Biome Box Project
Biome In A Box
Latin America and Caribbean (LAC)
This activity is meant to help you investigate the complex relationships and balance needed between organisms within populations, communities, and ecosystems. Please follow the prompts below to begin your discovery!
Diorama (50 pts)
Part I- Choose your biome. Note: On some cases the biomes have been broken up into smaller sub-categories.
Tundra Grassland
Taiga (coniferous forest) Desert
Temperate (deciduous forest) Tropical Rainforest
Freshwater (lake, river) Marine
Coral Reef
Part II- After choosing your LAC biome begin researching what sort of flora, fauna, weather and non-living factors make up your biome. Write or type these up on an index card to be displayed with your final project. You should include the following:
- At least 6 animal species found in your chosen biome (predator and prey).
- At least 3 plant, alga or fungal species found in your chosen biome
- Average annual temperature
- Average yearly rainfall
- Approximate longitude and latitude of your biome
Part III- Creating your diorama--You may use clay, paint, papier-mâché, small plastic trees and animals, or anything else that you can think of to portray your biome correctly. BE CREATIVE!! Please include a background on the back and sides of the box The background may be painted, drawn and colored, or made of a neat collage of pictures cut from magazines. You may use anything at your disposal to make your project accurate and visually attractive. Please see the example below for reference.
Biome Box Diorama Example
Part IV- Biome Letter: (50 Points): 1 page with Bibliography (minimum number of references - 1) You have been chosen to join a scientific expedition to the biome you have chosen. While on your expedition, you write a letter to me, describing your biome. Your letter should include:
- An accurate description of your biome; include what the seasons are like, how long they last?
- A list of items that you would need if you were going on a camping trip to this biome. Include types of clothing, food, shelter, protection from animals, and any other items that you think would help you survive in this biome.
- Tell me about ONE of these: What kind of sports/ games are played there? What kinds of food are eaten there?
- Descriptions of at least 3 biotic (flora or fauna) and 3 abiotic (rocks, wind speed, soil, sunlight minerals etc.) factors/species
DO NOT COPY INFORMATIONI FROM THE INTERNET! Plagiarism will result in an automatic failure for the project. Put the information in your own words.
Grading Rubric
The Biome-in-a-Box diorama is worth a maximum of 50 points.
The Biome Letter is worth a maximum of 50 points.
Together a maximum of 100 points is available.
NAME: _________________________
Diorama Rubric
Category | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
Attractiveness and Creativity | Display box is very attractive and creativity is evident. | Display box is very attractive. | Display box is somewhat attractive | Display box is messy and unattractive. |
Accuracy of Animals | More than 3 animals are accurately shown. | At least 3 animals are accurately shown. | One animal is inaccurately shown. | More than one animal is inaccurately shown |
Accuracy of Plants | More than 3 plants are accurately shown | At least 3 plants are accurately | One plant is inaccurately shown | More than one plant is inaccurately shown. |
Background | Background is very neatly depicted and present on all three sides. | Background is neatly depicted and present on all three sides. | Background is present on all three sides. | Background is not present on all three sides. |
Completeness | All components of assignment are present. | Most (1 item missing) components of assignment are present. | Some (2 to 3 items missing) components of assignment are present. | Few (more than 3 items missing) components of assignment are present. |
Points Earned: ______ ______ ______ ______
Total Points For Diorama: _______
Biome Letter Rubric
Category | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
Amount of Information | Paper is at least 1 typed pages and all topics are addressed with at least 2 sentences about each | Paper is at least 1 typed pages and all topics are addressed with at least 1 sentence about each. | Paper is not 1 typed pages but all topics are addressed with 1 sentence about each. | Paper is not 1 typed pages and one or more topics were not addressed |
Quality of Information | All information is accurate to chosen biome and is clearly organized. | Most information is accurate to chosen biome and is clearly organized | Most information is accurate to chosen biome. Organization is unclear. | Most information is inaccurate to chosen biome and organization is unclear. |
Sources: Bibliography | All sources are accurately documented in the desired format. | All sources are accurately documented, but a few are not in the desired format. | All sources are accurately documented, but many are not in the desired format | Some sources are not accurately documented. |
Internet Use | Successfully uses internet links or other sites to find information and worked well during time allotted | Moderately successful at using internet links or other sites to find information and worked well during time allotted. | Successful to moderately successful at using internet links or other sites to find information but was off task during the time allotted. | Needs assistance or supervision to use internet links or other sites and/or was disruptive to others during time allotted. |
Mechanics | No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors | Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. | A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors. | Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors |
Points Earned: ______ ______ ______ ______
Total Points For Letter: _______
Total Points for Project: ________/100