Biomes of the World PowerPoint Project

Student Handout

Animals and plants around the world are in danger of becoming extinct. Man has caused much of the danger to different areas, because of his constant development of land for homes, businesses, and industry, with no thought to the environment. Fires have destroyed much of the deciduous forest in the United States. The television shows announcements about the constant destruction of the rainforest, which is the home for many endangered animals and plants. Droughts are destroying more plants, which means even less food and homes for animals. Your group will be doing research on a biome, and will be developing a powerpoint to convince others of the importance of your particular biome, and why it should be protected. Remember, your biome may be destroyed if you cannot convince others of its importance

Time frame: You will be given 2 class periods to complete this project.

Materials: computer lab (2days), notebook paper, pencil, reference books (on reserve), science text, internet, social studies text, Atlas.

The Task

You will work with a partner or independently to create a PowerPoint slide presentation about a biome. Each person will be responsible for researching three topics of your biome and creating PowerPoint slides to present this information to the class. Presentations will them be compiled in a class presentation entitled Biomes of the World.

Procedure:

  1. You will draw a number from a jar to determine the biome you will research.
  2. Use the laptops to conduct research on your biome.
  3. Begin putting research into rough draft form.
  4. Create two slidesof the plants that can be found in your biome. You should have 6 to 8 different plants.
  5. Create two slides of the animals that can be found in your biome include any endangered animals. You will need 8 to 10 different animals.
  6. Make a food web postershowing the energy movement throughout the biome. Use the plants and animals from the slides you have created.
  7. Create a world map slide showing the location of the biome.
  8. Create a climate slide(s) for your biome. Include the average yearly rainfall and, high and low temperatures.
  9. By the start of the 2nd class period, begin creating your PowerPoint slides. Make sure you include a slide with any interesting facts you discovered about your biome.
  10. You may not add any color, sounds, movement, or anything else to your slides until the last day.
  11. Put PPt slides together and prepare for presentation.
  12. Present PowerPoint.

Possible sites for student research:

Information on all biomes. Explore and checkout all the links.

Animal printouts for food web & animal poster

Information on all the biomes.

find info. on abiotic & biotic factors.

You can find world map at this site

Climate and rain fall information

Can be found here.

Citing Resources:

-only 10% of copyrighted text can be used in your presentation

-no more than 30 seconds of music (with no alterations) can be used

-YOU MUST credit sources for text, graphics, audio, and video

PowerPoint Scoring Guide

Criteria
(weight) / Beginning
1 / Developing
2 / Accomplished
3 / Exemplary
4
Screen Design
(x2) / Screens are either confusing and cluttered or barren and stark. / Screens are somewhat visually appealing. / Screens are visually appealing. / Screens are exceptionally attractive.
Number of Graphics
(x1) / No graphics included / 1 or 3 graphics included / 4 to 8 graphics included. / 10 or more graphics included
Appropriateness of Graphics
(x2) / Graphics detract from the info. presented or no graphics are included. / Graphics are not appropriate for the information being presented. / Graphics are somewhat appropriate. They slightly enhance the information being presented. / All graphics are appropriate for the slide and they enhance the information being presented.
Organization of Content
(x2) / No logical sequence of information. / Some logical sequence of information but is somewhat confusing. / Logical sequence of information. Most information is clear and direct. / Logical sequence of information. All information is clear and direct.
Subject Knowledge
(x5) / Subject knowledge is not evident. Information is confusing, incorrect or flawed / Some subject knowledge is evident. Some information is confusing, incorrect or flawed. / Subject knowledge is evident in much of the product. Information is clear, appropriate, and correct. / Subject knowledge is evident throughout. (more than required) All information is clear, appropriate, and correct.
Mechanics
(x2) / 7 or more grammatical and/or spelling errors. / 5 to 6 grammatical and/or spelling errors. / 3 to 4 grammatical and/or spelling errors. / 1 or 2 grammatical and/or spelling errors.

