BIOMESDifferentiated Station Labs

Major WorldBiomes

Kesler Science Station Lab – Biomes

If you have never used my Kesler Science Station Labs before please download the FREE Start-Up pack from my TPT store. It will provide you with all of the signage and best practices in order to run the station labs in your classroom.

You can read my complete guide to how run effective station labs on my blog.

The large directions cards included in this file are intended to be read by the leader of the group once the students get to the station. The smaller task cards can be read by another group member.

I prefer that each student do their own lab write-up (included at the end of this file), so that they may use it for reference at a later date. The answer key is provided at the end of the document.

Lastly, if any of the internet resources no longer work for some reason please let me know via email at chris@keslerscience.com. I cannot guarantee that all resources will be available, but I tried to choose ones that have been around for many years.

Kesler Science Station Lab – Biomes – Teacher Directions

Explore It! – I will spend much of my time at this station making sure students are understanding the concept. You will only need to the cards included in the file. A key is also included.

Illustrate It! – Make sure to include colored pencils or crayons at this station. This map does not include the chaparral biome.

Read It! – Print several different copies (I use 6) of the reading passage so that multiple students can read at different paces

Watch It! – The video is on YouTube and my Google drive. The original video can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtZcN4bzsrANote that URL’s are case-sensitive.

Organize It! – All of the cards are included for this station. Students should be encouraged to do the Research and Explore station before attempting this one. Typically this station is a matching activity but for this lab the student will be using the map included.

Write It! – Students should be encouraged to do the Research and Explore station before attempting this one.

Research It! – The goo.gl link on the task card is case-sensitive. The original link:http://mrnussbaum.com/biomes/habflash.swf

Assess It! – Students should be encouraged to do the Research and Explore station before attempting this one. If I grade anything I usually take a close look at the answers from this station.

It is recommended that you have completed at least two of the following stations before working at this station.-Read It!-Explore It!-Watch It!-Research It!

Answer each of the task card questions on the lab sheet in complete sentences.

Write It! Station Directions

©KeslerScience.com

Describe the difference between a biome and a microhabitat.

©KeslerScience.com ©KeslerScience.com

©KeslerScience.com

Describe a situation where a biome could change over a very long period of time.

What factors contribute to different biomes around the globe?

It is recommended that you have completed at least two of the following stations before working at this station.-Read It!-Explore It!-Watch It!-Research It!

Each member will answer the questions from the task cards on the lab sheet in the Assess It! section.

Assess It! Station Directions

©KeslerScience.com

©KeslerScience.com

©KeslerScience.com

©KeslerScience.com

©KeslerScience.com

A. Regions that have the same plant communities

B. Regions that have the same animal communities

C. Small habitat such as a tree stump that contains its own ecosystem

D. Large areas of the Earth that have similar climates and organisms

Which of these is not a characteristic of a biome?

The rainforest is rapidly declining in size. Which is not an impact to Earth?

Which best characterizes the grasslands biome?

A. Many species of plants and animals may become extinct

B. Less carbon dioxide is used by plants and less oxygen is put back into the air through photosynthesis

C. The region will become less diverseD. Global temperatures will decrease over

time

A. Short grasses and shrubs that have deep roots

B. The most diverse biome on EarthC. Deciduous trees that lose their

leaves every fallD. Forests that are made up of mostly

evergreen trees.

A shallow puddle on the top of a mountain that allows for tiny organisms to thrive when it rains is an example of a __________________.

A. BiomeB. MicrohabitatC. Terrestrial ForestD. Tundra

Each member of the group will read the passage and answer the questions from the task cards on the lab sheet in the Read It! section.

It is important to remember that the answers will come directly from the reading passage.

