by Philip Holt and his Science Classes. All rights reserved. 2002.  

What is a biome?  It is the name given to similar ecosystems that are found in different locations around the world.  Even though biomes are in different areas of the world, the climate and latitude range are usually the same. The flora (plants) in any given biome determine what kind of fauna (animals) can survive there.  The major land biomes found in the world are: tundra, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, grassland, desert, and rain forest.  There are also marine and freshwater biomes.

Biomes Are Our Homes is the outgrowth of a webquest my sixth grade science classes completed.  This exploration was to have taken place in the 1500's, and each team had to report back to the Crown on their newly discovered biome. The webquest was titled:  Eureka! A New Biome! and involved each team taking on the role of either a biologist or a land use expert.  

Eureka! A New Biome! - Final Product Expectations
(from Eureka! A New Biome! with some modifications)

In your report you (the Biologist) should include the following factual information for the Academy of Sciences: 

      Identify where the biome is found 
      Identify the biome's climate type 
      Identify the major types of plants present in the biome 
      Identify the major types of animals present in the biome 
      Include any other facts about your biome that are important or interesting 

In your report for the Crown you (the Land Use Expert) should also discuss the possibilities for future exploitation of the biome by humans.

You and your partner will also need to diagram a food web for this biome.

When you have completed your report for the Crown, please pass it in with a title page that has the name of your biome and the names of both members of your team. Please illustrate it and make it neat and beautiful. The Crown gets rather cranky when messes are passed in.

 These are some excellent online resources to help you complete your assignment.

These are some of the completed reports submitted to the Crown: