Footbridge Program - Earth's Biomes: June 2014

Welcome to Footbridge Program- Earth's Biomes!

FootBridge Program:

Earth’s Biomes

What is a biome? Biomes are very large ecological areas on the earth’s surface, with animals and plants adapting to their environment. Biomes have similar geography and climate. The amount of rainfall and the temperature are two important ways in which biomes are divided. There are five major categories of biomes on earth (Deserts, Aquatic biomes, Forest, Grasslands, and Tundra).

LEARNING GOALS FOR THIS UNIT:

By the end of this unit students should be able to:

* define the major biomes on Earth

* name distinctive climatic features for each biome

* describe the principal living members (plant and animals) of each biome

Introduction to Earth’s Biomes

Films:

Intro to Biomes- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIy0ZlyPPDg&feature=share

Ecosys. & Biomes- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTaWsFct32g&feature=share

Activity:

Animal Cracker Game- http://www.abcteach.com/free/a/animalcracker_biome.pdf

My Travel Journal to Earth’s Biomes

Your Task:

Biome Map

Biomes are typically classified by their average temperature and precipitation (snow and rain). Color the blank world map to show where different biome is located. Be sure to color your map key.

My Travel Journal to Earth’s Biomes

Your Task:

Biome Exploration Webquest

You are an ecologist who is researching the biomes of the world and the plants and animals that inhabit the different biomes. What is each biome like? It is your challenge to find out!

Postcards:

-You will be finding out information about each of the world’s biomes.

-You will research each biome on the internet

-You will fill out a postcard with the information you have found

Information needed for each biome:

-One interesting fact

-Location

-Climate/ weather (include temperature, rainfall, seasons)

-Plants (at least 6)

-Animals (at least 6)

-A food chain: A food chain is a way of organizing living things by what they eat. It shows who's eating who. The arrows in a food chain show the flow of energy.

Food Chain: What is it?

Every living thing needs energy in order to live. Every time animals do something (run, jump) they use energy to do so.

Animals get energy from the food they eat, and all living things get energy from food. Plants use sunlight, water and nutrients to get energy. Energy is necessary for living beings to grow.

A food chain shows how each living thing gets food, and how nutrients and energy are passed from creature to creature. Food chains begin with plant-life, and end with animal-life. Some animals eat plants, some animals eat other animals.

A simple food chain could start with grass, which is eaten by rabbits. Then the rabbits are eaten by foxes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLq2datPo5M