may give facts or show a video. There are also pins you can click to look closer at certain objects.

So, ready for the link? Here it is! It’s by Arizona State University, Ask a Biologist . Check it out!

Nature Walk

Another thing you can do is check out the biome that you live in!

Go outside and go on a nature walk.

Have your students bring their science journal and record their observations.

• What is the weather like?
• How is the climate in this area?
• What animals do you see? What animals have you seen around here before?
• What plant life do you see?
• Are there seasons? What season is it now?

You can add more questions if you wish. Do they know which biome they live in? If not, they will definitely learn in the lesson. I share about it below! You can also see if they know how many biomes are on Earth.

Biomes Interactive Lesson

I’m so excited about this interactive lesson ! If you don’t know what an interactive lesson is, you can check them out here!

Interactive lessons are an important part of the WOW Factor . They are designed to help overcome the overwhelm of information and reduce cognitive load. In this way, they can remember the content and store it in their long-term memory.

They are designed using the 7 steps to help students retain information including highlighting important information, segmenting information, and starting simple.

In this biomes interactive lesson , students will learn about ecosystems, abiotic and biotic factors, and then they will explore the 5 major biomes and their subcategories. In each biome, they learn about the animal life, the plant life, and the climate.

In this lesson, there are embedded activities included for students to process the content before moving on. Some of these include a KWL, exploring outside resources, biomes summary, and drag-and-drop activities! Skip the biomes review worksheet and try this!

You can find this resource in the Bright in the Middle Shop .

You can also find it on TPT .

Be sure to add this to your list of biomes activities for your middle school classroom!

Biomes Explained Through WIDEN Activities

If time allows, it’s always great for students to dive even deeper into a lesson to learn all that they can. This helps build a solid foundation for the rest of the students’ school career, and of course, their actual career and life. Here are three different activities that you can do with biomes! They are great biomes project ideas!

Create a Model

Remember when I told you we’d come back to the biomes project I did in middle school? Well, here we are!

My assignment was to create a model of a biome I was assigned. I was assigned a marine biome, specifically the coral reef, and we had to make a 3-D model of the biome on the inside of a box.

So, I got a shoebox out and made a beautiful model using different objects. I’m sure that thing is thrown away now, but the idea stuck with me.

So, here’s what your students can do!

• Select a biome to create a biome in a box. You can assign it, or they can choose one. They will need a shoebox or a box of around the same size. They can use art supplies, craft materials, small toys, natural materials, pictures, or anything else they can think of to create this model.
• One they have their biome, they will need to research and find information about the plant life, animal life, climate, and any unique features about the biome.
• Then, they can sketch a draft of what their model will look like!
• Then, they can begin to create. They’ll need a background, and then they can add the rest.
• You can create the rubric as you wish, but the important elements include plants, animals, and landscape features!

This is a lot of fun, and you can have your students present this as well!

Create a Biome Creature

This can be so much fun, and it will allow your students to really let their creativity shine! So, what do they do? They can create a creature that would be able to survive in a biome of their choice.

Students can work on this individually, or they can work in partners or groups.

• Once students choose their biome that this creature will live in, they should research it, looking at the plant life, animal life, animals adaptations, climate, etc.
• As students are brainstorming their creature, and then creating it, they must keep these in mind: physical adaptations, diet and feeding habits, special abilities, and life cycle. They should also think about the organism’s role in the ecosystem.
• Students can choose to create an illustration or a model that reflects this organism.
• This will be a great project to present in class if there is time.

Want to take it up a notch? Working in groups? Each student can create an organism for a biome and the group can work together to decide their relationships in the ecosystems.

Travel Brochure

Along the same lines of researching biomes and their animal life, plant life, and climate, students can choose a biome and create a travel brochure! This one will have to have a little flair to it because, the travel brochure should be enticing and make the audience want to visit the biome.

