Biomes - a problem-based learning project

family moving

a Problem-Based Learning Project about Biomes

for novice learners.

The Problem:

The banner headline of your town's paper seems impossible. Local soil testing has discovered a serious problem. The soil of your community is heavily contaminated with a toxic chemical. The only answer is that everyone must move.

"It's Love Canal or Chernobyl all over again," your mom whispers to your dad.

The government says they will pay to move everyone just once. You must all agree to go to the same new biome. The scientists think that a different biome from the one you live in will be your best chance to survive.

Which biome do you think would be best?

Step 1 -	Each member of the group identifies what they know about biomes.
Step 2 -	Identify what you need to learn about biomes. Be specific. Make a list. Assign the group member who is to find the answers/info. Everyone will be researching info.
Step 3 -	As a group - Discuss your findings on individual biomes. Decide on a new biome and list the reasons for its selection.
Step 4 -	Create a project/report to explain your choice and support its selection. Be sure to show the pros and cons of the biomes. Show your choice as compared to at least 1 other biome.

Online Resources: I have collected a set of valuable sites for researching biomes. I suggest you use them first. Use them to harness the Internet to fill in the missing facts. You may also use print resources and video based info. If you use a resource not listed here, document it in your cited works (bibliography) at the end of your report. If a link is broken, use your online research skills to find the site/page. Copy the title of the source. Paste it in a web search engine. Search.

Watch Baffling Biomes

1. Earth Floor: Biomes - http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html

2. BluePlanet Biomes - http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm

3. CyberZoo Biome Resources - http://lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/biome.html

4. The World's Biomes - http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php

5. Earth Observatory - http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome/

6. Learn About Biomes - http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/as/education/projects/webunits/biomes/index.html

7. NatureWorks - Habitats http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep5.htm

8. Introduction to Biomes - http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/intro.html

9. Biomes - http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/index1.html

10. Build-A-Prairie http://www.bellmuseum.org/distancelearning/prairie/

11. The Digital Desert - http://ddl.nmsu.edu/kids/

12. Biomes of the World - http://mbgnet.mobot.org/index.html

13. Habitats and Ecosystems http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/habitat/habitat.html

14. Ecosystems - http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/ecosystems.html&edu=high

15. Ocean Biome - http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/biomes/oceans.html

16. World Biomes - http://www.worldbiomes.com/default.htm

17. Kids Do Eology - http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/

18. Eduscapes - http://eduscapes.com/nature/index.htm

Main problem page

What you know

What you do not know

Worksheet example

Project examples

Problem-based learning

Harness the Student Process Guides to prepare your students to be more successful problem solvers and group participants.
Check out my activity to harness this resource.

Rubric Template at Bernie Dodge site

Multimedia Project Rubric

"Behold the turtle for he does not move forward without sticking out his neck." PBL site

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updated 9/2007, Posted 10/2003

I have not linked this info to avoid being spammed.