BIOME GROUP PROJECT
50 Points Total
State Standard: Biology- Ecology 6a, 6b, 6e, 6f
Description of project:
To help you learn about many of the concepts of ecology, you and your group will be responsible for creating a group presentation on a particular biome of the world, assigned to you by your teacher. This project can either be a Presentation Board with a diorama (3D), or a Presentation Board with a PowerPoint presentation. You will include all the information listed below in your project. You will be responsible for doing a significant amount of research on your biome and you will also be responsible for providing the pictures, artwork, charts, graphs, etc. necessary to go in your presentation. Time outside of class will be used to for additional research, and gathering images/pictures to use in your presentation.
Biomes:
1. Taiga (Boreal or Coniferous Forest) 5. Temperate (Deciduous) Forest
2. Tropical Rainforest 6. Tundra
3. Desert 7. Marine/Ocean (focus on one area)
4. Pick One: Grasslands, Chaparral, or Savanna 8. Freshwater (Rivers, Swamps, Lakes)
Pictures/Photos/Illustrations:
All pictures of organisms must be relevant to your examples and/or biome….do not use generic clip art type of pictures. Remember: you want to give your audience a visually exciting, yet educational tour of your biome!
Information to include in your presentation:
Some information may overlap with others, but you must still fulfill the following criteria. Attempt to use information that is unique or relevant to your area, i.e., avoid generic information that can apply to most biomes. See the rubric for clarification.
¨ 6 pts World Map- A map of the world showing only where your biome is located throughout the Earth. Must be colored or highly visible.
¨ 6 pts Climatogram- A graph showing the average monthly precipitation and temperature in °F.
¨ 6 pts Biotic/Abiotic Factors- A description of the biotic and abiotic factors important to your biome. This will include a list of the typical plant life and animal life in your biome and specific adaptations of plants and animals. For abiotic factors, a description of how the factors affect the organisms in the biome.
¨ 12 pts Food Web/Pyramid- A diagram of organisms and their place in food chain, found within the biome. Pictures/diagrams with common names are required. About 7-10 organisms total must be represented.
¨ 3 pts Symbiosis- Provide a description and pictures of the relationship between two organisms for two types of symbiosis that occur within the biome.
¨ 3 pts Predation- Provide two examples, using pictures/diagrams to illustrate predation within the biome. Try to find interesting examples!
¨ 3 pts Trophic Level- Give two examples of the following types of organisms within the biome: carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, decomposers, and scavengers. A description of the individual organisms is not necessary, but pictures must be included.
¨ 10 pts Animals- A list of 7-10 each of the representative invertebrates and vertebrates from your biome. This should include pictures with common name and classification (by Phylum or Class).
¨ 10 pts Plants- A list of representative plant life found within your biome with pictures. Identify the common names of typical plants along with pictures. About 7-10 plants total must be included.
¨ 6 pts Human Impact- A section briefly describing and illustrating one way how humans have impacted your biome negatively. Consider things like deforestation, desertification, development of cities, pollution, etc.
SPECIAL NOTE:
No bibliography necessary.
Presentation 25 pts total:
15 pts Overall appearance and flow of presentation:
ü Many colorful pictures/illustrations/diagrams.
ü Lay-out is organized with clear titles for each section.
ü Not too much or too little text for each section.
ü Text font large and color visible enough.
ü No major technical problems that could have been avoided.
ü Interesting! Not too dull or boring.
ü Educational and informative.
ü Presentation gives a good overall “feel” for your biome.
ü All information in presentation could be “absorbed”. Don’t rush through the presentation!
10 pts Oral presentation of presentation and poster:
ü All group members must speak.
ü Avoid reading right off the slides and/or script. Use LOUD VOICES!
ü No major technical problems that could have been avoided.
ü Speakers are ENTHUSIASTIC and ENERGIZED.
ü Try not to face the wall or block the screen during the presentation.
Individual Participation 10 pts total:
You must participate equally in making the presentation. You will document the research you performed and the jobs you did to contribute to the project.
GRADING RUBRIC FOR BIOME PROJECT
Content:
_____ / 6 pts. World Map
_____ / 6 pts. Climatogram
_____ / 6 pts. Biotic and Abiotic Factors
_____ / 12 pts. Food Web/Pyramid
_____ / 9 pts. Examples of Predation, Trophic Level, Symbiosis
_____ / 10 pts. Representative Invertebrates and Vertebrates
_____ / 10 pts. Representative Plant Life
_____ / 6 pts. Human Impact
Presentation:
_____ / 15 pts. Overall appearance of presentation (creativity)
_____ / 10 pts. Oral presentation of project and poster
Individual Grade: (to be determined by teammates)
_____ / 10 pts.
TOTAL: _____ / 100 (For Individual score divide by 2)