Introduction

Tasks

Process

Evaluation

Conclusion

The Ecosystems of

the World

To begin, click on “Introduction”!

Okay, kids! Let’s go on an adventure and explore what kinds of ecosystems the world has to offer! Take a look at the colorful, Toco Toucan, in the picture below.

Can you figure out what kind of ecosystem the Toco Toucan has to live in to survive?

Go to Tasks

Introduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

Introduction

Contact Info: klamphier01@bellarmine.edu

Go to Process

Introduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

Tasks

Task One Task Two

Explore and learn about the different ecosystems of the world! Make note of the differences between the types of ecosystems and learn more about the Toco Toucan’s needs, so you can figure out where he needs to live.

After learning about the ecosystems and the Toco Toucan, create a poster of the ecosystem he needs to live in and mark the things vital to his survival.

After learning about the ecosystems and the Toco Toucan, write a paper about the ecosystem he lives in and why he needs to live in that ecosystem.

OR

IMPORTANT: Go to the Evaluation page to see how you will be graded, so you don’t miss any required information.

Go to Evaluation

Introduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

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Step 6

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RUBRIC FOR ONE PAGE PAPER

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Introduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

Students:From this assignment, I want you to understand that animals and other living organisms, such as plants, depend on their environments(ecosystems) to stay alive and regrow. I want you to be able to acknowledge that if an environment changes, some organisms may not be able to survive, and may become extinct. Also understand there are many different environments than the one that we live in.

Further Questions to ask yourself:Q: What type of ecosystem do we live in?Q: What animals are becoming extinct? What is causing these extinctions?Q: What other environments could human beings live in and survive? Q: What environments could human beings not live in due to the environment? Why?

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Introduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

The Toco Toucan lives high in the trees, in low land areas. He nests in tree holes barely big enough for him to fit in. The toucan is very colorful, but blends in well with his environment. The toucans is mistaken as a flower by his predators, because of his colorful long beak. The toucan is a predator to lizards, small spiders, snakes, insects, and he also eats fruit. The toucan can adapt to his environment but he likes a warm, wet environment. For more facts about the toucan, visit some of the following sites:http://aviary.owls.com/toucan/toucan.htmlhttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/toucan/http://whozoo.org/Anlife99/jerejones/tocotoucanindex2.htm Go to Step 2

Mountain ZonesIntroduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

Go to Step 3

Mountain Zones are very cold and windy. They are normally in ranges, meaning there is one mountain right next to another. The bigger the mountain, the less oxygen and the more wind there is. It also gets colder the higher you go up. A mountain contains a point called a timberline. A timberline is a point where most of the plants and trees stop. After this point there is an extreme lack of water and the ground becomes more rock than soil. There is a very slim variety of animals that can live in the mountain zones because of the living conditions, and most of them live closer to the bottom where the food and water is. For more facts about the Mountain Zone, visit the following sites:http://roberta-goli.suite101.com/mountain-habitats-and-mountain-mammals-a214484http://www.mountainnature.com/ecology/lifezones.htmhttp://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/mountains/nature.htm

Desert Zone

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Go to Step 4

Desert Zones are very hot, dry, and composed mostly of sand. The lack of water means that there is not a wide variety of plants and animals that can sustain life in a desert. The main desert plant is a cactus. There are a few type of bushes and trees, but the majority of the plants seen in the desert are part of the cactus family. Many of the animals that live in a desert have the ability to carry or hold water and nest in the ground where the sand is cool. There are two types of animals in the desert. Nocturnal desert animals sleep during the day and hunt at night. Diurnal desert animals are very rare, but they are awake during the day and sleep at night. For more facts about the Desert Zone, visit the following sites: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm (this site contains a number of pages that will be helpful)http://library.thinkquest.org/26634/desert/climate.htm

