BEST PRACTICESBEST PRACTICESJANUARY 2007JANUARY 2007

Using creativity & assessment in Using creativity & assessment in the classroomthe classroom

Getting Student FeedbackGetting Student Feedback

Test review & assessmentTest review & assessment

Students wanted more interactive/hands on Students wanted more interactive/hands on assignmentsassignments

A new character appears to provide more A new character appears to provide more interactioninteraction

Comparing the old with the newComparing the old with the new

The Old WAYThe Old WAY

Biome Biome - Terrestrial climax communities - Terrestrial climax communities with wide geographic distributions. with wide geographic distributions. Usually defined by undisturbed natural plant Usually defined by undisturbed natural plant

communities.communities. TemperatureTemperature PrecipitationPrecipitation

Nine major biomesNine major biomes

DesertDesert GrasslandGrassland SavannaSavanna Mediterranean ShrublandsMediterranean Shrublands Tropical Dry ForestTropical Dry Forest Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest Temperate Deciduous ForestTemperate Deciduous Forest TaigaTaiga TundraTundra

DesertDesert

Less than 25 cm annual precipitation.Less than 25 cm annual precipitation. Unevenly distributed throughout the year.Unevenly distributed throughout the year.

Large daily temperature fluctuations.Large daily temperature fluctuations. Likely to be windy.Likely to be windy. Infrequent cloud cover.Infrequent cloud cover. Many species, but low numbers.Many species, but low numbers. Most species exhibit specialized adaptations to Most species exhibit specialized adaptations to

climate.climate. Water ConservationWater Conservation

GrasslandsGrasslands

Also known as Also known as prairiesprairies or or steppessteppes.. Receives 25 -75 cm of annual Receives 25 -75 cm of annual

precipitation.precipitation. Fire regime usually present.Fire regime usually present.

Rainfall sporadic enough to cause droughts.Rainfall sporadic enough to cause droughts. Historically evolved with large herds of Historically evolved with large herds of

migratory grazing mammals.migratory grazing mammals. Supply fertilizer and discourage invasion by Supply fertilizer and discourage invasion by

woody species.woody species.

SavannaSavanna

Receives 50-150 cm annual precipitation.Receives 50-150 cm annual precipitation. Unevenly distributed throughout year.Unevenly distributed throughout year.

Seasonally structured ecosystem.Seasonally structured ecosystem. Fire is a common feature.Fire is a common feature. Many trees involved in nitrogen fixation.Many trees involved in nitrogen fixation.

Mediterranean ShrublandsMediterranean Shrublands

Also known asAlso known as Chaparral Chaparral.. Receives 40-100 cm annual precipitation.Receives 40-100 cm annual precipitation.

Wet, cool winters and hot, dry summers.Wet, cool winters and hot, dry summers.• Typical of Mediterranean coast, coastal southern Typical of Mediterranean coast, coastal southern

California, as well as parts of Africa, Chile, and California, as well as parts of Africa, Chile, and Australia.Australia.

Vegetation dominated by woody shrubs Vegetation dominated by woody shrubs adapted to hot, dry summers.adapted to hot, dry summers.

Fire is a common feature.Fire is a common feature.

Tropical Dry ForestTropical Dry Forest

Annual precipitation ranges 50-200cm.Annual precipitation ranges 50-200cm. Many exhibit monsoon climate.Many exhibit monsoon climate.

Rainfall highly seasonal.Rainfall highly seasonal.• Drought resistant plants.Drought resistant plants.

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

Located near equator where temperature is Located near equator where temperature is relatively warm and constant.relatively warm and constant.

Most areas receive 200Most areas receive 200++ cm annual rainfall. cm annual rainfall. (Some in excess of 500 cm)(Some in excess of 500 cm)

Soil allows high levels of leaching, thus most Soil allows high levels of leaching, thus most nutrients are tied-up in biomass.nutrients are tied-up in biomass.

Multi-layered canopy.Multi-layered canopy. Epiphytic plantsEpiphytic plants

Very high species diversity.Very high species diversity.

Temperate Deciduous ForestTemperate Deciduous Forest

Receives 75-100 cm annual precipitation.Receives 75-100 cm annual precipitation. Evenly distributed throughout the year.Evenly distributed throughout the year.

Trees typically lose their leaves during the Trees typically lose their leaves during the winter and replace them the following winter and replace them the following spring.spring.

Mild wintersMild winters Long growing season (6 months).Long growing season (6 months). Relatively few species.Relatively few species.

Taiga, Northern Coniferous Taiga, Northern Coniferous (Boreal) Forest(Boreal) Forest

Receives 25-100 cm precipitation Receives 25-100 cm precipitation annually.annually.

