Biome Research Journal Entries

Research Journal Entries



Today's Goal: Write your first and second journal entry about your biome.  

Here is what each journal entry will be about: 

Journal Entry 1: Biotic Factors (plants and animals) and 
Journal Entry 2: Abiotic Factors (weather, what does it look like)
Journal Entry 2: Predators and Prey
Journal Entry 4: Fun facts about your biome

Rubric for Journal Entry #1.  When I grade your journal this is what I will use.  All of you should try and get a 4 for each category.  Make sure you READ what should be in each category!!

Journal Entry #2

Category	4	3	2	1	0
Accuracy	All of the plants and animals in the journal entry are the correct ones in the selected biome	Most of the plants and animals written are accurate to the selected biome	Few of the plants and animals written are accurate to the select biome	Little or none of the plants and animals written are accurate to the selected biome	No effort or did not complete this section.
Pictures	The travel journal picture catches the reader’s eye and is very well done.	The travel journal picture is very well done.	The travel journal picture is attractive but a bit messy.	The travel journal picture is very messy and poorly done.	No effort or did not complete this section
Animals	Four or more animal descriptions are present.  There is one fact about each animal.  It is easy to understand what the writer is saying.	Three animal descriptions are present.  There is one fact about each animal and it   is easy to understand what the writer is saying.	Two animal descriptions are present.  There is one fact about each animal present only for some of the animals.  It is not as easy to understand.	Only one animal description is present.  There is no fact about each animal present.  Not easy to understand what the writer is saying.	No effort or did not complete the section.
Plants	Four or more types of plants are listed.  Three or more facts about the plants are described.  It is easy to understand   what the writer is saying.	Three types of plants are listed.  Two facts about the plants are described.  It is easy to understand what the writer is saying.	Two types of plants are listed.  Only one fact about the plants is   described.  It is not as easy to understand what the writer is saying.	Only one type of plant is listed.  No facts about the plants are described.  It is not easy to understand what the writer is saying.	No effort or did not complete the section.

Research Websites: 

1. http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/index.html#terrestrial  (click on your biome under terrestrial biomes)

2. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm (click on your biome under the map)

3. http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html (click on your biome on the list to the right of the website)

-------------------------------------------------------------

Rubric for Journal Entry #2: When I grade your journal this is what I will use.  All of you want to try and get a 4 for each category.  Make sure you READ what should be in each category!!

Journal Entry #2

Category	4	3	2	1	0
Accuracy	All of the abiotic factors in the journal entry are the correct ones in the selected biome	Most of the abiotic factors written are accurate to the selected biome	Few of the abiotic factors written are accurate to the select biome	Little or none of the abiotic factors written are accurate to the selected biome	No effort or did not complete this section.
Pictures	The travel journal picture catches the reader’s eye and is very well done.	The travel journal picture is very well done.	The travel journal picture is attractive but a bit messy.	The travel journal picture is very messy and poorly done.	No effort or did not complete this section
Abiotic Factors	Four or more abiotic factors about your biome are listed.  You need at least two on the climate, one on the precipitation (rain or snow), and one on the soil.	Three abiotic factors about your biome are listed.	Two abiotic factors about your biome are listed.	Only one abiotic factor about your biome is listed.	No effort or did not complete the section.

Research Websites:

1. http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/index.html#terrestrial (click on your biome under terrestrial biomes)

2. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm (click on your biome under the map)

3. http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html (click on your biome on the list on the right of the website)

4. In google type in "your biome" and then "climate, precipitation, or soil" 

Example: "Rainforest Biome climate" or "Decidious Forest soil" or "Tundra precipitation"