Read It! Station Directions

©KeslerScience.com

Mic

roha

bita

tsPe

ople

ofte

n th

ink

of h

abita

ts o

n a

rela

tivel

y la

rge

scal

e -d

eser

ts,

coni

fero

us fo

rest

s, gr

assla

nds,

bogs

, alp

ine

peak

s and

so

on. S

uch

broa

d ha

bita

ts a

re im

porta

nt w

hen

talki

ng a

bout

liche

ns b

ut it

is

equa

lly im

porta

nt to

look

at a

sm

alle

r sca

le a

t the

sam

e tim

e.

To a

liche

n a

shift

of a

s litt

le a

s a

cent

imet

er m

ay m

ean

a sh

ift to

dr

amat

ical

ly di

ffere

nt c

ondi

tions

whe

re, p

erha

ps, s

urvi

val is

not

po

ssib

le. I

f a sh

ift o

f a fe

w c

entim

eter

s mea

ns a

shift

to a

diff

eren

t se

t of c

ondi

tions

, tha

t also

mea

ns a

shi

ft to

a d

iffer

ent m

icro

-ha

bita

t.

Whe

n lo

okin

g fo

r lich

ens

in t

he fi

eld

it is

impo

rtant

to

be a

war

e of

m

icro

-hab

itats

and

real

ize th

at s

omet

imes

, whi

le ta

king

just

a fe

w

pace

s, yo

u m

ay h

ave

cros

sed

a do

zen

diffe

rent

mic

ro-h

abita

ts.

Boul

ders

are

fairly

com

mon

in m

any

farm

pad

dock

s and

nat

ural

gr

assla

nds

and,

alm

ost i

nvar

iabl

y, y

ou'll

see

a m

ix of

liche

ns a

nd

bryo

phyt

es g

row

ing

on th

em. T

he lic

hens

gro

win

g on

thes

e bo

ulde

rs a

re d

iffer

ent t

o th

e lic

hens

gro

win

g on

the

surro

undi

ng

soil.

From

a lic

hen

pers

pect

ive

the

boul

der d

iffer

s fro

m th

e su

rroun

ding

soi

l. It

has

a di

ffere

nt te

xtur

e an

d a

diffe

rent

che

mist

ry.

Whe

reas

the

gras

ses (

and

occa

siona

l shr

ubs)

of t

he su

rroun

ding

ar

ea g

ive

som

e sh

ade

to th

e so

il, th

e bo

ulde

rs h

ave

no s

hadi

ng

gras

ses o

r shr

ubs.

The

soil s

oaks

up

wat

er, t

he b

ould

ers d

on't.

Man

y lic

hens

gro

w o

n tre

es (a

nd o

ther

pla

nts)

. A p

artic

ular

tree

m

ay h

ave

num

erou

s mic

roha

bita

ts -

north

sid

e, so

uth

side,

roug

h ba

rk, s

moo

th b

ark,

trun

k, b

ranc

hes,

leav

es. M

any

liche

n sp

ecie

s ar

e fo

und

grow

ing

on le

aves

but

not

on

othe

r par

ts o

f tre

es o

r sh

rubs

and

thes

e ar

e th

e fo

liicol

ous

liche

ns.

Henc

e, a

s far

as

som

e lic

hens

are

con

cern

ed, le

aves

are

mic

roha

bita

ts t

hat t

hey

can

inha

bit

but t

he re

st o

f the

tree

is u

ninh

abita

ble.

The

re a

re

mic

roha

bita

ts e

ven

on le

aves

, for

exa

mpl

e up

per a

nd lo

wer

su

rface

s. So

me

foliic

olou

s sp

ecie

s will

be fo

und

grow

ing

only

on

one

side,

nev

er o

n th

e ot

her.

Mic

roha

bita

ts a

re a

ll ar

ound

us.

You

may

nev

er lo

ok a

t a tr

ee o

r ro

ck in

the

sam

e w

ay a

gain

.

How is a microhabitat different from a biome?

The author suggests that lichens may not be able to survive just a few centimeters away from where they live. Why?

A. Because they may cross into a different biome

B. Lichens must have the correct sunlight to grow

C. There won’t be any soil for them to growD. It may be a different microhabitat which has

a different set of conditions

How many microhabitats can trees have?

