Biomes - a problem-based learning project

family moving

a Problem-Based Learning Project about Biomes

The Problem:

The banner headline of your town's paper seems impossible. Local soil testing has discovered a serious problem. The soil of your community is heavily contaminated with a toxic chemical. The only answer is that everyone must move.

"It's Love Canal or Chernobyl all over again," your mom whispers to your dad. "At Centralia, Pennsylvania the government forced the people to move out of the town," your dad replies.

The government says they will pay to move everyone just once. You must all agree to go to the same new biome. The scientists think that a different biome (from the one you live in now) will be your best chance to survive.

Which biome do you think would be best?

Step 1 -	Each member of the group identifies what they know about biomes. worksheet doc or pdf
Step 2 -	Identify what you need to learn about biomes. worksheet - doc or pdf Be specific. Make a list. here are some examples on other subjects. Assign the group member who is to find the specific answers/information. Everyone will be researching information. Learn how to research elementary \| middle school & high school
Step 3 -	1. As a group - Discuss your findings on individual biomes. 2. Use a decision matrix to sort through your choices. (hint: a spreadsheet makes a handy form) 3. Decide on a new biome and list the reasons for its selection.
Step 4 -	Create a project/report to explain your choice and support its selection. Be sure to show the pros and cons of the biomes. In your presentation, show your choice as compared to at least 1 other biome. Take credit and give credit

introduction sheet - doc. or pdf.

Online Resources: I have collected a set of valuable sites for researching biomes. I suggest you use them first. Use them to harness the Internet to fill in the missing facts. You may also use print resources and video based information. If you use a resource not listed here, document it in your cited works (bibliography) at the end of your report. If a link is broken, use your online research skills to find the site/page. Copy the title of the source. Paste it in a web search engine. Search.

Read - Biomes and Ecosystems - http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/ecosystems.html Book online with 3 reading levels

Earth Floor: Biomes - http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html

Biomes of the World -http://www.mbgnet.net/

NASA - Mission Biomes - http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/

The World's Biomes - http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php

Earth Observatory - https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/biome

NatureWorks - Habitats http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep5.htm

The Digital Desert - https://digital-desert.com/

Eduscapes - http://eduscapes.com/nature/index.htm

Main problem page

What you know

What you need to learn