• After students have chosen their biome, they must research the plants, animals, climate, unique features, etc. Are there anything cool things located in the biome already? They can create a travel brochure for that particle place.
• After, they should start thinking of the design of the brochure. Where will they place the important information? Where will they place the picture? How will they engage the audience?
• After they have drafted their ideas, they can start creating. They can make a paper version or a digital version.
• After they finish, students can share their brochures with the rest of the class and even other classes.

Take a vote to see where they would like to visit based on the brochures that were created!

Which one of these example of biomes projects will you choose?

Help your students m a ster science content!

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( ) All worksheets are created by experienced and qualified teachers. Send your suggestions or comments . Biome Travel Brochure Project Also included in Description Have your students make a brochure for people to visit a specific biome! They can be creative as they come up with things to do, what to pack, what they will see, and how much it will cost. Students can either print pictures from the internet or out of national geographic magazines. You might also be interested in: Biomes and biodiversity powerpoint Biomes interactive diagram Biome Climatogram Worksheet Ecology Writing Prompts Be sure to follow my TpT store by clicking on the green "follow me" next to my seller picture to receive notifications of new products and upcoming sales.  Don't forget to leave feedback to earn TpT credits that can be used for future purchases!  Want free tips and resources sent to your inbox once a week? Subscribe to my newsletter! You can also... ♻️ Check out my blog ♻️ Follow me on facebook ♻️ Follow me on instagram ♻️ Follow me on pinterest Questions & Answers Science lessons that rock. We're hiring Help & FAQ Privacy policy Student privacy Terms of service Tell us what you think 181 IMAGES Types of Biomes Worksheets and BOOM Cards 12 Biome Activity Worksheet 15 Biome Research Worksheet / worksheeto.com Research a Biome Worksheets Ecosystems And Biomes Worksheets 12 Biome Activity Worksheet VIDEO Taiga Biome Science Biome Project project worksheet for 8th PART 1 || ACTION RESEARCH FILE || B.Ed. || study here (3rd semester) Micro Wars when ground battles removed 23. Biomes (habitat) COMMENTS Teacher Resources Make science fun and interactive. Encourage children to use the Internet as a learning tool. Provide understandable information about world biomes while also providing opportunities for further research or more in-depth study. Build on knowledge of world geography, math, social studies and science. Students Create a Presentation about a Biome This project is intended to encourage students to become experts in one biome and share with the class. They can choose their project format from a list of possibilities such as a prezi, pamphlet, poster, infographic, or website. Students could work in pairs, or at most in groups of three. I've found that groups of four are not as effective ... PDF The Biome Project The Paper Worksheet complete sentences Biome's food chain or food web information: (Describe the general food interaction of plants and animals. Draw an example of a food chain or food web in the biome. Specify the producers, consumers at each level. You may use a separate paper.) 7pts. 6. Biome's Soil: (Describe the type of soil that this biome generally has. Ideas: describe ... Biome Project 1. The name of your biome (title page) which includes a brief introduction to your project. 2. The biome's characteristics (climate, average temperature, average precipitation amounts, are there seasons) and locations in the world (continents, countries) 3. 4-6 plants that are found in your biome. Describe an adaptation they have for ... Biome Project 1. The name of your biome (title page) which includes a short introduction to your project. 2. The biome's characteristics (climate, average temperature, average precipitation amounts, are there seasons) and locations in the world (continents, countries) 3. 4-6 plants that are found in your biome. Describe an adaptation they have for ... 20 Biome Research Websites for Students Biome Research Project for Google Slides. A favorite project of my 5th grade students each year, this project is engaging and allows students to collaborate creatively. The presentation template and research worksheets are editable, so you can change the content to fit your needs. Engage Your Upper Elementary Students with a Biome Project Using a biome project at the end of your science unit is a great way to enhance students' research and presentation skills. Through this project, students collaboratively investigate and showcase the unique characteristics, climate, animals, plants, and the significant human impacts on different biomes. By adding this project to your ... Biome Research Project by Teacher Fanatic This is a free biome worksheet that students can use to conduct a research project. Biome Research Project. Rated 4.9 out of 5, based on 2 reviews. 