©KeslerScience.com©KeslerScience.com

©KeslerScience.com©KeslerScience.com

A. Microhabitats only exist on plants and biomes are plants and animals

B. Microhabitats are small ecosystems within a biome

C. Biomes are only found in the U.S.A.D. You cannot see microhabitats

A. Trees do not have microhabitatsB. Trees can only have one

microhabitatC. Trees can have multiple

microhabitats

A. The lichens on boulders get more sunlight than the ones on the ground

B. Lichens can only grow on bouldersC. They are in different microhabitatsD. Lichens in the soil are deposited by

different animals.

Why are lichens in the soil different from lichens on boulders?

Each member of the group will go to the website listed on task card #1

Complete the task cards in order.

Every student will answer the questions from the task cards on the lab sheet in the Watch It! section of the lab sheet.

Watch It! Station Directions

©KeslerScience.com

YouTube: https://goo.gl/BdbfuH G Drive: https://goo.gl/hj2cwj URL is case-sensitive

Describe what a biome is and provide some factors which help determine the biome.

List 3 biomes discussed in the video and characterize one of them. Include the terms vegetation, climate, location, and several organisms from the biome.

1. Click Play on the video.2. Answer questions from cards

#2-4 on your lab sheet.

YouTube

What is unique about the intertidal zone?

Each member of the group will go to the website listed on task card #1

Complete the task cards in order.

Every student will answer the questions from the task cards on the lab sheet in the Research It! section.

Research It! Station Directions

1. Go to http://goo.gl/VyBeh6

©KeslerScience.com

2. Use the interactive map to answer the next set of questions on your lab sheet.

1. List 2 characteristics of the rainforest biome.

2. What kind of vegetation is found in the grasslands biome?

3. Describe the characteristics of plants and animals that live in desert biomes.

4. Describe how the trees in the deciduous forest are different from those in the taiga.

1. Why is biodiversity low in the taiga forest biome?

2. What is the difference between arctic and alpine tundra?

3. Describe the landscape in the polar biomes.

4. Describe the vegetation in the chaparral biome..

One member of the group will read the task cards in order. The group will be responsible for completing each of the tasks that are being read.

Each member of the group will then write their conclusions down on the lab sheet in the Explore It! section.

Explore It! Station Directions

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©KeslerScience.com

©KeslerScience.com

©KeslerScience.com

1. Use the cards in front of you for this activity.

A biome is a large community of plants and animals that occupy a distinct region on the world. Biomes can be terrestrial (land) or aquatic (fresh and salt water).

1. Check your answers with the key and make any corrections necessary.

2. On your lab sheet discuss what type of biome you live in. How do you know? Keep in mind your region could be a mix of several biomes.

1. How can microhabitats support larger regional biomes?

1. How many biomes have you visited?

2. Which biome has the most biodiversity on Earth?

2. Match the biome images with the characteristics for that particular biome.

Microhabitats are very small parts of the environment that support a distinct flora (plants) and fauna (animals).

Examples of microhabitats could be a rotting tree stump or a dead animal.

1. List 3 microhabitats on your lab sheet and describe the characteristics of each.

Rain

fore

st

•M

ost

div

ers

e b

iom

e•

Gre

ate

st a

mou

nt o

f ra

infa

ll•

Covers

6%

of E

art

h but

hom

e

to 5

0%

of t

he s

peci

es

•Im

por

tant

pro

duc

ts s

uch

as

medic

ine, f

ruit

, lum

ber

and

te

as

com

e f

rom

thi

s bio

me

Gra

ssla

nds

•Deep-r

oote

d g

rass

es

and

tr

ees

•Hot

weath

er

year-

roun

d, b

ut

can

have t

orre

ntia

l dow

npou

rs t

o re

ple

nish

the

re

gio

n•

Few

pla

nts

and

ani

mals

Dese

rt

•Li

ttle

rain

fall

or p

reci

pit

ati

on•

Hot

, ari

d c

limate

•Co

vers

nearl

y 2

0%

of t

he

Eart

h’s

surf

ace

Tem

pera

te (

Deci

duo

us) Fo

rest

•La

rge, h

ard

woo

d t

rees

are

pre

sent

•M

ost

trees

lose

the

ir le

aves

every

fall

•Gene

rally

has

4 s

easo

ns•

2-6

feet

of p

reci

pit

ati

on p

er

year

Bore

al F

ore

st (

Taig

a)

