HOW IT WORKS
In A Journey Through Biomes, students explore the five biomes: the savannah, the desert, the rain forest, the tundra, and the ocean, and how soil, water, rocks, and climate determine the types of plants that grow in these areas and the animals that feed on them. Various content areas such as social studies, mathematics, and language arts are integrated, and computers play a big role, with Internet access and word  processing. Students actively engage in an ongoing writing process in which they compose poems, letters, and essays that pertain to the various aspects of the subject matter. They record  information from different websites and gather data on the biomes’ climates, plants, and ecosystems, and do research about a specific animal from one biome. The students download information and pictures of that animal, its characteristics, its predators, and its prey. They take notes and discuss these with the teacher and with their peers, both in groups and individually. Finally, the students produce individual pieces of writing, with a research paper as the culminating activity. 

THE STUDENTS
A Journey Through Biomes was created for students to work cooperatively and individually. It is a program for English language learners that can be adapted to all language and academic levels. Twenty students participate in this program. The activities are modified according to the students’ language proficiency and academic levels. Those unfamiliar with standard English will benefit  from visual aids, teachermade materials, and the various websites’ sounds and pictures. The students are paired heterogeneously in order to assist and encourage each other.

THE STAFF
Nydia Bernacet has taught English Language Learners (ELL) for eight years—three years for Bilingual Pupil Services and five years as a third grade teacher. She has a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. She created A Journey Through Biomes to help students reach higher academic and language levels, and she is in her fourth year of implementing the program.

WHAT YOU NEED
Required materials include several computers with Internet access for research and a wordprocessing program such as AppleWorks or Student Writing Center, various books related to biomes, an encyclopedia, magazines such as National Geographic for Kids, and portfolios. The class also goes on field trips to the Bronx Zoo, Central Park, and Flushing Meadows Park.

OVERALL VALUE
This program takes students on a journey via science, social studies, and mathematics. It also promotes the students’ awareness of life conservation and encourages them to be advocates for endangered species. During this journey, students become fascinated with the diversity of each biome and the learning that takes place on many levels. This is an interdisciplinary program in which students perform different tasks, go through the writing process, and finish with a product that increases their pride and self-confidence.