Short, cool summers.Short, cool summers. Long winters with abundant snowfall.Long winters with abundant snowfall. Humid climateHumid climate Trees adapted to winter conditions:Trees adapted to winter conditions:

Needle-shaped leaves prevent water loss.Needle-shaped leaves prevent water loss. Flexible branchesFlexible branches

TundraTundra

Less than 25 cm annual precipitation.Less than 25 cm annual precipitation. Permanently frozen soil (Permanently frozen soil (permafrostpermafrost).). Short, wet summer.Short, wet summer. Waterlogged soils and shallow ponds and Waterlogged soils and shallow ponds and

pools in spring and summer.pools in spring and summer. Plants usually less than 20 cm tall.Plants usually less than 20 cm tall. Alpine TundraAlpine Tundra found on mountaintops found on mountaintops

The New WayThe New Way

IntroducingIntroducing

WHICH BIOME IS ECOCHARLY WHICH BIOME IS ECOCHARLY VISITING TODAY?VISITING TODAY?

G’Day mates. I’m G’Day mates. I’m Ecocharly and I’m a Ecocharly and I’m a Greenie Greenie (Environmentalist). I (Environmentalist). I didn’t pay attention didn’t pay attention the day we went over the day we went over biomes in class. I biomes in class. I need your help to need your help to figure out where I am figure out where I am so I can get back so I can get back home to my biome. home to my biome.

Answers to biomesAnswers to biomes#1#1

CLUE FOR BIOME # 1CLUE FOR BIOME # 1 Ecocharley says, “It’s kind of windy here today Ecocharley says, “It’s kind of windy here today

but the skies are clear. I’ve seen a few rabbits but the skies are clear. I’ve seen a few rabbits and a lizard or two but not much else. I’d sure and a lizard or two but not much else. I’d sure like a drink of water. Can’t remember the last like a drink of water. Can’t remember the last time it rained here. Was hot yesterday but it time it rained here. Was hot yesterday but it sure seemed cold last night.”sure seemed cold last night.”

What biome is Ecocharley visiting? What biome is Ecocharley visiting? DESERTDESERT

# 2# 2

CLUE FOR BIOME # 2CLUE FOR BIOME # 2 Ecocharley says “lots of legumes here involved Ecocharley says “lots of legumes here involved

with adding nitrogen to the soil. Thought I heard with adding nitrogen to the soil. Thought I heard a lion last night but I’m not certain. Sure hope a lion last night but I’m not certain. Sure hope some rains come soon because I can see a some rains come soon because I can see a grass fire off in the distance. Last month it was grass fire off in the distance. Last month it was really wet here.”really wet here.”

What biome is Ecocharley visiting? What biome is Ecocharley visiting? SAVANNASAVANNA

# 3# 3 CLUE FOR BIOME # 3CLUE FOR BIOME # 3 Ecocharley says, “My, oh my, it’s hot and humid today. Ecocharley says, “My, oh my, it’s hot and humid today.

When will this stupid rain stop? I can’t remember ever When will this stupid rain stop? I can’t remember ever seeing so many species of plants and animals in one seeing so many species of plants and animals in one place. I’ve seen pineapples, lemons, limes, grapefruit, place. I’ve seen pineapples, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and tangerines. It’s like living in the produce section of and tangerines. It’s like living in the produce section of Schnuck’s grocery store. There’s a clearing up ahead. Schnuck’s grocery store. There’s a clearing up ahead. Looks like someone has done some logging in this area Looks like someone has done some logging in this area as the soil has washed away.”as the soil has washed away.”

What biome is Ecocharley visiting?What biome is Ecocharley visiting? TROPICAL RAINFORESTTROPICAL RAINFOREST

# 4# 4

CLUE FOR BIOME # 4CLUE FOR BIOME # 4 Ecocharley says, “It was sure cool yesterday. Ecocharley says, “It was sure cool yesterday.

Hard to believe it’s July. It’s a little foggy this Hard to believe it’s July. It’s a little foggy this morning as well. Saw a small bird in a spruce morning as well. Saw a small bird in a spruce tree yesterday. Man those needles are sharp. I tree yesterday. Man those needles are sharp. I need a snowmobile if I stayed here during the need a snowmobile if I stayed here during the winter.”winter.”