•Co

ld, h

ars

h cl

imate

wit

h a

shor

t gro

win

g s

easo

n•

Dom

inate

d b

y e

verg

reen

trees

that

have n

eedle

s•

Bio

div

ers

ity lo

w b

eca

use o

f ha

rsh

cond

itio

ns•

Pro

ne t

o w

ildfi

res

Flooding

Tund

ra

•La

ck o

f tr

ees

•Perm

afr

ost

pre

sent

mos

t of

th

e y

ear

•Cha

ract

eri

zed b

y s

mall

shru

bs,

mos

ses,

and

lich

ens

pre

sent

•Co

ld a

nd d

ry

Arc

tic

(Pola

r)

•Fr

eezi

ng c

limate

mos

t of

the

ye

ar.

•V

ery

litt

le s

oil p

rese

nt f

or

gro

wth

•W

orld

’s w

indie

st p

lace

•Su

rrou

nded b

y o

ceans

Cha

parr

al

•Sh

rubby

, coa

stal b

iom

e•

Hot

sum

mers

, but

coo

l and

ra

iny w

inte

rs•

Pla

gue

d b

y w

ildfi

res

•Co

yot

es,

mou

ntain

lion

, sn

ake

s, a

nd r

abbit

s are

pre

sent

thr

ougho

ut

Biomes Key

Each member of the group will draw a quick sketch on the lab sheet that shows they understand the concept being taught.

Use the colored pencils and markers that are provided.

The directions for the sketch are provided on the task card at the table.

Illustrate It! Station Directions

©KeslerScience.com

Use the colored pencils to shade in each of the biomes on Earth. Be sure to include the color next to the key.

Illustrate It! Station Directions

©KeslerScience.com

It is recommended that you have completed at least twoof the following stations before working at this station.-Read It!-Explore It!-Watch It!-Research It!

Read each of the cards and answer the questions on your lab sheet.

Organize It! Station Directions

©KeslerScience.com

1. Where are most of the tropical rainforests found on Earth?

2. Where are most of the tundra regions found on Earth?

1. Which biomes are found in the United States?

2. On which continents are most of the desert biomes found?

Writ

e It!

TaskCard#1:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

TaskCard#2:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

TaskCard#3:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Nam

e___

____

____

____

____

____

Biom

es

©KeslerScience.com

Illus

trate

It!

Expl

ore

It!

Ass

ess I

t!#1_____

#3_____

Nam

e___

____

____

____

____

____

Read

It!

#2_____

#4_____

#1_____

#3_____

#2_____

#4_____

Rese

arch

It!

Org

anize

It!

©KeslerScience.com

Biom

es

TaskCard#2

1. 2. 3. 4

TaskCard#3

1. 2. 3. 4.

TaskCard#2

2.

TaskCard#3

1.

TaskCard#4

1. 2. 3.

TaskCa

rd#1

1. 2.

TaskCa

rd#2

1. 2.

Wat

ch It

!TaskCard#2:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

TaskCard#3:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

TaskCard#4:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Nam

e___

____

____

____

____

____

©KeslerScience.com

Biom

es

Writ

e It!

Biom

es A

nsw

er K

ey

©KeslerScience.com

Writ

e It!