4.9 ... Middle School Biome Project & Worksheets 33. $7.00. PDF. This environmental science lesson and activity is designed for middle school and high school courses. The included maps, worksheets and project provide a great introduction to habitats, biomes, and food webs. Topics include food webs, habitats, climate, tropical rainforest, savannah, desert, steppe, The Biomes Project The Biomes Project is an opportunity for you to do your own research on a particular biome. Your teacher may allow you to pick a biome, or he or she may select one for you. You will work in teams to research critical issues of your biome from different points of view. After your research, you will create a project to teach your classmates about ... Research a Biome Project Guide for 3rd-5th Grade Put choice into your students' hands as they learn about biomes with our Research a Biome Project Guide for 3rd-5th Grade. This guide provides directions and space for students to choose a biome and record the information they find regarding that biome. The resource is easy-to-use, attractive, and a great way to give your student autonomy while they learn about biomes. Results for biome research activity Created by. Melissa Mazur. This no-prep resource on biomes contains posters, task cards, reading comprehension pages and activities, a write the room activity, and a research project. This unit has everything you need for your students to complete the research project on a chosen biome. BiomeViewer The accompanying "Student Worksheet" guides students' exploration. It introduces the various types of data in BiomeViewer, and delves deeper into biodiversity data and human impacts on the environment. The "Resource Google Folder" link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. PDF Biome Research Project the biomes. You will then use informational books and the internet to conduct research and create this presentation. Be creative! You will have some class time to complete this project, but you will also need to work on the assignment at home. Titles ____ /10 points The name of your biome ____ 2 points Biomes Lesson Plans Biomes Lesson Plans. Ecology is one of my favorite topics to teach (along with evolution), so I'm excited to write up this blog post on biomes! In biology we begin the year with the characteristics of life, and then move into ecology. I like starting with ecology because it involves relatively easy concepts. Many students will have learned ... Teacher Resources Biome Discovery Expedition - A lesson idea that combines computer research with hands-on activites. Biomes Concept Map - Printable map with some information already filled in. This would be great in a special education class. Biome Project - A lesson that turns learning about biomes into selling your biome as a tourist attraction. Biome Map - A ... 7 Biomes Activities to Bring the WOW Factor to Your Classroom In this biomes interactive lesson, students will learn about ecosystems, abiotic and biotic factors, and then they will explore the 5 major biomes and their subcategories. In each biome, they learn about the animal life, the plant life, and the climate. In this lesson, there are embedded activities included for students to process the content ... Research a Biome Worksheets Use this worksheet to answer the questions about a biome of your choice. This printable will help your students get started on a research project. All worksheets are created by experienced and qualified teachers. Biomes Activity Teaching Resources You will love using these Biomes Research Teach- Go Pennants®. These Research pennant templates are perfect for studying and researching Biomes! ... The included maps, worksheets and project provide a great introduction to habitats, biomes, and food webs. Topics include food webs, habitats, climate, tropical rainforest, savannah, desert ... Biome Project Outline Worksheets Biome Project Outline For Google Apps : Use this biome project outline to determine which biome you will research and how you will go about doing your biome project. All worksheets are created by experienced and qualified teachers. Send your suggestions or comments. Site Map ... DOC Biome Research Worksheet Title: Biome Research Worksheet Author: WWPHSN Last modified by: Sharon Hall Created Date: 1/2/2008 11:11:00 AM Other titles: Biome Research Worksheet Biome Travel Brochure Project by Science Lessons That Rock Powerpoints, worksheets, interactive labs and games, writing prompts, exit tickets, and more. Check out the previews of each product above!Be sure to follow my TpT store by clicking on the green "follow me" next to my seller picture to recei. 42. Products. $100.80 $157.50 Save $56.70. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis