Habitat: An Overview

This resource covers the different ecosystems on our planet. Find out how these biomes differ, what characteristics make them unique, and where they are located. Includes a map of the different habitats found in Missouri and information about habitats in Utah. There are links to eThemes Resources on specific habitats and animal food chains.

Grades

• 3,
• 4,
• 5,
• 6,
• 7,
• 8

Links

• Underground Adventure

  This exhibit from the Field Museum in Chicago examines the underground ecosystem of soil. Feel what it's like to be 1 1/2 inches tall and meet the many animals that live in dirt. Site uses Quicktime VR to navigate through the exhibit. Click and drag the mouse the button.

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• Make it a Habitat

  This is a brief look at the major characteristics of the biomes or ecosystems of this planet.

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• World Biomes Map

  This world map is color coded to show the different biomes found on Earth.

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• World Biomes

  This color-coded map shows where the major biomes are located.

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• Ecosystems of Our World

  Explains an ecosystem and a biome. There are links to the explanations of various biomes.

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• The World's Biomes

  Explore the different types of biomes and learn how they differ.

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• Biomes of North America

  This Utah site has a color-coded map of the different biomes in North America. Click on the links to read more about each type.

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• Utah's Biomes

  Read about the desert, forest, alpine, and aquatic biomes in Utah. NOTE: The site does include spelling errors and some broken links.

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• PBS: Biome in a Baggie

  Students can create a tiny environment with this hands-on experiment.

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• eThemes Resource: Animals: Food Chain

  These sites are about food chains and food webs. Includes examples of webs and chains with animals from various biomes. Learn about consumers, producers, prey, predators, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores. There is a short animated movie, online games, and suggested classroom activities.

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• eThemes Resource: Organisms: Producers, Consumers, Decomposers

  What is a producer, consumer, and decomposer? These are sites about these different kinds of organisms and how they interrelate to one another in food chains and food webs. There are experiments, games, other interactive features, and suggested classroom activities.

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• eThemes Resource: Habitat: Ponds and Lakes

  These sites focus on ponds and lakes. Find out what plants and animals thrive in these ecosystems. Includes a story about a frog living in a pond, tips on pond dipping, and a mathematical formula for calculating the surface acreage of ponds. There is also an online booklet of tips for managing a Missouri pond.

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• eThemes Resource: Habitat: Grasslands

  These sites have information about the different types of grassland habitats found throughout the world. Includes savannas, prairies, and steppes. Learn more about the climate and wildlife that are found in these ecosystems. There is also information about grasslands in Missouri.

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• eThemes Resource: Habitat: Deserts

  Learn more about the climate and general characteristics of desert habitats that are located on several continents. Includes three videos about deserts, plus maps and charts.

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• eThemes Resource: Habitat: Forests

  These sites are about deciduous, coniferous, and taiga forests and their ecosystems. Includes photos of these forests, plus information about the climate, animals, and plants that are particular to each forest type. Find out where in the world these forests are located.

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• eThemes Resource: Habitat: Rainforests

  These sites are about tropical and temperate rainforests. Experience the sights and sounds of rainforests in the U.S., Tasmania, and South America. Includes activities, puzzles, a movie and a game, plus a list of rainforest books for children.

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• eThemes Resource: Habitat: Tundras

  These sites are about the types of climate, wildlife, and vegetation that are found in tundras. Locate tundras on maps, view photographs, and see live images from a Webcam. Learn the difference between alpine and Arctic tundras.

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• eThemes Resource: Habitat: Wetlands

  Read about the different types of wetlands (swamps, marshes, and bogs) and find out why these habitats are in danger of disappearing. Learn more about the climate and what plants and animals make up this ecosystem. Includes many photos.

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• eThemes Resource: Habitat: Mountains

  These links are about mountain habitats and the various plants and animals that live there. Read about the mountain gorilla and the mountain lion.

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Education Standards

• AL
  • SCI. ES 12.2.2
  • SCI. ES 12.2.3
  • SCI. ES 12.2.4
  • SCI. ES 5.2.1
  • SCI. ES 5.2.2
  • SCI. ES 5.2.3
  • SCI. ES 5.2.4
• AR
  • LS.4.5.3.a
  • LS.4.5.3.b
• AU
  • 4.10.1.a
  • 4.8.3.a
• MO
  • 1
  • 1.1
  • 1.10
  • 1.2
  • 1.4
  • 1.6
  • 1.8
  • 2.1
  • 3
  • 3
  • 3.1.A.a
  • 3.1.A.a
  • 3.1.A.a
  • 3.5
  • 3.6
  • 3.8
  • 4
  • 4
  • 4.1.A.b
  • 4.1.B.a
  • 4.1.B.b
  • 4.1.B.c
  • 4.1.D.a
  • 4.1.D.b
  • 4.1.D.c
  • 4.2.A.b
  • 4.2.A.d
  • 4.3
  • 4.7
  • 5
  • 6
• NV
  • L.5.C.2
  • L.5.C.3
  • L.5.C.4
  • L.5.C.5
• UT
  • II.1.a
  • II.1.b
  • IV.2.b
  • IV.2.d
  • V.1.a
  • V.2.a
  • V.2.b
  • V.2.b
• OK
  • C.3.2
  • C.3.2
• DE
  • 1.1.29
  • 1.1.30
  • 1.2.12
  • 1.2.13
  • 8.1.1
  • 8.1.2
  • 8.3.2
• IL
  • 12.7.32

Request State Standards

Created: March 20, 2000 at 08:33 | Updated: March 26, 2013 at 16:19