TaskCard#1:

1.Abiom

eisalargeregionth

athassimilarcommunitiesofflora,fauna,

andgeography.M

icrohabita

tsareve

rysm

allecosystem

sthate

xist

with

inabiome.Theycouldbeassmallaso

nesideofa

leaf,but

with

inth

emicrohabita

tyouw

illfindsim

ilarc

ommunitiesof

organism

s.

2.Biom

escouldchangeoveralongperiodoftimeiftheclimate

changes.Oneexamplecouldbeth

atth

eEarthg

etsw

armerorcooler

overhundredsorth

ousandsofye

ars.

3.Eachbiomehasd

ifferentfactorsth

atallowitto

beunique.Those

factorsincludefa

una,flora,clim

ate,amountofsunlight,a

ltitude,

temperature,andth

elocatio

nonEarth.

Illus

trate

It!

Expl

ore

It!

Ass

ess I

t!#1__C_

__#3__A_

__

Read

It!

#2__D_

__#4__B_

__#1__B_

__#3__C_

__#2__D_

__#4__C_

__

Rese

arch

It!

Org

anize

It!

©KeslerScience.com

Biom

es A

nsw

er K

ey

TaskCa

rd#1

1.Ne

arth

eequator.

2.Ne

arth

enorthpole

TaskCard#2

1.Studenta

nswersw

illva

ry.

2.De

ep-rootedgrassesw

ithfewtreesa

nd

shrubs

3.Therearefewva

rietie

sofp

lantsa

nd

anim

alsinthedesert.Thosethatare

therearehighlyadaptedto

the

environm

enta

ndarem

ostlynocturnal.

4.Mosto

fthetreeslosetheirleavese

very

fallandgrow

them

backinthesprin

gtim

e.

TaskCard#3

1.Biodiversityislowinth

etaigabecauseof

theharshconditionsforsurvival

2.Arctictu

ndraisfoundnearth

epolesand

hasaveryshortgrowingseason.Alpine

tundraisfoundatthetopoflarge

mountainrangesandth

esoilisnot

perm

anentlyfrozenliketh

earctictundra

3.Frozenmosto

ftheyeara

ndth

eleastbio

diverseonEarth.

4.Re

gionso

ftalldensesh

rubs,andsom

eshrubbywoodlands.

TaskCard#2

2.Studenta

nswersw

illva

rybased

onre

gions.

TaskCard#3

1.Studenta

nswersw

illva

rybut

someexam

plesco

uldbea

puddle,a

deadtree,our

stom

achs,asmallgarden,a

sewer,adrainageditch

TaskCard#4

1.Microhabitatssu

pporttheoverallbiome

becausetheygenerallyhavevastamountsof

bacteriathathelpwith

decom

positio

nand

returningnutrientstoth

esoil.O

rganismsa

re

alldependentoneachotherforsu

rvival.

2.Studenta

nswersw

illva

ry.

3.Thetropicalrainforestisthemostd

iverse

biom

eonth

eplanet.

TaskCa

rd#2

1.Taiga,Desert,Mixe

dor

Decid

uousfo

rest,

Steppe

2.MostlyAfricaand

SouthAm

erica

Wat

ch It

!

©KeslerScience.com

Biom

es A

nsw

er K

ey

TaskCard#2:

Biom

esaremajorlifezo

nesthata

reeith

erterrestrialora

quatic.

Factorsthatc

ontributetoth

ebiom

esincludevegetatio

n,

sunlight,andclim

ate

TaskCard#3:

Thereweremanyb

iomesm

entio

nedinth

evideo.Som

eofth

em

includetherainforest,tundra,grassland,andch

aparral.Students

answ

ersw

illva

rydependingonthebiom

etheychose.Ch

eckto

seetheyhaveincludedth

elocatio

n,clim

ate,ve

getatio

n,anda

feworganism

sfromthebiom

e.

TaskCard4:

Theintertidalzo

neiswhereth

elandm

eetsth

eocean.

Throughoutth

edaythelandm

aybeexposeddurin

glowtideor

coveredinoceanwaterduringhightide.