Process

You will begin by attending a scientific convention to participate in a discussion of global warming and biomes.  The convention chairman (your teacher) will display this webquest on a screen and review it with your colleagues (classmates).  The chairman will also provide a copy of a Think Sheet and rubric for this project and discuss each of these.  Next the chairman will assign scientists to groups of six teammates, and these groups will meet to discuss and decide who will research each of the six biomes: rainforest, taiga, tundra, desert, grassland, and temperate broadleaf deciduous forest.

YOU BE THE SCIENTIST!


You will research the 6 topics below and create a PowerPoint slide on each topic.  You will need to create a title slide, too (that's a TOTAL of 7 slides).  As you research, record the information you find on your Think Sheet so it will be organized and easy to find.  Please see Evaluation for requirements for your PowerPoint slides.

Use the links below for your first topic.

 1.  Global warming

http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics/kidspage.cfm

http://tiki.oneworld.net/global_warming/climate8.html

http://climatehotmap.org/harbingers.html

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/news/story/0,6260,576405.00.html

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/news/story/0,6260,129748.00.html

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/air/global.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/global_warming.htm

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/change.html

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/gw.html

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/version2.html   (Watch all 5 scenes of this video and then take the global warming quiz to complete a world puzzle.)

 

Next you should visit some additional sites to find out about the specific biome you are researching.  You will find some great sites below or you may search to find your own sites.  You will be creating a slide on each of the topics below:

2.  Locations of your biome; include a world map showing your biome

3.  Typical rainfall, temperature, and any other interesting or unique features/facts about your biome

4.  Plants of your biome

5.  Animals of your biome

6.  Possible affects of global warming on your biome

http://www.brus-ehs.eu.dodea.edu/lessons/fifth_grade/index.htm (this is a list of links about biomes)

http://www.hewett.norfolk.sch.uk/curric/NewGeog/Habitats/index.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/

http://www.worldbiomes.com

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php

http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/index1.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/Biome

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html

 

 

 

After completing your PowerPoint slides, meet with your team to share your slides and answer questions the other scientists on your team may have.  You will need to reach an team decision about which biome is likely to be most affected by global warming.  If you don't all agree, have a discussion where you use specific examples from your research information.  You will need to reach a consensus of opinion, using compromise whenever needed.

 

Then you will compile a team database using Microsoft Excel; you will be directed to an Excel template for this database.  The template must be complete and accurate.

  

After the team meetings, individual scientists on each team will present their PowerPoint slides, followed by a presentation of the team database, which includes the biome they have chosen as the most affected by global warming.

Once all the presentations have been made, each team will participate in two debates based on this statement:

Resolved:  the _______________ biome will be most affected by global warming.

Your team will defend its position in one debate and oppose another team's position in the second debate.  You will use copies of your database as references during the debates.

GOOD LUCK!