Texas Eco-regions Project

Group Members: ____________________________________________________________________
Your Ecoregion: ____________________________________________________________________
You will now work as a team of scientists to gather information about one of the ecoregions. You will search the web for information about your ecoregion. You will gather information to produce a slide presentation for other scientists at the first Texas Ecoregions Conference to be held at your school. This presentation will show just how important the different Ecoregions are to Texas.
You will need to prepare slides with the information that you collected. You will present your information as a team on Tuesday. Every group member must speak during your presentation.
IMPORTANT: Each group will prepare at least 3 questions from the presentation. The questions can be any format and you must provide a separate answer key. Your questions may be used on a quiz.
Your team will have 4 different scientists presenting information:
1. Geographer/Meteorologist – As the geographer/meteorologist, it is your job to gather information about some abiotic (nonliving factors) that affect the biotic (living factors) of your ecoregion. Your grade is based on how completely you answer them and how you demonstrate them on your slides. Be sure to take notes and answer the questions as you visit sites.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is the average annual temperature?

2. What is the average annual precipitation?

3. Are there any mountains, oceans, volcanoes, or other natural features that contribute to the climate of your ecoregion?

4. Identify the main water sources for your region; including rivers, aquifers and watersheds.

5. Include a map of your ecoregion

2. Biologist – As the biologist, it is your job to gather information about the biotic (living things) factors of your ecoregion. Your grade is based on how completely you answer the questions and how you demonstrate them on your slides. Be sure to take notes and answer the questions as you visit the sites.
Answer the following questions:
1. Are any of the plants from this ecoregion considered rare or endangered?

2. Are there any “introduced species” that have affected the native plants of this ecoregion?

3. What are the largest and smallest plants?

4. What types of medicine can be made from the plants?

5. What type of fruit do the plants bear?

6. Vegetation – Choose 3 indigenous (native) plants and the physical/environmental adaptations that help them survive in your ecoregion. Include images.

3. Zoologist – As the zoologist, it is your job to gather information about the biotic (living things) factors of your region. Your grade is based on how completely you answer the questions and how you demonstrate them on your slides. Be sure to take notes and answer the questions as you visit sites.
Answer the following questions:
1. Are any of the animals from this ecoregion considered rare or endangered?

2. Are there any “introduced species” that have affected the native animals of the ecoregion?

3. What are the largest and smallest animals?

4. Animals - Choose three indigenous (native) animals and the physical/environmental adaptations that help them survive in your region. Include pictures.

5. Endangered/ Extinct Animals – Indentify 2 endangered or extinct animals from your region. How and why are they endangered or extinct?

4. Environmental/Anthropologist – You are an Environmental/Anthropologist. It is your job to gather information about some of the factors that affect the quality of life for the biotic (living) factors of your biome. Your grade is based on how completely you answer the questions and how you demonstrate them on your slides. Be sure to take notes and answer the questions as you visit sites.
1. Describe how people have affected the region. (Pictures of human activities damaging or changing the region). What human activities endanger or damages areas of this biome? (deforestation, tourism, urban sprawl, increase in population)

2. Identify a catastrophic event your region is prone to and the impact on the region when it occurs.

3. Are there any “protected” regions established to preserve parts of this ecoregion? (World heritage locations, state or federal parks or preserves, etc.)


Websites: (you may use any website for information. Below are a few that I have chosen)
Texas Ecoregions - http://texasprairie.org/index.php/learn/about_prairies_entry/what_are_the_ecoregions_of_texas/
Texas Ecoregions - H:\7th Grade\2010\Changing Earth\Texas EcoRegions\Texas' Wildlife Action Plan.mht
Trees of Texas - http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/content/texasEcoRegions/
Exploring Texas Ecoregions - http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_0030.pdf
Ecoregion Animals - http://www.lisd.org/technology/itswebs/elem/eco/resindex.htm
Ecoregions Maps: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/usa/states/texas/naturalfeatures/

Texas Biomes: ecoregions & (subregions) I am using 7 ecoregions. Within those regions are other ecoregions. See the map below for explanation.
1. Panhandle Plains:
High plains
Rolling plains (3 subregions)
2. Praries & Lakes
Blackland prairie (2 subregions)
Oakwoods & prairie (3 subregions)
3. Hill Country
Edwards plateau (3 subregions)
Llano uplift
4. Pineywoods (2 subregions)
5. South Texas Plains (3 subregions)
6. GULF COAST: Coastal sand plain (2 subregions)
7. Big Bend Country: Trans pecos(6 subregions)

Welcome Back

I am so glad that the new school year has begun. I am your 7th grade science teacher and hope to learn much about you in the coming days. I use this blog to communicate with you on important information. I will be adding more so please make this a favorite so you can keep up on your science items.
Ms. Boyd

Black Hole Webquest

Website Black Hole Webquest

Texas Eco-regions Project Due Thursday April 5th

Websites: (you may use any website for information. Below are a few that I have chosen)

Texas Ecoregions

Texas Ecoregions Descriptions

Exploring Texas Ecoregions

Ecoregion Animals

Ecoregion Maps

Trees of Texas

Texas Invasive Species

Tornado WebQuest

Use the following link to explore information on tornadoes. Use your journal to answer the questions

http://www.fairfieldschools.org/rogerludlowe/crogerludlowe03/webquests/weatherwebquest/tornados.htm

Hurricane Web Quest

Hurricane Web Quest:

Please Visit the Links Below:

Tracking Hurricane

Tropical Cyclone Tracker

Interactive Hurricanes

Severe Weather: Hurricanes

Hurricane Field Trip

These and other cool Hurricane Websites can be found at the webpage below…

http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/louviere/hurricanes/activities.html

Erosion & Deposition Animations

What is Erosion? (copy the definition in your journal)
The process by which water, wind, ice, or gravity moves fragments of rock and soil


Click on the hyper links and watch the video.
            Erosion & Deposition


Where is the coastline erosion occurring in the video clip below?


Where would you find Ice Erosion
             Glacial Erosion


How Does Gravity Cause Erosion?
            Gravitational Erosion


What is Deposition? (copy the definition in your journal)
The process by which sediment settles out of the water or wind that is carrying it and is  deposited in a new location