Living Earth
Learning Objectives
For this unit, students will be able to accomplish the following:
- Understand the Big Geography (broad patterns) of life on Earth and their connections to patterns of global temperature and precipitation distribution.
- Understand how plants, animals and humans adapt to the patterns stated above.
- Understand some of the issues that human actions and activities are having on life on the planet.
- Understand some of the steps they can take to support sustainable human activity.
Rain Forest
Image Source: Wikipedia Tropical Rain Forests
Coniferous Forest (Taiga)
These areas are dominated by trees that have needle leaves. They tend to stay green year-round, so often they are referred to as evergreen trees.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Deciduous Forests
These areas are dominated by trees that loose their leave annually. Search the Internet to find a map that shows the locations of Deciduous Forests.
Image Source: G
World Deserts
Image Source: Wikipedia World Deserts
World Grasslands
Map of Steppes in the world - as biogeographic landforms and ecoregions.
Image Source: Wikipedia Steppe World
- Red: of the Montane grasslands and shrublands Biome.
- Yellow: of the Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Biome.
Image Source: Wikipedia Steppe World
World Ecozones
Ecozones: this map shows how temperature and precipitation impact the world's biomes.
Image Source: Wikipedia World Vegetation Zones
NASA Earth Observatory
Map Exercise
- Latitude Lines: place at 10° increments (starting from 0°-- the Equator)
- Draw and Label the World's Tropical Rain Forests
- Draw and Label the World's Deciduous Forests
- Draw and Label the World's Coniferous Forests
- Draw and Label the World's Deserts
- Draw and Label the World's Grasslands
Project
Using the maps above, what patterns do you notice between the world's major biomes and latitude? Explain how latitude impacts the temperature and precipitation of an area.
During this activity, you will explore the different latitude-based biomes of the planet. You will examine the following:
Suggested projects to show what you have learned about each biome:
For each biome, include the following information:
Evaluation: You will be graded based on the following:
Levels:
During this activity, you will explore the different latitude-based biomes of the planet. You will examine the following:
- The World's Tropical Rain Forests
- The World's Deciduous Forests (aka Temperate Forests)-- these forests are dominated by trees that loose their broad leaves each year.
- The World's Coniferous Forests (aka Boreal Forests)-- these forests are dominated by trees that keep their needle leaves each year.
- The World's Deserts: examine both cold and hot arid regions (remember, deserts are determined by a lack of precipitation, not temperature)
- The World's Grasslands: examine both temperate and tropical grasslands
Suggested projects to show what you have learned about each biome:
- Publish a DK-Style Book for the World's Biomes
- Create an Interactive Map (either on the computer or a physical map) that contains information about each of the various biomes.
- Develop a website of the world's biomes
- Plan a virtual field trip of the World's biomes.
For each biome, include the following information:
- General information about the temperature and precipitation of the biome
- Information about some of the animals in the biome and their adaptations to the region.
- Information about some of the plants in the biome and their adaptations to the region.
- Explain some of the ways that humans have adapted to the biome (plants and animals they raise, how they use the land, the types of cities they have built)
Evaluation: You will be graded based on the following:
- Focus Question: The Driving Force of the presentation/paper. The main goal that was trying to be accomplished. Was the purpose of this paper/project clearly identifiable to all observers.
- Organization: Does the paper/presentation have a logical order? Did all the sections connect in order to create a narrative?
- Content: Did you come across as an expert on the topic? Did you know the material well enough to speak as an authority? Was the information included well-researched? Did you know enough on the topic to understand the main points and why it is relevant?
- Design/Presentation: Was it visually rich? Were you able to engage the class with the information and ideas you were presenting? Did you demonstrate creativity and imagination?
Levels:
- 4: Excellent (Highly Professional)
- 3: Good (Enjoyable and engaging. However, there was some room for improvement. Needs a little more work to reach perfection.)
- 2: Average (The assignment was completed, but it could have been significantly improved in several areas.)
- 1: Needs Improvement (Parts of this assignment were incomplete, or significantly lacking. More work needs to be provided.)
- 0: Non-existent or non-evident. (It was not completed or included.)
Challenge Project
Currently, half of the world's lands are under human control. Also, humans have reduced 40% of the world's grassland, deciduous forests, and tropical rain forests. We have also had a major impact on world oceans by heavy fishing.
For this assignment, you will complete a research project on the impact that humans are having on our planet. Here are some suggested topics:
Evaluation: You will be graded based on the following:
Levels:
For this assignment, you will complete a research project on the impact that humans are having on our planet. Here are some suggested topics:
- What is the impact of deforestation or habitat destruction on the planet?
- How are humans using and misusing the world's oceans?
- How can humans develop sustainable systems of food production?
- How does the global food system work?
- How can our planet handle so many people?
Evaluation: You will be graded based on the following:
- Focus Question: The Driving Force of the presentation/paper. The main goal that was trying to be accomplished. Was the purpose of this paper/project clearly identifiable to all observers.
- Organization: Does the paper/presentation have a logical order? Did all the sections connect in order to create a narrative?
- Content: Did you come across as an expert on the topic? Did you know the material well enough to speak as an authority? Was the information included well-researched? Did you know enough on the topic to understand the main points and why it is relevant?
- Design/Presentation: Was it visually rich? Were you able to engage the class with the information and ideas you were presenting? Did you demonstrate creativity and imagination?
Levels:
- 4: Excellent (Highly Professional)
- 3: Good (Enjoyable and engaging. However, there was some room for improvement. Needs a little more work to reach perfection.)
- 2: Average (The assignment was completed, but it could have been significantly improved in several areas.)
- 1: Needs Improvement (Parts of this assignment were incomplete, or significantly lacking. More work needs to be provided.)
- 0: Non-existent or non-evident. (It was not completed or included.)