Plants Slides Scoring Guide

Excellent
4 / Very Good
3 / Satisfactory
2 / Needs Work
1
  • Includes pictures of at least 6 different kinds of plants
  • Pictures are labeled with name
  • Pictures are colorful and appropriately sized
  • Poster is neat and well-balanced
/
  • Includes pictures of at least 4 different kinds of plants.
  • Pictures are labeled with name.
  • Pictures are colorful and appropriately sized.
  • Poster is neat.
/
  • Includes pictures of at least 2 different kinds of plants
  • Pictures are labeled with name
  • Pictures are colorful but not appropriately sized
  • Poster is not neat
/
  • Includes pictures of at least 2 plants
  • Pictures are not labeled with name
  • Pictures are colorful but not appropriately sized
  • Poster is not neat

Animals Slides Scoring Guide

Excellent
4 / Very Good
3 / Satisfactory
2 / Needs Work
1
  • Includes pictures of at least 4 mammals, 2bird, and 2 reptile or amphibian.
  • Pictures are labeled with name and classification
  • Pictures are colorful and large
  • Poster is neat and well-balanced
/
  • Includes pictures of 3 mammals, 1 bird, and 1 reptile or amphibian
  • Pictures are labeled with name and classification
  • Pictures are colorful and large
  • Poster is neat
/
  • Includes pictures of 3 animals: 2 mammals, and 1 bird, reptile, or amphibian
  • Pictures are labeled with name and classification
  • Pictures are colorful but small
  • Poster is not neat or well-balanced
/
  • Includes pictures of at least 2 animals
  • Pictures are not labeled with name or classification
  • Pictures are small
  • Poster is not neat

Food Web Poster Scoring Guide

Excellent
4 / Very Good
3 / Satisfactory
2 / Needs Work
1
  • Contains more than 1 food chain, with at least 5 animals
  • Is neat and colorful
  • Correctly indicates the energy patterns of movement through the biome
  • Contains animals and plants appropriate for that biome
/
  • Contains more than 1 food chain, with at least 4 animals
  • Is colorful but not neat
  • Correctly indicates the energy patterns of movement through the biome
  • Contains animals and plants appropriate for that biome
/
  • Contains 1 food chain, with at least 3 animals
  • Is colorful but not neat
  • Correctly indicates the energy patterns of movement through the food chain
  • Contains animals and plants appropriate for that biome
/
  • Contains 1 food chain, with at least 2 animals
  • Is neat or colorful
  • Correctly indicates the energy patterns of movement through the food chain
  • Contains animals and plants appropriate for that biome

World Map Scoring Guide

Excellent
4 / Very Good
3 / Satisfactory
2 / Needs Work
1
  • Shows locations world-wide
  • Locations are accurate
  • Key is neat and colorful
  • Map is neat and colorful
  • Map is labeled with continents and oceans, and easily read
/
  • Shows locations world-wide
  • Locations are accurate
  • Key is colorful but not neat
  • Map is neat and colorful
  • Map is labeled with continents and oceans
/
  • Shows locations in Western Hemisphere
  • Locations are accurate
  • Key is not neat or colorful
  • Map is neat but not colorful
  • Map is labeled with continents or oceans
/
  • Shows locations in the United States
  • Locations are not accurate
  • Key is missing
  • Map is not neat or colorful
  • Map is not labeled with continents and oceans

Climate Slide Scoring Guide

Excellent
4 / Very Good
3 / Satisfactory
2 / Needs Work
1
  • High and low temperatures are shown for your biome.
  • Average yearly rainfall is shown for your biome.
  • Data is accurate
  • Labels are neat and easily read
/
  • High or low temperatures are shown for your biome.
  • Average yearly rainfall is shown for your biome.
  • Data is accurate
  • Labels are neat and easily read
/
  • High or low temperatures are shown for your biome.
  • Average yearly rainfall is shown for your biome.
  • Data is not accurate or complete
  • Labels are easily read
/
  • High and low temperatures are not shown for your biome.
  • Average yearly rainfall is not shown for your biome. or is not accurate.
  • Data is not accurate or complete
  • Labels are not neat or easily read

Cooperative Group Evaluation

I spent adequate time preparing this project. / We spent adequate time preparing this project.
My part of the project fits the guidelines given by the teacher(s). / Our project fits the guidelines given by the teacher(s).
My part of the project shows that I can communicate effectively. / Our project shows that I can communicate effectively.
I am proud of the effort I put into this project. / We are proud of the effort we put into this project.
I am proud of the way this project turned out. / We are proud of the way this project turned out.
I actively participated in the activity. / We actively participated in the activity.
I listened to other members' ideas. / We listened to each other's ideas.
I helped other members. / We helped each other.
I cleaned up after the activity. / We cleaned up after the activity.