5 kids with technology on grassy lawn
Grade 5

Build a Biome

Knowledge Constructor

Overview​

Switch Zoo is a free interactive website that allows students to create their own animals, habitats and biomes. It provides games for students to get involved with their created animal and zoo. There are several different activities that students can interact with. It also provides lesson plans for teachers as well as online field trips connected to animals.

Students will:

  • Be able to create a biome.
  • Understand the necessary plants and animals that survive in the selected biome.
  • Be able to share their learnings with others.

Vocabulary Words:

  1. Habitat: A habitat is a natural home to an animal, plant or organism.

  2. Biome: A biome is a large area in the world with specific animals, plants and climate patterns.

  3. Species: Species are a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.

  4. Predator: A predator is an animal that naturally preys on others.

  5. Prey: Prey is an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.

  6. Adaptations: Adaptations are a change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment.

To prepare for this lesson:

  • Provide students with the link www.switchzoo.com.

  • Do a preview of the website to introduce the students to the different activities that are available.

  • Check out the Teacher Resources

See the Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students website in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

  1. Have the students log onto switchzoo.com.

  2. Have them click on Biomes.

  3. Select a Biome that they would like to build.

  4. Select plants that would be able to thrive in the selected Biome.

  5. Go to next and select animals that could live in the selected Biome.

  6. Continue with the next button to build a Biome.

Different options for assessing the students:

  • Observations
  • Check for understanding
  • Students share biome information with the class.
  • Exit slips with a fact on the biome built.

MITECS: Michigan adopted the "ISTE Standards for Students" called MITECS (Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students) in 2018.

Knowledge Constructor
3a. Students plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.
3b. Students evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility and relevance of information, media, data or other resources.
3c. Students curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions.
3d. Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.

Device: PC, Chromebook, Mac, iPad 

Browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, ALL

App:
Switch Zoo Android
Switch Zoo iOS

Websites:
Switch Zoo

Switch Zoo Teacher Resources

 

CONTENT AREA RESOURCES

Write an informational piece on the biome.

Draw a replica of the created biome.

Create word problems connected to the biome.

Create posters explaining the biome.

Geography: Where do I live. Present clues of the animal and try to figure out where the animal lives.

Report a bad link, inappropriate content or out-of-date content. 

Credits
This task card was created by Julie Hoehing, Lake Shore Public Schools, May 2018. Updated Feb 2024. 


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