Biome Research Project for year 2 and 3 students

Biome Research Project

We have been studying biomes for the last month in class and becoming aware or their physical features, the weather, the plants, and animals that are unique to that area. Biomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell 1996). To extend our studies outside the classroom, I’d like students to make a Mini-Environment or a 3-D Map at home. They will do some preliminary work in class. They will make a map in class which will assist them in completing their project at home. For their written portion of the assignment, they will gather information in class, and be provided a list of questions to help them while they write. They will keep a special project folder that needs to come to class everyday. They may work on the writing portion at home and during school. I encourage you to help your student revise his or her work. I intend to put their finished product in a book form.
When your student is finished with this project they will have completed:
1. a biome geographical map
2. animal research from the biome they are studying
3. plant research from the biome they are studying
4. biome geography research
5. indigenous people research of biome they are studying
6. a Mini-environment or 3-D Map Project created at home
7. a title page
8. a reference page
I organize a special presentation day where students will share their work with their peers and family.
Due date: Please submit when you finish it.

Ideas for the Biome Research Project

Ideas for a Biome Research Project

Students love nature. The endless varieties of trees, bugs, rocks, and flowers provide unlimited opportunities for learning and exploration. Naturally, they love nature-themed projects, too. Here are a few ways to bring the outside in:

1. Construct a Miniature Biome

Start with an inexpensive glass bowl (less than $1 at craft or hobby stores) and provide your child with materials to make a biome. Here are a few ideas:

Desert Biome: a layer of dirt, then a layer of sand. Add some real miniature cacti and small plastic desert animals (spiders, scorpions, lizards). Water it occasionally. Here's one version:

Ocean Biome: Start with a layer of sand, then add colorful shells, dried sand dollars, and dried starfish. Add some plastic ocean animals, or make them out of clay and then paint when dry.

Forest Biome: When I comb through the local garden center, I can usually find some plants that look like miniature trees and shrubs. After putting in a layer of gravel (for drainage) and then a layer of dirt, plant the mini-trees and add some animal figurines: deer, squirrels, chipmunks, bears, etc.

You can make mini biomes for just about every climate, including the rain forest, tundra, and savanna.

2. Make a 3-d Map of a Biome

Create a unique, stunning display of the Earth’s landforms. Showcase learning with textured materials such as sandpaper, aluminum foil, and corrugated paper.

Steps:

1. Find out about the many different types of the Earth’s landforms such as deserts, mountains, oceans, plateaus, coastlines, and marshlands. What characteristics make each of them unique? With your parents help, construct your biome on a large piece of cardboard.

2. For the background, overlap big pieces of white poster board or constructions paper with glue.

3. Use your biome map to help sketch or outline your land form on the cardboard and label the different parts to help decide where to put the different materials that you are going to use in your project.

4. Use your imagination and colored pencils to sketch various areas of landforms on the background.

4. You can also choose materials that best portray the textures of each area. For instance, sandpaper is great for deserts or plateaus. Aluminum foil makes shiny water. Consider corrugated paper, cotton balls, and other items, too.

5. You may want to paint the larger areas such as sky, evergreens, and coastline.

6. Using scissors, cut out pieces of textured materials such as sandpaper, aluminum foil, or corrugated paper. Glue them in place on the landscape.

7. Gel Markers write on many surfaces. Color aluminum foil blue to represent water. Try these markers on sandpaper and other surfaces for a unique look.

8. Draw objects such as animals, grasses, wildlife, rocks, cacti, and mountain ranges with colored pencils on construction paper. Color them, cut them out, and glue on the bulletin board landscape.

9. Write labels for the landforms. Cut them out and glue in place.

Work Cited:

http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/across-the-landscape-lesson-plan/

http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/blog/