This activity teaches students about some of the major biomes on Earth, then prompts students to create their own biome diorama in a box.
The resource includes a teacher's guide, student instructions, and printable plants and animals to use for each biome.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This engaging activity combines art, science, and reading comprehension.
The included student handouts are informative, easy to understand, and allow for student creativity.
Additional Prerequisites
You will need a box (shoe boxes are recommended) for each student, as well as varied art supplies.
Consider reading the handout digitally and having students chose their biome ahead of time in order to conserve paper.
Differentiation
This activity would work equally well in science and art classes, as it incorporates a creative activity with scientific knowledge.
For cross-curricular connections, social studies classes working on geography could use this activity to explore the types of habitats that exist around the world and how people have changed those habitats.
This activity is a great opportunity for students to practice their research skills! Allow students to do additional research on their biome of choice in order to add a description of the biome and list other plants and animals that live there. At the end, students can present their findings to their group or the class.
For younger students, use the handout as a read aloud. For older students, practice guided or independent reading as appropriate to incorporate ELA skills.
Scientist Notes
The resource features lessons that students can engage to learn about the major biomes and their spatial distribution. This is insightful and recommended for the classroom.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
3-LS4-3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
3-LS4-4 Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
National Core Arts Standards
Visual Arts: Standard 1 - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr1.1.4a Brainstorm multiple approaches to a creative art or design problem.
