CHOOSING+THE+RIGHT+LANDSCAPING+FOR+YOUR+ENVIRONMENT

[|landscaping Roanoke] **Introduction** > Landscaping a yard or other piece of property requires pre-planning. For example, you wouldn’t want to plant a tree that requires a lot of water in an arid or dry environment. Likewise, you don’t want to plant a tree or other vegetation that needs minimal amounts water in an environment that receives a lot of rain. How do you know what types of plants to choose? What types of plants grow in the major biomes of the world? > [|Top] > In this WebQuest, you will be in charge of landscaping a new neighborhood in the climate where you live. Your plan will include types of trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers that will be planted along with their requirements for survival. Before you write your plan, you will need to conduct research on which types of plants grow best in the climate where you live. > [|Top] > Two class periods to research, answer questions, and create plan > [|Top] > Begin your research by visiting the web sites listed under Resources below. While you are gathering information about plants, record the answers to these questions: > Once you have completed your research, create a landscaping plan for a new neighborhood in the climate where you live. Be sure to include a variety of plants including those that provide food and shelter for other organisms in the environment. You should have at least ten different plants in your plan. Include a table with the following columns: Type of Plant, Flowering or Non-flowering, Growing Requirements (include soil, water, sunlight, and temperature requirements). > [|Top] > Use these Web links to find the information you need to complete this WebQuest. [|Top] **Evaluation** Click Herefor Rubric > Review the rubric to understand how you will be evaluated in this WebQuest. > [|Top] **Conclusion** In the process of completing this WebQuest, you have become familiar with the types of plants found in your climate. You have read information and answered a set of questions dealing with North American biomes and the plants found in each. You also created a plan that detailed the types of plants that could be used to landscape a new neighborhood in the climate where you live. By completing this WebQuest, you have shown that you can apply research skills to develop a plan. [|Top] **An Internet WebQuest** CHOOSING THE RIGHT LANDSCAPING FOR YOUR ENVIRONMENT **Introduction** >> In this WebQuest, students will conduct Internet research to learn more about the types of plants found in the major biomes of the world. They also will learn about xeriscaping and how this technique helps conserve water in arid environments. Their task will include a plan for landscaping a new neighborhood in their geographic region. >> [|Top] >> As students conduct their research, they will answer a set of questions that have been provided. Each Web site provided has some of the answers, but several of the questions may require information from two or more of the Web sites. >> As students compile information to answer the questions, they also will gather the information needed to draw up a plan for landscaping a new neighborhood in their region. Their plan will include a table of plants to be used in their landscaping project. Suggested column titles have been provided; students can modify or add additional columns as needed. >> **Objectives:** >> [|Top] >> Two class periods to research, answer questions, and create plan >> [|Top] >> As students progress through the list of Web sites, you may help them focus on what they need to know to answer the questions. Several of the Web sites have links to other Web sites with relevant information. If time allows, you may want to allow students to further explore subjects related to plants. **Always supervise students carefully as they search the Internet.** >> Students then will continue with their research to gather information that they will use to draw a plan for landscaping a new neighborhood in the climate where they live. Students should include at least ten different plants in their plan. The plants should be a variety of trees, grasses, shrubs, and flowers. Make sure students provide all the relevant information about their plants such as soil, water, sunlight, and temperature requirements for survival. Students can be general in their descriptions. For example, they may indicate that the plant requires moist or dry soil. >> [|Top]
 * An Internet WebQuest**
 * CHOOSING THE RIGHT LANDSCAPING FOR YOUR ENVIRONMENT**
 * Task**
 * Time**
 * Process**
 * 1) What are the major land biomes of the world?
 * 2) Which biome do you live in?
 * 3) How are desert plants different from the plants found in tropical rain forests?
 * 4) What is xeriscaping?
 * 5) How are annuals and perennials different?
 * Resources**
 * **[|Xeriscaping]**
 * **[|Xeriscaping]**
 * **[|Texas Plant Guide]**
 * **[|The World's Biomes]**
 * [|**Biomes of the World**]
 * **[|Plants found in each biome]**
 * **[|Mission: Biomes]**
 * **[|Landscaping basics]**
 * **[|Annuals vs. Perennials]**
 * WebQuest Teacher Page**
 * Task**
 * **Investigate** the biomes of the world and the plants found in each
 * **Describe** xeriscaping
 * **Create** a landscape plan for a community in their biome
 * Time**
 * Process**
 * Resources**

>> Students will use the Internet links provided to find out more about the types of plants that grow in each major biome. >> [|Top] **Evaluation** Click Herefor Rubric >> Have students review the rubric to determine how they will be scored on this WebQuest >> You may assign 10 points to each of the five questions for a total of 50 possible points. Possible answers to the questions are given below. //You may rate the answer to each question by the following scale: Excellent: 9-10 points; Very Good: 7-8 points; Good: 5-6 points; Satisfactory: 3-4 points; Poor: 1-2 points; and Unsatisfactory: 0 points.// >> **Possible Answers to Questions about Plants**
 * 1) Students should include the six major biomes including Tundra, Taiga, Desert, Grassland, Tropical Rain Forest, and Deciduous Forest. Students may choose to include other biomes such as savannah and temperate rain forest as well. A brief description of each biome should be included to earn the most possible points.
 * 2) Answers will vary.
 * 3) Student answers should include the adaptations that allow plants to survive in arid and wet environments. Several examples of plants found in each environment should be included.
 * 4) Xeriscaping is a form of landscaping that utilizes native plants to help conserve water.
 * 5) Student answers need to indicate that there is a difference in the plant’s lifecycle.

[|Top] **Conclusion** >> At the end of this WebQuest, students will have gathered enough information to answer the questions about what types of plants live in each biome and create a preliminary landscaping plan for a community in the climate where they live. Completion of this WebQuest will help students gain research skills and apply what they learn to a real life situation. >> [|Top]