Status message
Apply today for the HHMI BioInteractive Ambassador Academy! The Academy is a multi-year professional development experience designed to support evidence-based teaching practices. We’re looking for educators with diverse backgrounds and teaching contexts who are committed to centering equity in their classrooms.Lesson 6 - Biomes and Landscapes
Resource Type
Description
Famed ecologist E. O. Wilson considered Gorongosa National Park “ecologically, the most diverse park in the world.” The high biodiversity of organisms found in Gorongosa is due, in part, to the immense diversity of habitats. Gorongosa is situated at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley, and its topography changes drastically from the peaks of Mount Gorongosa to the low-lying floodplains of the valley floor. The variety of landscapes, soil types, and microclimates throughout Gorongosa gives rise to a mosaic of different forests, savannas, and grasslands that are home to the park’s unique assemblage of wildlife.
In this lesson, you will use an interactive map of Gorongosa National Park to learn about biomes. You will then explore E.O. Wilson’s Life on Earth iBook to learn about the varied landscapes and vegetation types in Gorongosa. Complete the assignments below, then click “Next” to move on to lesson seven.
This lesson includes readings from Unit 7 of E.O. Wilson’s Life on Earth iBook. If you have an iPad, you can download Unit 7 for free. If you do not have an iPad, you may skip these assignments.
Assignments:
• Complete the “Exploring Biomes in Gorongosa” worksheet
• Explore Interactive 37.2 in Unit 7, page 28 of E.O. Wilson’s Life on Earth
• Read Unit 7, pages 33-39 of E.O. Wilson’s Life on Earth. Watch movies 37.4, 37.5, and 37.6 as part of this assignment.