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Conservation of Biomes

Context for this Lesson

Subject: 
ITEAR: 
Teaching Strategies: 
Topic: 

Topic: Biomes

Purpose: To deepen students' understanding of biomes and their importance to the ecosystem.

Prior Knowledge: Students must have basic knowledge of biomes

Materials: Markers, Large paper

Hook/Engage: 

Explain that today we will be using some drama techniques to help us actively explore and introduce some of the concepts we will be studying in class. In a moment, I will go into role as a different character. You will be using the information that you have been assigned about biomes.

Explore: 

Hello, I’m the Board Vice President for the Foundation for Biome Conservation and have been asked to speak with you today. I know many of you thought that you would be receiving research funding in order to protect your biomes. I know your biomes may be at risk for extinction but we just don’t have enough funding to support all of you.

So let me get down to the reason that I’m here today. We have this limited pool of money that we want to use to support the conservation of biomes around the world. What I need for you to do is create a 3-5 minute ad presentation about why your biome should be funded with our limited resources. In your presentation, you should include everything you think might influence our decision including location, plant life, animal life, and risk level of extinction. I will give you 15 minutes to create your ad presentation. The best presentations will not only get funding but also be used as public service announcements on national television.

You should also know that I do not make the final decision but will be taking copious notes to present to the president of the Foundation for Biome Conservation.

Alright, let’s see what great advertisements you come up with.

Give students 15 minutes to create presentations.

Have students present.

The biomes are as follows:

  •  Bays and Lagoons
  •  Oyster Reefs
  •  Mud Flats
  •  Sandy Beaches
  •  Rocks and Jetties
  •  Swamps
  •  Salt Marsh
  •  Mangrove
  •  Island Grasslands / meadow
  •  River Estuary
  •  Freshwater Ponds and Lakes
  •  Open Ocean (tropical)
  •  Open Ocean (polar)
  •  Coral Reefs
  •  Sand dunes
  •  Ocean bottom (benthos region)

Students should know the following information about their biome:

  •  World range (what continents) and local range (Texas if possible, U.S. if not in Texas)
  •  Plant life and animal life present
  •  Examples of food webs in this area
  •  Special adaptations the organisms need for survival in this biome
  •  Temperature and humidity range (climate)
  •  Salinity range & dissolved oxygen range
  •  Tidal range (if applicable) and exposure to surf

Deepen students' understanding of biomes and their importance to the ecosystem.