Introduction

An environmental theme park is being created for the purpose of educating the public and with the hope of perpetuating the ecosystems of the world. All the animals and plants you are familiar with have evolved to live on earth and share their ecosystems. They each make a specific contribution to balance life. Those successful species are able to adapt to the changing environment. Like Jurassic Park sometimes things go a little haywire and the food chain is being "unlinked" by some voracious animals and plants so the balance of life in all 8 biomes has been altered and is creating a dangerous situation.

What makes a biome work?

The Pesauwinnikee Park is looking for unique examples of life to introduce to each biome in the park to maintain a balanced ecosystem. You and your team are charged with designing an organism suited for living in the biome you have been assigned.

You must learn about your biome and it's chemical, geological and physical features. To do this you must choose a scientific role for research.

Biologist: You are responsible for showing the importance of keeping your biome intact.

Botanist: You are responsible for showing the biomedical benefits derived from your biome.

Chemist: You are responsible for showing the benefits of chemical deposits in your biome.

Economist: You are responsible for showing the monetary benefits of keeping your biome intact, including ecotourism.

Design both internal and external body parts and be prepared to present a descriptive visual as well as a persuasive essay to the Park Curators for acceptance to the Park.

Please use your The Pesauwinnikee Park folder to keep all the information you and your team research.

1. Please answer the following questions using the information you find on this link. Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Use Worksheet 1 to record your answers.

What is a biome? What makes a biome work? What is an ecosystem? Why do organisms interact with each other in an ecosystem? Make a chart showing the following features of each biome such as: climate (temperature, precipitation, wind) and physical features ( topography, location, soil composition, flora and fauna)

 2. You have been assigned a biome and a team, now choose your role ( see The Task). Use the charts you made in step one to begin your in depth investigation of your biome.

Use Worksheet 2 to record what you know and what do you want to know.

What else do you need to know in order to design an organism that will survive and adapt to your biome? Each scientist must answer questions specific to their speciality.

Scientist questions: Biologist. Botanist, Chemist, Economist

Complete Worksheet 2 Brainstorm 5 questions and record on the research question sheets. Answer Scientist questions and record these in your journal.

Use the information you find on the following links as well as print resources found on your OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) to answer your questions. Don't forget to record the works cited information.

Blue Planet

World Builders

Earth Floor

Biome Basics

3. Now that you know all you can about your Biome you need to investigate several types of adaptations at this link, Adaptations.

In order to design an organism for your biome, it's important to know what characteristics enable it to survive.

 Use Worksheet 3.

Make a list of the adaptations you feel are necessary for an organism in this biome. Organize the adaptations. (web,list,outline, map)

4. You are now ready to design an organism uniquely adapted to your biome. Be sure that you consider the following when designing both the internal and external body parts:

body design/symmetry diet/acquiring food shelter/protection/skeleton mobility sensory ability communication reproduction/life cycle temperature regulations/respiration/metabolism digestion waste removal/water regulation other unique adaptations / behaviors

Design both internal and external body parts and be prepared to present a descriptive visual as well as a persuasive essay to the Park Curators for acceptance to the Park.

5. Are you ready to present your organism to the Park Curators?

Can you answer these questions?

What features does an organism need to maintain the balance of each biome? What makes a species successful? What adaptations do organisms need to survive in each biome? Why does your biome need this organism? What impact will your organism have on the rest of this biome? What makes a biome work?

Use Worksheet 4 to create an outline to follow during your presentation.

You should look at this web site on outlining for help.

You and your team of scientists must write a Persuasive essay for submission to the Park Curators . Use the link for help

Don't forget to let the curators know where you found your information. This adds authority to your work and gives credit to those you learned from. Use this link to help you with your MLA Works Cited

Describe to the learners how their performance will be evaluated. Specify whether there will be a common grade for group work vs. individual grades.

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Demonstrates an understanding of the interrelationships of a biome.	Worksheet 1 is completed with basic facts of biome characteristics. Chart shows minimal effort.	Worksheet 1 is completed with accurate understanding of ecosystem interactivity. Chart shows average effort.	Worksheet 1 is completed with above average synthesis of biome and ecosystem intractivity and co- dependence. Chart shows above average effort.	Worksheet 1 is completed at an accomplished level as well as synthesis of global ecological impact. Chart shows oustanding effort.
Demonstrates an understanding of biome facts applied to specific biome.	Worksheet 2 is completed with a basic knowledge of specific biome characteristics.	Worksheet 2 is completed with an accurate understanding of specific biome characteristics.	Worksheet 2 is completed with above average understand-ing of specific biome characteris-tics and balance.	Worksheet 2 is completed with an indepth mastery of specific biome characteris-ics and balance.
Demonstrates an understanding of animal adaptations.	Worksheet 3 is completed with a basic understanding of animal adaptations. Visual shows minimal effort.	Worksheet 3 is completed with an average understanding of animal adaptations. Visual shows average effort.	Worksheet 3 is completed with above average synthesis of specific biome characteris-tics. Visual shows above average effort.	Worksheet 3 is completed with an exemplary understand-ing of animal adaptations. Visual shows outstanding effort.
Visual Presentation of Created Creature	Visual demonstrates a basic syntheses of animal adaptations and interrelation-ships.	Visual demonstrates an average synthesis of animal adaptations and interrelation-ships.	Visual demonstrates an above average synthesis of animal adaptations and interrelation-ships.	Visual demonstrates an exemplary synthesis of animal adaptations and interrelation-ships.
Persuasive Essay	Writing is extremely limited in communicating knowledge with no points to support your creature's existence in a balanced biome. Vocabulary, mechanics, and citations are limited.	Writing does not clearly communicate knowledge, point of view. Few points to support your creature's existence. Your side is understood. Vocabulary, mechanics, and citations are adequate.	Writing is purposeful and focused. Several points supporting evidence. You easily convince reader. Vocabulary, mechanics, and citations are above average.	Writing is confident and clearly focused. Your points are strong and well documented and supported.Vocabulary, mechanics, and citations are precise and exemplary.

 

The product of your research and model helps you to see how a biome supports and encourages adaptations of life. Your research also should have lead you to an understanding how inter-dependent life is in a biome. You have discovered how important all organisms are to the balance of life in an ecosystem. With all this new information you have gathered, think about the impact that humans have on earth and how we need to carefully maintain our habitat.