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Introduction
Aim
Rationale
Subject Matter
Goals and Objectives
Instructional Plan
Materials
Assessment and EvaluationAppendices
Resources
Glossary
Introduction
Aim
Rationale
Learners
Prerequisites
Subject Matter
Goals and Objectives
Instructional Plan
This “Where In the Biome?” Curriculum web is planned to be completed after finishing the FOSS Environments module in Science. The curriculum web will take 4 weeks to complete (or 12 - 45 minute Science class periods).
- The curriculum web will be completed by the students working in cooperative groups of 3-4 students per group, which have been predetermined by the teacher.
- Divide the class into four to seven groups of 3 to 4 students. Each group will become a “Bio Team” that will work together to complete the tasks together.
- When dividing the class, make heterogeneous groups (mixed ability levels).
- By having the groups created by the teacher, the students will help each other complete the activities about their assigned biome. This will help accommodate the special education students in the classroom. The teacher will also serve as a facilitator throughout the entire curriculum web.
- After “Bio Teams” have been created, assign each “Bio Team” their biome that they will be responsible for becoming experts on.
The biomes to be assigned are:
Tundra
Rainforest
Desert
Wetlands
Taiga
Grasslands
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Curriculum Web Activities Overview
The directions for each task are written in a step-by-step format in the student pages of the curriculum web. At this time it is highly recommended that you look through those student pages to develop a better understanding of the products the “Bio Teams” will have to create to complete this curriculum web.
- After being assigned the biome, each “Bio Team” will complete Activity #1, which is conduct research to become an expert on their biome. The students will work as a team; each “Bio Team” will start researching with a different resource. One team will start on the computer; other teams will use books, encyclopedias, or watch the Planet Earth DVD on their biome to gather information. The teams will rotate through these resources to help gather information.
- While still collecting information, students will be able to complete Activity #2, which is to color on a World Map, all the areas where their biome is found.
- After gathering all the information about their biome, the “Bio Teams” will begin working on Activities 3 – 4. These activities do not really need to be completed in a specific order. Some groups may go right to designing and creating their Biome PowerPoint (Activity 3), then to planning and creating their biome diorama (Activity 4), and last their Biome Problem/Solution Bulletin Board (Activity 5). The groups will decide as a team which Activity they want to work on first after conducting all their research.
It is important that each member of the group contributes and helps create the final product for each of the activities. The members will be evaluated on their participation and contribution to the group.
- After completing each planning handout, the groups will meet with the teacher to share their plans. This will allow the teacher to help the students and check their progress before beginning the final product.
Enrichment Activities
Students will be encouraged to find tourist areas in their biome. Students can create a travel brochure for extra credit to encourage key tourist attractions located in their biome. Maybe in the future, the students can travel to those tourist attractions they found and researched. (This activity will also help create a better understanding and compassion for the importance of creating a solution to help fix/solve a problem in their biome.)
Calendar of Events
Day 1: Introduce Curriculum Web, groups, and assign biome to each group. Students will begin working on Activity 1. Teacher will hand out the Research Question guide to help the “Bio Teams” get started on gathering information about their biome. | Day 2: Students will continue working on Activity 1 (conducting research on assigned biome using different resources – Internet, encyclopedias, books, videos, etc). | Day 3: Using research from Activity 1, students will complete and turn in Activity 2 (map showing where assigned biome can be found around the world). Continue conducting research. |
Day 4: Students will begin planning out the slides for their Biome PowerPoint presentation (Activity 3) | Day 5: Continue planning PowerPoint slides, if finished begin creating PowerPoint (Activity 3) | Day 6: Activity 3 – create Biome PowerPoint |
Day 7: Activity 4 – students will plan their biome diorama. Students will then begin collecting materials for their diorama. | Day 8: Activity 4 – construct diorama. Students will have brought in the materials needed to build their biome diorama. | Day 9: Activity 5 – students will determine the problem they want to try and resolve that is occurring in their biome. Student will then use the planning guide, to develop a solution to their problem. Students will also plan how to present the problem and solution on their bulletin board. |
Day 10: Activity 5 – begin creating bulletin board. | Day 11: Place finishing touches on Activities 3 – 4. Presentations will be on Day 12 (the final day when Activities 3 – 4 are due). | Day 12: Biome PowerPoint presentations and final products for Activities 3 – 4 are due after giving the presentation. |
Materials
- Computers with Internet access so the following website can be used: www.ikeepbookmarks.com/daly
- Books on the biomes being researched
- Planet Earth DVD
- Encyclopedias
- Handouts (see handout tab on curriculum web to print hard copies)
- Research Handout – contains questions to get the students started
- Map of the world – used for Activity #2
- PowerPoint Planning Slides – used for Activity #3
- Diorama Planning page – used for Activity #4
- Problem/Solution Chart – used for Activity #5
- Rubrics (see evaluation tab on curriculum web to print hard copies)
- Activity #2 – Map identifying location of biome
- Activity #3 – Biome PowerPoint
- Activity #4 – Diorama of Biome
- Activity #5 – Problem/Solution Bulletin Board
Assessment and Evaluation
Appendices
Resources
Glossary