I wanted to spice up my lesson about biomes so I created a biomes activity sheet that gets students up and moving to “travel the world’s biomes” without leaving the classroom. Students travel the world to examine climate data at various locations in each of the major biomes. Students generally enjoy when they learn about biomes because they enjoy looking at the animals that live in each of the major biomes. But in my high school classroom, I wanted my students to learn about biomes in more detail than just the plants and animals that live in each.

The overall jist of the lesson is that students will “travel” to different locations around the world. At each destination, they will examine climate data for the city they have traveled to. Using the climate data, both temperature and precipitation, they will determine the biome of the destination.

When I start this lesson, I start by asking students to identify the biome they live in. We have a quick discussion about our biome and any other biomes they know about. I want to get students thinking about what distinguishes each of the biomes. They generally can tell me that they have different plants and animals. I then try to steer the conversation to why those plants and animals live there. Students usually then realize the connection between climate and the biomes. 

Before starting the travel activity, I go over some notes with the students about the major biomes. I show a climatogram (aka climate graph) for each of the major biomes. This allows us to discuss patterns and trends in climate around the world. On these graphs, there are two sets of data, temperature and precipitation. It is important to go over these climatograms with students so they understand how to interpret the data. I have found that most students can interpret a graph with one set of data but as soon as there are two sets of data on one graph, each with their own Y-axis, it is game over. I take the time to show students climatograms and we practice interpreting them together as a class.

After going over the notes and how to interpret climatograms, it is time for students to complete the travel activity. For this activity, students must use Google Maps and a phone/computer with a QR code scanner. Each student will receive a travel brochure. In their brochure, there are latitude and longitude coordinates for 6 different travel destinations. So before they can begin their travels, they will enter a set of coordinates into Google Maps and determine their first travel destination. 

Once students figure out their destination, they will look around the room/hallway for a poster with the city and country they identified from the coordinates. They will then move to that poster and scan the QR code. When they scan the QR code, a climatogram for that city will appear. I found climatograms for each city using this NASA website. Students will use the data to determine the average temperature and precipitation of the city.

On the travel brochure, students will summarize the yearly temperature and precipitation data for the location. Using that information, they will then determine the biome of the city. This can be challenging for lower level students, especially if they are not descriptive enough in their data interpretation. Students must pay close attention to units when recording temperature or precipitation data. I usually keep a graph like the one shown here up on the board while students are working so they can use their data to figure out the biome they are in.

Students can check their work with the teacher before moving on to the next destination. Once they get the biome accurately identified, they will then move on to the next set of coordinates. They will repeat the same procedure until they have completed all 6 destinations. When students are done, I ask them to check their biomes with me so I can make sure they are accurate. 

I really like using this biomes activity sheet in my high school science classroom because it teaches them many important skills from data analysis, interpreting latitude and longitude, and critically thinking about climate and its impact on plant and animal life. Before using this activity, I would just have students work in groups where they would create a presentation about one of the biomes. But this never got the point across about how climate dictates the biomes and if climate is changing, so are the biomes.  Students also just enjoy the fact that they are up and moving around the room and “traveling” the world. 

Fun ways to extend this activity would be to include cities that represent where students in your classroom are from. I could see this lesson even involving a classroom transformation where (if you have the means) could decorate with flags, other cultural items, or stuffed animals for each destination. Food could be included as well. I have even seen TikToks where teachers do travel lessons and dress up like airline flight attendants. There are so many ways you can spice up this biomes activity sheet for your classroom.

Want to try this activity in your classroom but don’t have the time to prep it? Get the lesson here. It includes notes, doodle notes, a travel brochure with 6 sets of coordinates, and QR code destination posters. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Looking for more ideas to create engaging lessons in your high school science classroom, check out some of the my favorite blog posts:

• 4 awesome first day activities for high school science teachers
• The best way to teach simple protein synthesis steps like a boss
• 5 best back to school tips for high school teachers

Sea you soon!