Biomes: are we in danger?

STEP BY STEP

1. Before starting. The teacher introduces the concept of biome by providing the definition in the glossary:

Biome - area of the planet that can be classified according to the vegetation and animals that live there

Using the interactive whiteboard, the teacher opens Google Earth and asks the class in which areas of the world the following biomes can be found:

equatorial forest, savannah, desert, Mediterranean scrub, temperate zone grasslands, temperate zone deciduous forests, coniferous forests, tundra, high altitude glaciers, polar zone  

2. Earth biomes. In this second phase, the different biomes are explored, seeking for each one the definition, the main characteristics and an endangered animal or plant species present in the biome.

3. An endangered planet. The teacher divides the class into groups and assigns a biome to each group. Each group is to research all possible risks (associated with natural hazards or human misbehaviour) that could threaten the assigned biome. The research activity can begin in class and continue at home or the teacher can assign the research as homework.

After doing the research, each group shares the information found with the rest of the class.

4. Concluding thoughts. Can we do something to safeguard our biome and other terrestrial biomes? With the teacher, the class reflects on the impact of climate change on biomes and how the actions we take every day (such as using the car to go to school) can also have repercussions in other areas of the planet.