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Stephen K. Hayt 3rd Grade Zoo Biomes Project (As Part of a "Technology Literacy Challenge Fund"  [TLCF] Grant)

Introduction
As a 1999-2000 recipient of the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF) Grant, Stephen K. Hayt School staff wrote a 3rd grade Science curriculum on Biomes. Students study animals in both the wild and in zoos. They try to find similarities and differences in each environment. As a final project, groups create their own zoo environment for animals in their biome. This project incorporated the subjects of Language Art, Social Studies, and Math, as well. All activities were linked the State and CPS learning goals. In addition, the project was connected to the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS).

Hayt School has, again, been the recipient of TLCF Grant for the 2000-2001 school year. As part of the grant, the 3rd grade staff tested, modified, and is incorporating the 3rd grade Biome unit within the Science curriculum. This hands-on experience provides students varied opportunities for learning. The groups begin with a class KWLH activity. Using the Internet as one source of information, students study animal habitats. They are introduced to six biomes of the world. While on a trip to Brookfield Zoo, student groups focus on certain animals as they take pictures and write in their journals. Each student group researches a specific biome, shares zoo information, and then records findings in a HyperStudio stack.  Each child focuses on a specific animal within his/her biome. After more research, every student completes a web page template with information about an animal. A hand-drawn animal is scanned by student representatives and then placed within the student's web page. The original picture becomes part of a class booklet that students create. Student biome groups create a model of how they think a zoo should create an area for their particular model. As a final project, student groups make presentations to the class and share their newly acquired biome findings.
 

What is a Biome?
Every living thing calls some area within the Earth's biosphere its home. All the areas within the biosphere are not the same. Around the world are large areas, or biomes. The earth has more than 30 kinds of biomes. A biome is a geographic area with a specific climate. In that area live similar plants and animals. Biomes can join together naturally into one another.

Six major land biomes have been identified in this project: Desert, Grassland, Temperate Forest, Tropical Rainforest, Tundra, and Tropical Savannah.

Climate varies from biome to biome. (Climate is the average temperature and rainfall of an area.) "Weather changes from day to day, but climate is the weather people expect." Each biome has specific types of plants and animals throughout its area. In other words, each type of biome supports different organisms.

 Activity Explanations & Samples (click on the graphic web below to view activities)