Tropical RainforestIntroduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

Go to Step 5

Tropical Rainforests have a lot of tall trees and they are covered with plants. It rains often, so there is always a high supply of water. There are many types of plants and animals that live in the tropical rainforests. Tropical Rainforests have four different layers. Going from the bottom up they are called forest floor, lower canopy, upper canopy, and emergent. There are many brightly colored fruits and flowers in the tropical rainforest. For more facts about the Tropical Rainforest, visit the following site:http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm (this site contains a lot of information and provides further reading about the layers of rainforest)

Oceanic Zone

Introduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

Go to Step 6

The Oceanic zone is the largest ecosystem, as it covers over half of the world. There are different types of oceanic zones, but we are just going to look at the zone as a whole. The Pacific ocean and Atlantic ocean are part of the oceanic zone. The population of fish and coral plants are endless. Animals that live in the oceanic zones must be able to sustain life without oxygen as there is not any in the sea. Animals such as dolphins and whales have blow holes that allow them to surface for air. Some other animals that can go certain time periods without oxygen also live in these oceanic zones. All plants found in the oceanic zone live off of the water and have natural nutrients. The ocean is generally cold, beside the top layer. The top layer depends on the temperature of the air. For more facts about the Oceanic Zone, visit the following sites:http://www.ehow.com/list_6454423_different-types-ecosystems.html (there is a very small paragraph at the bottom of this page that explains the zone very generally)http://www.fathom.com/course/10701050/session1.html (this site provides specifics on the characteristics of the ocean)

Now that you know some facts about the Toco Toucan and four of the major ecosystems, go back and try to figure out what the toucan needs to survive. Use the knowledge you have gained about the Toco Toucan to match him with one of the ecosystems. When creating your paper or poster, be sure to support your thoughts with facts(state which ecosystem the toucan should live in and provide reasons to why you think he should live in that ecosystem). Don’t forget, refer to the evaluation page and the appropriate rubric, to guide your project. If you did not use the links provided with each of the ecosystems and the toucan, go back and take a look at them. They give will provide a deeper explanation of the ecosystems and the type of living environment each one has to offer.

STEP 6Introduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

Score 1 2 3 4 5

Grammar & Spelling

9 or more grammar and spelling mistakes.

7-8 grammar and spelling mistakes.

5-6 grammar and spelling mistakes.

2-4 grammar and spelling mistakes.

0-1 grammar and spelling mistakes.

Appropriate Information

Your information does not back up your thesis.

You have very little information that corresponds with your thesis.

Your information is good, but you don’t fully back up your thesis.

You provide is good and you back up you thesis, but you could provide more.

You provided good information and backed up your thesis 100%.

Provide Connection between animal and ecosystem

You did not indicate the ecosystem where the toucan lives or make any connections.

You gave information about the ecosystem where the toucan lives but you did not make the appropriate connection.

You gave information about the ecosystem and gave some sort of connection to the toucan.

You provide information about the ecosystem and the toucan, and make a good connection.

You provide information about the correct ecosystem and make an excellent connection.

Total: /15 X 3 = __/45

Introduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

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Introduction Tasks Process Evaluation Conclusion

Score 0 1 2 3 4

Creativity There is no color or creativity, the effort put into the project was very poor

You have very little detail and it appears that not much effort was put into the project.

You give some detail and creativity, but still did not provide much effort.

The details and creativity are good, and you put in a good effort.

You went above and beyond, including colors and many details to your project.

Labeling You labeled none or one thing on your poster and gave no descriptions.

You labeled 2-3 things on your poster, with short descriptions.

You labeled 3-4 things on your poster and gave a few descriptions.

You labeled 5-6 things on your poster and described all of them.

You labeled 7 or more things on your poster and gave good descriptions.

Appropriate Info

Your picture is irrelevant to the assignment.

Your picture does not show a proper ecosystem.

Your picture shows a few characteristics that go with the ecosystem.

Your picture shows that you know which ecosystem is the correct one, but you are missing a few important factors.

Your picture is outstanding, and it pictures the correct information.

Total: /15 X 3 =__/45

RUBRIC FOR POSTER