Overview and Background: Unit: Biomes

Wendy Wiens : Cheney USD 268

Science. : Science. : Science.

Cheney : Grades 3 - 3 : Aug. - Jun.

Title:	Biomes
Topics:	Biomes, Ecology
Start Date:	-

Other Designers:

Summary:
This unit will look at the different biomes and how animals adapt to survive in them.

Print Materials Needed:

Resources:

Resource Attachments:	http://www.cheney268.com/3rd/Wiens/Biomes/Biomes.htm
Internet Resource Links: Link 1:http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/grassland/prairie.shtml Link 2:http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/ Link 3:http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=biomes Link 4:http://www.lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/biome.html

Notes:

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

State:	KS
Title:	Science
Standard(s):	Standard 3, Benchmark 1 Identifies and describes and the physical components of the Earth's atmosphere, land, water, and biomes (e.g., temperature, precipitation, wind, weather climate; mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, river valleys, peninsulas, islands; oceans, lakes, rivers, aquifers; plants, animals, habitats). Standard 3, Benchmark 3 Describes plants and animals associated with specific biomes (e.g. desert, wetland, mountain, grassland, forest, tundra)

Understandings:
user	The biome's resources determine what living organisms can survive there. Organisms adapt to survive in an environment.

Essential Questions:
User	How does the biome affect the organisms that live there? What do plants and animals need to survive? How do plants and animals adapt to survive?

Knowledge and Skills:

K
*The connection between needs and environment.
*Characteristics of biomes.

S
*To gather data by using a graphic organizers.
*Apply understanding to design an animal habitat in a specific biome.

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

Assessment Summary:
Students will create a diorama for a zoo, presenting a biome and its resourses. They will also create a plaque to explain the biome to visitors.

Task/Prompt: Manhattan's Sunset Zoo

Type:Performance Task

Topics: Biomes, Ecology

Summary:
Students will create a diorama for a zoo, presenting a biome and its resourses. They will also create a plaque to explain the biome to visitors. All of these elements will combined on web pages to create a virtual zoo.

Print Materials Needed:

Resources:

Resource Attachments: http://www.cheney268.com/3rd/Wiens/Biomes/Biomes.htm

Internet Resource Links:
Link 1: http://
Link 2: http://
Link 3: http://
Link 4: http://
Link 5: http://

Notes:

Student Directions:
The Sunset Zoo in Manhattan has had all of their informational signs stolen from outside the animal exhibits. The zoo staff has asked you to help them out by selecting a biome and then an animal from that biome. Then design an informative plaque for that animal to replace the stolen plaque for the exhibit. This plaque should provide thorough information about your animal and its habitat. The zoo visitors should better understand the needs of your animal and how it has adapted to survive in that biome. Also the zoo staff would like you to create an appropriate, well-crafted model of the animal habitat exhibit (desert, wetland, mountains, grassland, forest, tundra). The habitat needs to accurately meet the needs for shelter, food, water, etc.

Rubric(s)

Rubric: Biomes Rubric

Summary:
http://www.cheney268.com/3rd/Wiens/Biomes/BiomeRubric.htm

Other assessment evidence to be collected:

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

Learning Activities:

W
Present Essential Questions. Brainstorm list of the kinds of information that should be listed on each sign. Why would that information be important for the zoo's guests?

H
Educational signs from the Manhattan, Ks. Zoo. The signs are being temporarily replaced. Show some examples of the animals that need signs.

E
Students research a biome, including: Biome location, Biome formation, Animals in biome, Weather & climate in biome, Plants in biome, & How biome effects what animals and plants live there.
Resources:
Biomes Hotlist: http://www.cheney268.com/3rd/Wiens/Biomes/BiomeHotlist.htm
Biomes Notetaking Graphic Organizer: http://www.cheney268.com/3rd/Wiens/Biomes/BiomeNotetaking.htm

Students create a PowerPoint presentation using their research to present a biome. Students do an oral presentation, dressed as they would if they were going to that biome.

Classroom discussion about animals and how they adapt to the climate and plants.
Education specialists from the Manhattan Sunset Zoo will bring animals and discuss their native environments and how they adapt to survive.

In preparation for creating the plaque, the class will work on informational paragraph structure and graphic design elements that might be found in informational plaques. They will look at some examples of plaques from zoos.
Rubric: http://www.cheney268.com/3rd/Wiens/Biomes/ParagraphGradeSheet.htm

R
Students review each others projects and give feedback before presenting to the class.

E
Students will create a diorama for a zoo, presenting a biome and its resourses. They will also create a plaque to explain the biome to visitors. All of these elements will be combined into a virtual zoo.