BACKGROUND:
This muti-day lesson focuses on knowledge of characteristics of biomes and how each biome's characteristics demonstrates biodiversity among species. As part of this lesson, students will create an interactive mind map displaying information and visuals on the different biomes. The finished product is a graphic organizer demonstrating students' knowledge about the geography, climate, animal and plant life, and other defining characteristics about a particular biome. Each group will then teach the rest of the class about their particular biome.
The interactive mind map created by mindmeister.com is an online program designed to allow users to input, organize, connect, and present information through a visual graphic organizer. This mind map is a great tool for brainstorming and creating concept maps for any content area because the starting point is a blank template on which information bubbles and images can be added and manipulated. In this lesson, the mindmeister program is used to create a visual mind map displaying characteristics about biomes.
By completing this lesson, students will gain scientific literacy skills through understanding differences in characteristics of biomes and global regions and how these differences impact the biodiversity of species on Earth.
21st Century Student Outcomes:
Environmental Literacy - understand the environment and conditions that affect it
Learning and Innovation Skills - think creatively and work creatively with others, communicate and collaborate with others about ideas
ICT Literacy Skills - use digital technology to research, organize, evaluate, and communicate information
Life and Career Skills - productivity and accountability to manage projects and produce results, social skills, work together in diverse teams
OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to create a visual representation showing the unique characteristics such as geographic regions, climate, and organisms of a particular biome.
STANDARDS:
Organisms & Their Environment L.12.C.4 - Students know the unique geologic, hydrologic, climatic, and biological characteristics of biomes and Nevada's bioregions.
MATERIALS:
- Biology textbook or online access (http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm is a great website for students to gather information)
- Computer or iPad with internet access to interactive mind map - http://www.mindmeister.com/
- Biome mind map graphic organizer (click here to download PDF file)
- Biome pictures PowerPoint (click here to download presentation)
TIME FRAME:
7 to 8 days (designed for 50-60 minute class periods)
STEPS:
DAY 1:
What is a biome and what are each biome's unique characteristics? A biome is a region containing ecosystems with similar climatic characteristics. Discuss the levels of organization in ecological systems - organism, species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere - and the differences between each level.
DAY 2 & 3:
Begin research on biomes - Have students divide into groups of 3-4 and assign each group a biome to research. They will be responsible for collecting information about their assigned biome to teach to the rest of the class. Hand out a graphic organizer to each group for them to collect information about the biome's geography, climate, plants and animals, and other defining characteristics. The students will use this graphic organizer to create their interactive mind map presentation.
DAY 4 & 5:
Creating the mind map - Have students access the interactive mind map website. Click on the Sign Up For Free button on the homepage and scroll down to the very bottom to the Basic Free option. The group can sign up for free using one member's email address (the basic option allows them to create up to 3 mind maps for free under their account). Once the account is activated from the email link, students can begin creating the map by clicking on Create New Map and choosing a blank template.
Students can then add information using texts, pictures, and links to the map. The + icon in the upper left hand corner allows them to add new bubbles branching off from the main idea for characteristics of their particular biome such as climate, geographic location, plants and animals, etc. They can even search for images through google using the images button on the right, or change the text and font.
DAY 6:
Preparing the presentation - Once the mind maps are complete, have students prepare their mind map into a presentation to teach the class about their particular biome. In the lower left corner, click on the presentation icon to create a presentation of the mind map. Press the + icon to add a numeric box which indicates which order the particular piece of the map highlighted will be shown and then drag over a piece of the map. Once all of the components are numbered, click on Start Slideshow to show off the map.
Preparing the presentation - Once the mind maps are complete, have students prepare their mind map into a presentation to teach the class about their particular biome. In the lower left corner, click on the presentation icon to create a presentation of the mind map. Press the + icon to add a numeric box which indicates which order the particular piece of the map highlighted will be shown and then drag over a piece of the map. Once all of the components are numbered, click on Start Slideshow to show off the map.
Once the map is complete, students can also share their map by inviting other users to view or publish to a website.
DAY 7 & 8:
Biome mind map group presentations - Each group will share what they have learned about their biome with the rest of the class through a short 5 minute presentation to display their mind map. As each group presents their mind map about their particular biome, have the other students take notes about each biome during the presentations. Students could use the graphic organizer provided to take notes on each biome.
Which biome is this? Check for understanding by showing a slide show containing pictures of each of the biomes for students to identify. Pass out whiteboards or strips of paper with each biome name. Show the Biomes PowerPoint and as each slide is presented, have students write the correct biome name on the whiteboard or hold up the correct strip of paper to demonstrate their knowledge of each biome.
Click below to download this entire lesson as a PDF file
DAY 7 & 8:
Biome mind map group presentations - Each group will share what they have learned about their biome with the rest of the class through a short 5 minute presentation to display their mind map. As each group presents their mind map about their particular biome, have the other students take notes about each biome during the presentations. Students could use the graphic organizer provided to take notes on each biome.
Which biome is this? Check for understanding by showing a slide show containing pictures of each of the biomes for students to identify. Pass out whiteboards or strips of paper with each biome name. Show the Biomes PowerPoint and as each slide is presented, have students write the correct biome name on the whiteboard or hold up the correct strip of paper to demonstrate their knowledge of each biome.
Click below to download this entire lesson as a PDF file
biome_mind_map.pdf | |
File Size: | 611 kb |
File Type: |