WHAT TO DO:

1. Choose a biome and explore it using the links above.  There are links for each of the biomes.  Read the articles contained on the web page links about your biome to learn more about its location, climate, soil, common plants, common animals and other interesting facts. 

2. Open a new Word document where you can keep notes about your biome. Type a title for your document (the name of your biome) and insert the sub-headings: Location, Climate, Soil, Common Plants, Common Animals, and Interesting Facts.  Use the Copy command (Ctrl + C)  to copy information (text, maps, photos, photo credits and captions) to the sub-headings in your Word document (Ctrl + V to paste).  (Sometimes you'll have to right-click and choose "Save Image As" and then use the Insert menu to insert the graphic).  Save the document in the "Biome Research" folder on the desktop of your computer under your name - first and last.  (File, Save As)

3. Next, follow the Web Links to the articles about your biome to check out the online information. Once you're connected to the Internet, you can also easily link to any of the Websites listed above. Add any information you want to save to your Word document.

4. When you're done collecting information about your biome, you may need to reorganize it. Arrange your facts, figures and photos under the sub-headings that reflect the material you've gathered:  location, climate, soil, common plants, common animals and other interesting facts.  Then save your document.  (Click the Save button on the standard toolbar.)

Step 2 Determine how best to illustrate your information

Software: Microsoft® Excel, Microsoft® Word or  Microsoft® PowerPoint

WHAT TO DO: Now figure out how to make your biome more interesting to your audience.

1. Use Word or PowerPoint to utilize creative, drawing features such as Word Art or to insert pictures/graphics.
2. Use Excel to track information and sort easily or to calculate columns of numbers.
3. Print out your information as needed to place on the poster in your science classroom.
4. Save your project in the Biome Research folder on your computer's desktop. (Click the Save button on the standard toolbar.)

Step 3 Presentation (Optional)

Software: Microsoft® PowerPoint

WHAT TO DO: Let's create an interactive multimedia presentation promoting your biome.

1. Open PowerPoint and import your notes, images, and Excel spreadsheet to create a splashy slide show about your biome.
2. Choose Set Up Show from the Slide Show menu. In the Set Up Show dialog box, choose "Browsed at a Kiosk" as the show type.
3. Add Action Buttons to your slides to let viewers move forward and backward through the show, and return to the beginning from any slide. Insert custom Action Buttons in the first screen to let viewers jump directly to various sections of the show.
4. Now you can save your interactive slide show as HTML and put it on your school's intranet, or the Internet, for all to appreciate!

* Note to Teachers: click on Explanation of the Project - a PowerPoint presentation to download

Thanks to Donna Dowd for the idea for the lesson plan