Grading for Wikispaces

I will be grading you on wikispaces today!! You will need to send me an email for each biome, the subject line should be the name of the biome. You will need to copy and paste all four categories for that biome in the email. I should receive a total of five emails from each student (one for each biome). You can substitute the rainforest or the marine ecosystem for one of the five biomes listed below.

• Tundra
• Desert
• Chaparral
• Grasslands - Prairie
• Grasslands - Savanna

Starting on Wednesday we will be recording podcasts for each biome. You will need your ID Card to check out equipment and you will need to have a written script.

Wikispaces and Grades

Make sure that you complete the postings in each of the Biomes. On Monday, I'll start grading on the five biomes that I've assigned tables. Each biome will be worth 40 points (10 points for each category). To get credit for the posting it needs to be 5 sentences long with a picture. Pick one animal, vegetation, part of the geography or aspect of the climate to write about. Talk about the categories in specifics not generalities.

• Table 2 = Tundra
• Table 3 = Desert
• Table 4 = Chaparral
• Table 5 = Grasslands - Prairie
• Table 6 = Grasslands - Savanna

Good luck

Wikispaces and Grading

You are required to leave postings on my wikispace in each biome and each category. I will start grading you on Monday. Make sure that you use your class time wisely and complete all postings. Work with the people at your table and post a comment in each category for the biome your table is assigned for that day. Please email me if you have any questions.

• Table 2 = Desert
• Table 3 = Chaparral
• Table 4 = Grasslands - Prairie
• Table 5 = Grasslands - Savanna
• Table 6 = Tundra

Wikispaces

Make sure you verify your email address from wikispaces. (Check your email and click on the link from wikispaces.)

• Table 2 = Chaparral
• Table 3 = Grasslands - Prairie
• Table 4 = Grasslands - Savanna
• Table 5 = Tundra
• Table 6 = Desert

Each person needs to pick a category and post comments under that category. Each posting needs to have at least 5 good sentences and a picture or video.

* Animals
* Geography
* Vegetation
* Climate

http://room42.wikispaces.com/

We will be viewing the tour videos for wikispaces.

http://www.wikispaces.com/site/tour#introduction

Go Brooke!!

Wikispaces

Today you will joining wikispaces and posting your ideas on my wikispace about the biomes. Check your email and follow the link to my wikispace.

• Table 2 = Grasslands - Prairie
• Table 3 = Grasslands - Savanna
• Table 4 = Tundra
• Table 5 = Desert
• Table 6 = Chaparral

Each person needs to pick a category and post comments under that category. Each posting needs to have at least 5 good sentences and a picture or video.

• Animals
• Geography
• Vegetation
• Climate

http://room42.wikispaces.com/

Chaparral

Describe the geography, animals, vegetation, and climate of the chaparral.

Women's History Month

Who are some important women from history?

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenshistory1.html

Spring Break

I hope that everyone is enjoying their Spring Break. Leave comments and tell everyone what you are doing.

Tundra

Describe the geography, animals, vegetation, and climate of the tundra.

Prairie - Grasslands

The grasslands are divided into two categories, called savanna and prairie depending on their locations, either north or south of the equator. The savanna and prairie have very different vegetation, animals, and climate. Today we will be talking about the prairie grasslands that are located north of the equator. Describe the geography, climate, vegetation, and animals of the prairie.

Virtual Field Trip:
Lewis and Clark Then and Now: Plants and the Expedition II--The Grasslands Prairie

Contents of the Broadcast:

1. Opening to 3:46—Introduction, welcome, orientation to today's topic, and introduction of our guest Malinda Slagle, Restoration Ecologist with the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Prairie Restoration Project.
2. 3:46 to 12:50—The first topic explored answers the question “What is a prairie?” Subjects include types and locations of grasslands around the world, differences between tall, medium, and short grass prairies, and rainfall impacts on the prairie. Images include slides of grassland locations and video of tall, medium, and short grass prairie. Student questions and comments on these topics are weaved throughout the segment.
3. 12:50 to 19:42—Next, we investigate the prairie more by looking at plants of the prairie. Images of numerous plants are provided including big blue stem, blue grama grass, Indian grass, fleabane daisies, goldenrod, white indigo, lead plant, and sunflower. Student questions and comments are included.
4. 19:42 to 23:42—In our next segment we look at animals of the prairie both now and during the time of the expedition. Numerous images are included. Examples include the badger, bald eagle, bobcat, bison, red wolf, gray wolf, coyote, deer, prairie chicken, pronghorn antelope, prairie dog, and pheasant. Student questions and comments are also included.
5. 23:42 to 28:07—Next, we take a look at the prairie underground. Images include a cross section of the prairie showing plant growth above the ground and root length below the ground. Topics include the impact of rainfall, the importance of the root system to the plant, and why one finds so few trees on the prairie. Student questions and comments are included.
6. 28:07 to 43:25—Now it’s on to how the prairie maintains itself. We look at the impact of insects and pollination, the wind, predators, and other animals on maintaining the life of the prairie. Student questions and comments are included as is video of bisons on the prairie, insects pollinating prairie plants, and wind sweeping across the South Dakota prairie.
7. 43:25 to 52:18—Malinda shares the importance of fire to maintaining the prairie, both naturally and in controlled burns. Video footage is included of a controlled burn on the Missouri Botanical Garden’s restored prairie. Student comments and questions are included as well.
8. 38:38 to End—In our final segment, we discuss why the prairie ecosystem matters. What are its impacts on nature, humans, and biodiversity. Student comments and questions are included. We end with thanks and goodbye

Savanna - Grasslands

The grasslands are divided into two categories, called savanna and prairie depending on their locations, either north or south of the equator. The savanna and prairie have very different vegetation, animals, and climate. Today we will be talking about the savanna grasslands that are located south of the equator. Describe the geography, climate, vegetation, and animals of the savanna.

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Watch Brooke White tonight and vote!!!

Desert

Describe the geography, animals, vegetation, and climate of the desert.

Rainforest

Describe the geography, animals, vegetation, and climate of the rainforest.

Marine Ecosystem

What are the different zones of the marine ecosystem? What animals and vegetation exist in each zone? What is the climate like in each zone?

Biomes

The Earth has many different environments, varying in climate, vegetation, animals, and geography. Each of these habitats has distinct life forms living in it, forming complex communities of interdependent organisms. A complex community of plants and animals in a region and a climate is called a biome.


Choose a biome you know. Describe the biome's climate, vegetation, animals, and geography.

Election Results

The Republicans have a candidate: John McCain. John McCain has earned enough electoral votes to secure the republican nomination.

1,191 Needed (Explainer)
1. McCain 1,224
2. Romney 253 (Out)
3. Huckabee 261
4. Paul 14

The Democrats are still figuring out who will be their candidate. Hillary Clinton won Texas, Rhode Island and Ohio. Barrack Obama won Vermont.

2,025 Needed (Explainer)
1. Obama 1,477
2. Clinton 1,391
3. Edwards 26 (Out)
Republicans Total


What do you recommend the democrats do to determine a candidate quickly?

American Idol

Vote for Brooke White tonight!!!

Election

Vermont, Rhode Island, Texas and Ohio are voting for the presidential primary election. Today is a big day for the Democratic Primary contest between Obama and Clinton. Who do you think will earn the most electoral votes?

Geography

Geography is the study of the Earth's surface, atmosphere, and people.

Describe the geography (landforms) of the five different climate areas.