Ecology Lesson Plan: Exploring Biomes

Preparation: Before teaching the lesson on Biomes, compile a packet that requires students to fill in information on the Biomes. Teachers can make the packet on their own, or get it from another source. This should include physical characteristics of the Biome, climate, plant and animal life. More information on the Biome might be included depending on the school/state standards or material from which the students will obtain their information.

How the students gather information on Biomes is optional. It is suggested to have students utilize video and book(s). If videos are unavailable, then books are great if they have plenty of visuals.

To add inquiry, before you begin the lesson have students come to there own conclusions as to what the Biomes might look like. This could be an illustration or description. Also, this can be done individually or with a partner. A class discussion can further lead the students to what they already know or can predict about the Biomes.

Lesson: To incorporate co-operative learning, place students in 5-8 groups. This will depend on the number of Biomes being covered because each group will be assigned a separate Biome. First, students need to fill in their packet with the answers/information on their assigned Biome using the video and/or book(s). They can do this individually or in their assigned groups. Next, as a group the students will make a poster illustrating their assigned Biome. Students should label and describe as much about their Biome as possible because the other students will use these posters to fill in the rest of their packets. Finally, students are given a certain amount of time to rotate as a group to the other posters. Once they are at another group's poster, they will promptly fill in their packet with the information on the Biome that is being illustrated/described on their classmate's poster. Once their time is up, then the group rotates to the next poster to continue to fill in their packet.