What biome is Ecocharley visiting?What biome is Ecocharley visiting? TAIGATAIGA

# 5# 5 CLUE FOR BIOME # 5CLUE FOR BIOME # 5 Ecocharley says, “I tried to use an axe to get through this Ecocharley says, “I tried to use an axe to get through this

ground to put up my tent stakes two months ago up but ground to put up my tent stakes two months ago up but the ground was as hard as a rock. Needed some the ground was as hard as a rock. Needed some firewood last night but only saw a bush but it was only firewood last night but only saw a bush but it was only about a foot tall. I walked through a bunch of shallow about a foot tall. I walked through a bunch of shallow ponds yesterday and the bugs about ate me up. I could ponds yesterday and the bugs about ate me up. I could have sworn I heard a wolf last night so I better keep my have sworn I heard a wolf last night so I better keep my shotgun and handy boomerang ready.”shotgun and handy boomerang ready.”

What biome is Ecocharley visiting?What biome is Ecocharley visiting? TUNDRATUNDRA

# 6# 6

CLUE FOR BIOME # 6CLUE FOR BIOME # 6 Ecocharley says, “It’s the end of September and Ecocharley says, “It’s the end of September and

we’ve had slightly over 5 cm of rain this month. we’ve had slightly over 5 cm of rain this month. Yesterday was a beautiful day with 80 degree Yesterday was a beautiful day with 80 degree weather. Glad I wasn’t here during the summer weather. Glad I wasn’t here during the summer because it was so hot some of the grass caught because it was so hot some of the grass caught fire but the woody shrubs were okay. Saw a fire but the woody shrubs were okay. Saw a coyote carrying a rattlesnake in his mouth.”coyote carrying a rattlesnake in his mouth.”

What biome is Ecocharley visiting? What biome is Ecocharley visiting? MEDITERRANEAN SHRUBLANDMEDITERRANEAN SHRUBLAND

# 7# 7 CLUE FOR BIOME # 7CLUE FOR BIOME # 7 Ecocharly says, “I heard that Forrest Gump and Ecocharly says, “I heard that Forrest Gump and

his buddy Bubba were out looking for me today. his buddy Bubba were out looking for me today. They said that 2 months ago the mud was so They said that 2 months ago the mud was so thick you could barely walk through it and the thick you could barely walk through it and the rain kept coming night and day. We could use a rain kept coming night and day. We could use a good rain today. The ground now is as hard as a good rain today. The ground now is as hard as a rock and that sun bakes it harder every day. rock and that sun bakes it harder every day. Lots of species of plants and birds here but not Lots of species of plants and birds here but not as many as I’ve seen in other biomes.”as many as I’ve seen in other biomes.”

What biome is Ecocharley visiting?What biome is Ecocharley visiting? TROPICAL DRY FORESTTROPICAL DRY FOREST

# 8# 8 CLUE FOR BIOME # 8CLUE FOR BIOME # 8 Ecocharly says, “The leaves are rapidly turning bright Ecocharly says, “The leaves are rapidly turning bright

colors of red and orange this month and it is a little drier colors of red and orange this month and it is a little drier than last month. I guess you all know what’s around the than last month. I guess you all know what’s around the corner in this biome. But in a few short months the corner in this biome. But in a few short months the flowers will be blooming and the leaves will grow again flowers will be blooming and the leaves will grow again and everything will be nice and green. I think I see a and everything will be nice and green. I think I see a deer coming and if I’m careful maybe I’ll get him with my deer coming and if I’m careful maybe I’ll get him with my bow and arrow now that that is in season.bow and arrow now that that is in season.

What biome is Ecocharley visiting?What biome is Ecocharley visiting? TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FORESTTEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

Ecocharly’s home biome is:Ecocharly’s home biome is:

GRASSLANDGRASSLAND

Meet Dingo Jack and the further Meet Dingo Jack and the further Ecoadventures of EcocharlyEcoadventures of Ecocharly

Ecocharly tries to figure Ecocharly tries to figure out the difference out the difference between K-strategists & r-between K-strategists & r-strategistsstrategists

Ecocharly tries to decide Ecocharly tries to decide which of his Uncle which of his Uncle Bigbuckaroo’s fossil fuel Bigbuckaroo’s fossil fuel facilities is best for the facilities is best for the environmentenvironment

Ecocharly and Dingo Ecocharly and Dingo Jack try to determine Jack try to determine which alternative energy which alternative energy form is the best to invest form is the best to invest in for the futurein for the future

Student FeedbackStudent Feedback

Immediately after doing the exercise only 2 Immediately after doing the exercise only 2 students felt is was not helpful to them in students felt is was not helpful to them in learning the material – ironically they had the learning the material – ironically they had the two highest grades on first test two highest grades on first test

After taking the test over this materialAfter taking the test over this material Test scores remained virtually unchanged from first Test scores remained virtually unchanged from first

testtest 1/3 of students wanted more hands-on activities1/3 of students wanted more hands-on activities 1/3 wanted both hands-on and traditional lecture1/3 wanted both hands-on and traditional lecture 1/3 wanted traditional lecture1/3 wanted traditional lecture