Ms.

Garlock Fall 2014

1
ANALY HIGH SCHOOL
The Biome Project
Group Research Project & Presentation

INTRODUCTION
A travel agency is trying to boost travel to different parts of the world by increasing the
advertising and selling vacation packages. You have been hired to make a presentation to sell a
travel package.

TASK
Working as a group, develop a short 10min presentation to the class to sell your
vacation package. Presentations can be in the form of a digital PowerPoint or Prezi, a poster, a
brochure, or a website. After all presentations are finished, the class will vote on the most
appealing vacation. Winners will receive a 10% Extra Credit bonus on the Chapter Exam!

VACATION PACKAGES

TERRESTRIAL BIOMES AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

Desert Wetlands
Tropical Savanna Estuaries
Tropical Seasonal Forest Intertidal Zone
Tropical Rain Forest Open Oceans
Temperate Grasslands Coral Reefs
Temperate Forest
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
Tundra
Temperate Woodland and Shrubland

PROCESS
Each team will be assigned a biome. It is the teams job to research the biome and gather facts
and information about that biome. Each member of the team will become an expert in a
particular aspect of the biome.

Team Roles
Botanist this person will be an expert in the plant life of the area
Zoologist this person will be an expert in the animal lfie of the area
Meteorologist the weather expert, should also determine the best time of year to
vacation in the biome and what kinds of clothes to bring
Geographer map and area expert, will show landmarks, major cities and places a
tourist should visit or activities related to that area (climbing, scuba, etc.)

Discuss with your team which role each of you will assume. Remember that you are ALL
responsible for learning about the biome you are presenting, but your role reflects an area
of particular focus for you as you research.
Ms. Garlock Fall 2014
2
Each team member should choose a website from the resource list and find their biome to
record facts and information about the biome that would be useful in the presentation.

This factsheet will be turned in to show that you did your share of the group work.
Please do not print out whole webpages, a list of facts on notebook paper is acceptable.
Remember your role. You can write down anything useful you think the team will need,
but your focus should be on the role you were assigned (geographer, meteorologist,
zoologist, botanist)

Your presentation should answer the following questions:
What kinds of activities could people do in this location?
What kinds of plants and animals live there?
What kind of clothing should they bring?
Whats the weather like?
What is the best time of year to travel there?
What part of the world will they be traveling to?
Are there any dangerous elements to traveling there?

Rejoin your group and discuss your findings as you develop your presentation.

PRESENTATION
Use any of the following formats:
1. A flyer that you can hand out to the class (ask your teacher to make copies.)
Microsoft Office has a publisher program to help make brochures
2. A poster board. Make a self-standing project board that has pictures and
information about your biome. If you choose to do this, you MUST make it
visually stimulating. Cutting and pasting a few pictures and words is not enough.
3. Make a presentation using PowerPoint or Keynote and present to the class. Please
be creative use the link on Ms. Garlocks website for PowerPoint guidelines.
4. Make a presentation using Prezi. This is a free resource you can access on the
internet no download necessary! See Ms. Garlocks website for Prezi tips.
5. Create a website on Weebly. This is a free internet resource where you can build
your own website. This is a great way to pretend you are a travel company selling
your travel plans to the public!

RESOURCES
Biomes - Missouri Botanical Gardens http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/
The World's Biomes http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/
Biomes of the World http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/biomes/biomes.cfm
Introduction to Biomes https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/
Blue Planet: World Biomes http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm

*Also you are free to use search engines, such as google, to locate information
Ms. Garlock Fall 2014
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RUBRIC

Excellent (4) Good (3) Fair (2) Poor (1) SCORE
Botanist Plants illustrated
with detail with
at least 2 plant
pictures and
information
related to their
value to the area.
(Harmful or
dangerous plants
can also be
used.)
Plants
illustrated with
some detail and
at least 2
pictures and
information
related to the
plants value to
its
environment.
Plants
illustrated with
minimal detail
with at least 1
picture and
information
related to the
plants value to
its
environment.
Plants not
described well,
not illustrated,
or lack a
connection to
the plants role
in the
environment.




____/10
Zoologist Animals
discussed with
regard to the
type of animals
you would see
on a vacation to
the biome. At
least 2 pictures
of animals
included, with
details of the
animals habitat
and lifestyle.
Animals
generally seen
in the biome
discussed with
at least 2
examples.
Presentation
generally
includes
pertinent
information.
At least 1
anima
described from
the biome
region.
Presenters
describe either
the animal
habitat or
lifestyle
without detail.
Animals
discussed
without
explanation,
pictures, or
pertinence to
the biome. May
lack detail,
understanding,
or pertinence to
region.





____/10
Meteorologist Biome's weather
patterns are
thoroughly
discussed,
seasonal changes
are explained
and audience
have an idea of
what kinds of
clothes to bring
to this vacation
spot
Biome's
weather
patterns are
discussed,
seasonal
changes are
mentioned and
audience have
an idea of what
kinds of clothes
to bring to this
vacation spot
Biomes
weather
patterns and
seasonal
changes are
briefly
mentioned but
audience lacks
a clear
understanding
of what to
expect
seasonally.
Biomes
weather
patterns and
seasonal
changes are not
clear and/or
missing.





____/10
Geographer A map is
included in the
presentation
with a list of
"sites to see"
while at the
biome or
location. Either
many sites are
mentioned or
A map is
included with a
list of sites to
see while at
the biome
and/or location.
Some sites may
be briefly
mentioned but
lacks detail.
Sites to see
while at the
biome location
are mentioned
but no map is
included.
Specific sites
are not listed
and/or
explained in
Sites to see
map is missing
and geographer
failed to
explain the
geographic
setting, sites,
expectations.




____/10
Ms. Garlock Fall 2014
4
one site is
showcased in
great detail
detail.
Presentation Presentation had
an enthusiastic,
smooth flow and
organization is
evident;
document (ppt,
.doc, webpage)
is creative and
well organized.
Presentation
was generally
smooth and
organized with
some minor
errors.
Document (ppt,
doc, web) is
creative and/or
organized.
Presentation
needed to be
practiced at
least 1 more
time.
Document (ppt,
doc, web) lacks
organization or
creativity.
Little to no
effort spent
polishing the
presentation.
The document
(ppt, doc, web)
shows little
effort or
individual
thought.



____/10
Group Work Each member
spoke and
contributed to
the presentation,
Most members
spoke and
contributed to
the presentation
One member of
the group did
most of the
work.
Group
members failed
to work
collaboratively.

____/5

TOTAL

____/55


**NOTE: READ THE RUBRIC IN DETAIL! If you strive to complete everything listed in the
rubric, you WILL get a good grade on this project.